The $10 Trillion Facepalm—and Why We Need to Rethink Everything
This past week has been wild. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so much value wiped out from the global economy—on purpose. We’re talking about $10 trillion lost in just a few days, all thanks to Trump’s latest round of tariffs. It’s like watching someone light their house on fire and claim it’s to keep warm.
These tariffs aren’t just a policy misstep—they’re a full-on economic disaster. Prices are about to spike. Businesses that rely on exports are going to take a hit. People are going to lose their jobs. The stock market is already spiraling, and I think the economy is going to follow. This isn’t a natural downturn—it’s one we engineered ourselves.
Now sure, someone will argue, “Sometimes you’ve gotta go through pain to get to a better place.” Okay, maybe. But if you’re trying to boost jobs in certain industries, wouldn’t you actually plan for that? Give companies time to prepare? Make the rules clear and consistent? Instead, we’ve got chaos. Zero visibility. Just damage with no upside.
Some folks are still holding out hope that there’s a master plan behind all this. I hate to break it to them—but no. There’s no plan. There’s just a mess, and people are going to suffer because of it. We’ll come out of this poorer, and more divided.
I’ve been stewing about this all week. We deserve better leadership—full stop.
Meanwhile, on the Other Side of the Aisle…
Senator Cory Booker made headlines by speaking for 25 hours straight on the Senate floor, talking about the people hurt by this administration’s policies. I respect the passion.
I like Cory, I do. But I also wonder—where was this energy when Joe Biden was freezing the party 15 months ago? This is part of the bigger issue: the Democratic Party is dealing with a serious leadership void.
Sure, they just outperformed in special elections in Wisconsin and Florida. That’s promising. But let’s be honest—the success is more about frustration with Trump than excitement about the Democrats. People are in pain, and that pain is going to keep spreading. There’s no clear plan or path forward yet.
So… who’s actually leading the Democratic Party right now? No one really knows. And that’s a big problem, because it means we can’t even have a real conversation about where the party is going next.
Right now, it feels like the Democrats are a bunch of voices yelling over each other:
•Bernie Sanders and AOC are drawing big crowds
•Chris Murphy and John Fetterman are trying to hold down the middle
•Gavin Newsom is podcasting
•Chuck Schumer is trying to avoid getting overthrown
•Pete Buttigieg is back doing media rounds
It all feels more like a group of chickens pecking around a barnyard than a party ready to win back power.
Here’s Where I Stand
I’m not a Democrat. I’m an Independent. I don’t say that as a badge of honor—I just don’t see either party working right now. The Democrats are sitting at a 29% approval rating. They’ve lost ground in the Senate. And frankly, unless something big changes, they’re going to stay a minority party. Do you really see them winning Senate races in Texas or Florida anytime soon? Me neither.
We need a new political force entirely. Something that could actually compete—not just in the swing states, but in deep red and deep blue states too.
But let me be clear: I don’t root for dysfunction. I want both major parties to be functional, even if I don’t align with either of them. Right now, with Republicans marching in lockstep behind Trump and Democrats flailing, we’ve got zero functional major parties. That’s scary.
So, How Do You Fix the Democratic Mess?
Here’s the issue: the first real votes in the Democratic primary won’t happen until 2028. Most candidates won’t even announce until after the 2026 midterms. That’s 20+ months of drift. No definition. No vision. Just limbo.
Want to fix it? Start now. In 2025. Here’s how:
Option 1: Host Democratic Presidential Forums This Summer
The DNC should organize forums in places like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia—swing states that matter. Only serious potential candidates get invited. Let them show up, answer questions, meet voters. Make it a big media event. Then hold a non-binding vote in each state about who people would like to see run.
If that sounds too ambitious, you could even limit it to party insiders or use mobile voting tools. Either way, you start building momentum and give people something to pay attention to.
Option 2: Move Up the Primary Calendar
States like New Hampshire love being first—so let them be first in 2027 instead of 2028. It doesn’t change the convention schedule, but it gives us debates in 2026 instead of waiting until late 2027. That’s a full year of conversation we’d gain.
Yeah, It’s More Work. But It’s Worth It.
Sure, these ideas would make the campaign season longer. As someone who’s run before, I know that’s a grind. Some of the candidates are governors with jobs to do. But let’s be real—some are already quietly campaigning anyway. This gives us more time to vet candidates, and more time for the public to actually get to know them.
Yeah, there are logistical challenges. These forums and early primaries would take planning. But it’s not like we’re talking about building a space station here. Donors would get excited. Voters would too.
The real hurdle is cultural. The Democratic Party would have to move faster. Be bolder. Think differently. That’s the scary part—but also the necessary part.
You’re already underwater with your own voters. If there was ever a moment to shake things up, it’s right now.
Do better this time.