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By Chris Ryan
When I first spoke to Donald Trump in 2015, he offered a accurate analysis, that he could get politicians do whatever he wanted.
It may have taken a decade, but he was 100% right, he took over Washington DC and defeated every last one of them.
It wasn't easy, and it certainly wasn't quick, but it happened
They fought hard for awhile, but he humiliated them by outlasting them and remaining unrelenting in who he is and what he will do.
President-elect Trump has literally taken on everyone and won.
It's a remarkable accomplishment.
The question is: Now what?
That's all I could think of when I saw Trump and Biden in the oval today. The scene to me resembled a surrender. Biden acknowledging defeat, awkwardly engaging with the victor as he sat appearing to be in a frail state.
Trump arrived without any massive protests. There was no groups claiming to resist or readying to harrass his every movement.
It was all over, he hadn't just beaten the political class/elites/intellectuals, he had defeated them too.
I've always held onto the phrase, "With great power, comes great responsibility."
Now let's be honest, Trump can (and will) do whatever the hell he wants.
But, I'm hopeful he takes this mandate and delivers on leveling the playing field for the working class of this country that believes this is more than a way to make himself and those who've supported him closely richer.
This is a remarkable moment where he truly can take on immigration, income disparity, healthcare, foreign aid, corporate greed and many other topics, because he has the platform and GOP control of both bodies of Congress to do so.
Trump can deliver on a massive policy agenda that will impact this country for a century and leave a mark similar to FDR's.
As Biden, would say, "No joke."
Democrats are left to ponder how they get to this point.
A big part of is that they took positions on immigration, transgender rights and other topics, that were minority positions, but where they felt they held moral superiority.
The problem is that campaign politics is about reflecting the will of the majority, and then governing at their will. You can't just take a position and say this is what you should believe, so we're doing it.
That's not how a representative democracy was intended to work.
There is a reason that progress on civil rights, women's rights, disabilities, and religious freedom took decades or centuries.
Now, the GOP could find themselves in the same situation on a number of topics with deportation, and tarrifs jumping out instantly.
-The understanding is that deportation will be of individuals who were convicted of crimes (other than entering the country illegally). If that expands or the optics of this are ugly, watch out.
-If inflation gets worse, dems will post significant midterm gains.
Chris Ryan is the host of New Hampshire Today on iHeart NH's news/talk stations from 6-9a weekdays. His "Trail Bites" column drops each Wednesday afternoon.