There is a lesson for Conservatives here in the UK: with focus and a clear agenda, it is possible to do a significant amount in a short space of time.
The Progressive Conservatives faced a toxic combination: not just a terrible vote share, but two powerful and regionally-concentrated challengers in Reform and the Bloc Québécois.
Without political leaders trying to make appeals beyond their specific constituencies of voters or engage with the broader concerns of Māori, the significance and controversy of the treaty, beyond the spectacle, is likely to wane.
Changes to the definition of the family could have serious consequences for tax, inheritance law, and other important areas. Yet the politicians are leaving the new definition up to the judges.
Instead of merely clarifying points of confusion, the ALP proposes to seriously row back on reforms, passed with cross-party support in 2006, that aimed to reduce systemic bias against fathers.
Originally founded by exiles from Labour’s neoliberal wing, it is now an important part of the new right-wing coalition government in Wellington.
The undoubted prestige of having an Irishman in a leading global role would be offset by potential short term political pain, not welcome at any time but especially in a potential election year.
Republican challengers are putting their own egos ahead of any coordinated effort to beat the former president, whilst any move against Biden are likely to come later, at the Democratic National Convention.
Apparent progress on employment and the cost of living is largely smoke and mirrors, whilst crime, border security, and his failed constitutional referendum don’t get a mention.
If National are to comprehensively balance the books and leave room for the investments in infrastructure and public services that need to be made, nothing less than swingeing cuts will be required.
It looks like there is a deal to be done where the proposed $60 billion package is paired with major reform of America’s porous southern border.
In domestic policy, we are headed for the real deal. Trump’s campaign staff have been briefing for months that, this time, deep state officials will not stand in their way.
Many Irish policymakers make the reasonable point, if it’s a simple matter of tax rates, then why haven’t more countries simply adopted this approach? It has been in place for decades, there’s been plenty of time.
Like the UK, the country is struggling with the issue of what can be done about unlawful non-citizens who cannot currently be deported and have committed serious crimes.
This difference is not just attitudinal – there is a lot more space in the States for one thing. But absent in the British mindset, at least at the moment, is this hunger for more, this urge to grow, that embodies the American psyche.