Thursday, July 02, 2020
PMT: Trump turns away from reform (?)
Jonathan Swan, writing at Axios, had a troubling report yesterday, suggesting that President Trump has given up on his efforts at criminal justice reform:
President Trump has told people in recent days that he regrets following some of son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner's political advice — including supporting criminal justice reform — and will stick closer to his own instincts, three people with direct knowledge of the president's thinking tell Axios.
Behind the scenes: One person who spoke with the president interpreted his thinking this way: "No more of Jared's woke s***." Another said Trump has indicated that following Kushner's advice has harmed him politically.
Why it matters: This could be the final straw for federal police reform legislation this year, and it could usher in even more incendiary campaign tactics between now and November.
Of course, I am really disappointed to hear this, and hope it isn't true. Just about the only bright spot for me in this administration was the First Step Act, which really was significant. Certainly, Swan's report is consistent with what Trump says publicly of late, much of which is focused on an unflinching and uncritical support for the police (except, of course, the FBI when they investigate him and those around him).
Politically, these seems to be part of a larger strategy--or, maybe "instinct" is the better word-- to bore down into his base and their hot buttons. It's a curious strategy, given that his base is not large enough to deliver him the election-- right now his approval rating is at 40.5%. To win, he needs to win some independents, as he did in 2016,
Of course, I don't want him to win-- I think Joe Biden, with his faults, would be a better president and certainly would surround himself with more competent people.
