{ "lastUpdated": "2026-07-12T20:08:49+00:00", "schemaVersion": 1, "articles": [ { "id": "articles-php-1783886780535-93c90", "slug": "building-america-first-governing-is-the-real-battle", "title": "Building America First", "url": "https://americafirstinsight.com/building-america-first-governing-is-the-real-battle/", "excerpt": "How the right needs to embrace governing rather than reject it. ", "image": "https://americafirstinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Revolution.webp", "imageAlt": "Building America First", "author": "Mark Christian", "publishedAt": "2025-11-24T00:00:00.000Z", "updatedAt": "", "category": "Analysis", "tags": [ "Analysis" ], "status": "published", "visible": true, "featured": false, "premium": true, "breaking": false, "opinion": false, "sortOrder": 100, "seoTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "socialImage": "", "body": [ { "id": "block-1783886780534-027a3", "type": "heading", "content": "Revolution Is Easier Than Governing", "level": 4, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-913e3", "type": "paragraph", "content": "When revolutions happen, not everyone who helps lead them can govern afterward. Revolution and government demand two very different skill sets, and history shows that revolutionaries are often the first to be pushed aside once a new order forms. Governing is slow, technical work; it is far easier to stand outside the system and rally against it. Consider some of our Founding Fathers: Samuel Adams excelled during the Revolution but struggled as a governing figure and was largely sidelined; Patrick Henry, the author of “Give me liberty or give me death,” refused to embrace the new federal framework and stepped away from national politics; Thomas Paine, whose Common Sense galvanized the independence movement, was judged too radical to play a meaningful role in building the Republic. The gap between those who can speak and those who can govern becomes obvious as soon as trade-offs and priorities enter the picture. Recent events surrounding DOGE illustrate the same dynamic.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-fa9a6", "type": "html", "content": "
DOGE and Budget Realities
", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-04479", "type": "paragraph", "content": "On the campaign trail, many people suggested that DOGE would balance the federal budget and “save the country.” Elon Musk floated a best-case projection of $2 trillion saved, with $1 trillion as the realistic goal. In practice, counting future savings from canceled contracts, DOGE has likely saved around $200 billion—only about one-fifth of the optimistic target. Recently, news reports claimed DOGE was being “disbanded,” but anyone who actually read the articles understands that DOGE has essentially been rolled into the Office of Management and Budget for legal reasons. The president can create a task force by executive order, but not an executive-branch department; the president can’t even rename an existing department unilaterally. Some people view this change as a failure rather than acknowledging that $200 billion in savings is a substantial achievement. The truth is DOGE was never structurally capable of hitting the numbers its boosters imagined.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-c1a7d", "type": "html", "content": "
Breaking Down the Budget
", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-c570d", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Let’s break down the budget to show why. About 10% of federal spending is interest on the debt—completely untouchable. Roughly 60% is mandatory spending, locked in by law, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These programs cannot be reduced by the executive branch; they require an act of Congress to change. That leaves only about 30% of the budget that can be cut. Roughly half of that—around 15% of the total budget—is the military, which DOGE was never expected to seriously target. That leaves only the remaining 15% of federal spending as fair game.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-5ed48", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Non-defense discretionary spending totals about $800 billion, which means that a realistic maximum target for DOGE was always going to be well under the trillion-dollar range. In that context, roughly $200 billion in current and future savings is actually impressive, even if some of it comes from reductions in future contract spending rather than immediate outlays. Thus, the conclusion is that DOGE did what it could, and that the promises made by Musk and Vivek greatly overestimated the powers of the executive branch when it comes to the budget.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-8e566", "type": "heading", "content": "Continuing Resolutions (CRs)", "level": 4, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-1fd13", "type": "paragraph", "content": "A lot of the base is upset that essentially the only important laws that have been passed have been CRs. The fact of the matter is that a CR is essentially the only way to pass partisan things at this point. The efficiency of partisan matters is halted by the filibuster, in which you need 60 votes in the Senate to effectively pass anything.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-7dee9", "type": "html", "content": "
Why the Filibuster Requires 60 Votes
", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-4abc3", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Let us walk through why the filibuster is 60 votes. In the House, when a bill is brought forward, debate time is limited. There is only a set number of hours before the vote happens. This is not the case in the Senate. In the Senate, a single Senator may delay a bill for essentially infinite time, and even a handful of Senators can greatly increase that delay.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-6ebd2", "type": "paragraph", "content": "So how does anything get passed? Through cloture. Cloture is relatively new. Before the 1970s, Senators would eventually let votes happen even if they disagreed with the content of the bill. However, since the 70s there has been growing stalling, and now, in order to bypass the stalling there must be a vote to force a vote—and that’s the filibuster. If a bill gets 60 votes in the Senate to force a vote, then the Senate can bypass all the stalling. If you cannot get 60 votes, then the stalling is essentially infinite. This has been the main killer of legislation, and thus has shifted more power to the executive branch.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-81ba8", "type": "html", "content": "
How CRs Function
", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-4b73c", "type": "paragraph", "content": "So how does anything get done? Continuing Resolutions. They are one of the few pieces of law that bypass the typical stalling methods. This comes with strings attached, as CRs can only deal with certain topics and really can’t change the law. For example, earlier this year, the Senate was told they cannot repeal the NFA gun tax using a CR, but they can set the tax to $0. So CRs become the main way that laws are passed. The One Big Beautiful Bill is a CR that, using funding, changed US policy. For example, greatly expanding ICE and Border Security funds leads to more deportations and better border security.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-d6863", "type": "paragraph", "content": "CRs are the natural conclusion of the filibustered world. Single-page bills are useless and meaningless. For one, the law is incredibly complex, and as we have seen with judges, if you are not very precise or leave anything up to interpretation, it will get struck down. The amount of laws that nearly any bill touches—besides renaming post offices—makes single-page bills impossible to do anything effective. Single-issue bills are also mostly performative. Voter ID? Filibustered. Codifying any of the President’s EOs? Filibustered. Name it, it will likely be filibustered. The Democrats vote as a monolith 99% of the time and can block anything in the Senate realistically. GOP Senators, on the other hand, often don’t fully use the filibuster because they are cowards. But these are the cards we have been dealt.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-c0ef7", "type": "paragraph", "content": "So just get rid of the filibuster? Yeah, that is not happening from the GOP. The GOP will not be getting rid of it anytime soon, as it would require 51 votes. The Founding Fathers created the Senate with the idea that it would prevent factions from taking over, and only long-term trends would end up winning a reasonable amount of Senate power. About 10 Senators are MAGA and were elected since 2016, out of 23 Republicans who have entered the Senate since 2016—so around a 40% rate. While the Tea Party barely managed to get five Senators. On the Democrat side, despite modern progressives blowing up in size, only a few Senators are as progressive as the Squad. Moderate members of the parties typically win Senate seats, and this is by design. The Senate is designed to stall progress to ensure that only truly popular ideas, that stand the test of time, become law. To prevent “factions,” in the wording of our Founding Fathers. Thus the conclusion: CRs are your best bet.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-ec2a0", "type": "heading", "content": "“Just Defund the Opponents”", "level": 4, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-ddfee", "type": "paragraph", "content": "A while ago, Berkeley had a riot that included several acts of violence, and many influencers were calling on Trump to enact the Insurrection Act and then defund Berkeley. This wasn’t going to happen. This is simply influencers not understanding the law and how it can be applied.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-647f6", "type": "html", "content": "
The Insurrection Act and Enforcement Limits
", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-f3091", "type": "paragraph", "content": "First off, what requirements are needed to enact the Insurrection Act? The lack of ability to enforce the law. People WERE being arrested, even if fewer people than should have been (but that’s the fault of the California police and California DAs), but the law was able to be enforced. Thus, President Trump had no standing to invoke it. Same with the 2020 Summer of Love. As violent as it got, ultimately the law COULD have been enforced by local law enforcement; in fact, many times, law enforcement did corral the rioters away from certain areas.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-bb364", "type": "html", "content": "
Defunding Berkeley
", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-997d2", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Then the same influencers asked Trump to defund Berkeley. There is a very specific legal requirement for the federal government to be able to defund universities. The biggest one is the Titles by the Department of Education. If the school allows actions that harm protected classes, then they could be defunded—these actions must be long-term enough to be a pattern. Remember when the Trump administration defunded based on transgender athletes and antisemitism on campus? Well, that’s because both gender and religion ARE protected classes (political opinions are not), and there was a long-term pattern of violating the Titles. There are a couple of clips of the rioters calling the people attending the TPUSA event “white boys” and stuff akin to that; however, it almost certainly isn’t long-term enough or enough of a pattern for the courts to allow Trump to do that.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-7c567", "type": "paragraph", "content": "There are laws, and Trump follows them. Even if the headlines make it sound otherwise, Trump has essentially 100% of the time obeyed the law. Even in cases that headlines make it sound like he is violating something—for example the flag-burning EO—nowhere in there did it ban the burning of flags; it simply asks the DOJ that if someone is burning a flag AND that action is breaking the law (such as no public fires on government property), then the DOJ is asked to throw the book at them.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-27b1d", "type": "paragraph", "content": "President Trump will not be randomly breaking the law. There is an incredibly large number of lawyers, all of whom are 10x brighter than you or I, advising him on how to handle certain cases. This is the same with arresting people. Fauci will never be arrested, neither will Obama, nor either Clinton. Either they did not violate the law (approving FDA rules on vaccines is not against the law) or anything they did do is probably past the statute of limitations. This is why the DOJ is going after Letitia James’s mortgage, or when they indicted James Comey, the statute of limitations would have expired around two days later.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-0ca3e", "type": "heading", "content": "Rules Changing H-1B Visas", "level": 4, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-cd1da", "type": "paragraph", "content": "“Trump should just halt H-1B visas.” Sounds great but will never happen without Congress. Let us walk through this slowly. The first argument is that Trump should follow his 2020 rules that blocked H-1B visas from entering the country for a few months. COVID caused unemployment to spike to nearly 20%. That is a national emergency. Unemployment between 4-5% is not. The courts would strike this down as an abuse of power. Trump isn’t going to make something that will instantly be struck down.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-db195", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Trump should make his rules similar to that of 2018–2020, when H-1B visa application denial rates spiked to over 20%, up from less than 10% before 2017. How did this happen? In April 2017, Trump, under the Buy American, Hire American EO, asked USCIS to be much harsher on H-1B visas. This allowed the USCIS (the office in charge of visas) to begin making internal changes on rules interpretations, which took about a year to fully implement. First signs of its success appeared a little over 8 months later, with full effect taking about a year.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-bf8cf", "type": "paragraph", "content": "So why haven’t we seen the massive spike in H-1B visas? The Trump administration only got their preferred Director of the USCIS into the position in July. If he immediately began working on internal rule changes, they won’t be implemented until around March of the next year. So maybe summer of 2026, expect H-1B visa denials to go up a bit, but ultimately this is not a solution to the problem, and realistically doesn’t do much on H-1Bs.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-3a99a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "H-1Bs have a Congressional-set cap of around 85k new ones every year, and renewals are unlimited. The cap is effectively a minimum. There are around 300k new applicants each year. To approve fewer than 85k, USCIS would need a denial rate of 72%, which isn’t happening. Policies allowing that would be too broad and would be struck down by the courts.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-81a44", "type": "paragraph", "content": "So what should the GOP do? H-1B visa abuse is a problem, but the DOJ is investigating, which takes time. Congress will almost certainly not lower the cap due to the filibuster. Members of the GOP should focus on OPT (student work visas, unlimited, created by the President and USCIS) and H4-EAD (work visas for H-1B spouses). Rumors suggest the Trump administration is working on OPT, with Forbes correctly leaking the $100k H-1B fees. These are not expected until early–mid 2026. H4-EAD is tied up in DOJ arguments over executive authority.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-3509a", "type": "heading", "content": "The Takeaway", "level": 4, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-72e7a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The takeaway here isn’t that the situation is hopeless, but that politics is a long-term game. We are cementing MAGA and America First as the next torch to carry the GOP for the next 20–40 years, in the same way Reaganism and Bushism dominated the GOP for 30–40 years. We have already succeeded far more than the Tea Party ever did, showing that MAGA is not a flash in the pan, but rather the foundation for long-term success.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-2751a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Governing is much tougher than being a revolutionary. It’s a lot easier to say “Arrest opponents,” “End H-1B visas,” “Defund Berkeley,” or “Just balance the budget with DOGE,” than to actually accomplish these things. Politics is not a one-and-done activity; it’s an endless battle in which the GOP inches toward victories. The swamp is not stupid—they built a system to maintain power for decades.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-f7a84", "type": "paragraph", "content": "As MAGA and America First transition from revolutionaries to governing, they will confront the same realities around CRs, legal limits, and long-term strategy. Burning the system down will not happen—it is incompetence. The goal is to overtake the system and transition the Swamp from serving the Uniparty to serving America First. You may disagree, but those who refuse to take power will always lose to those who don’t. The Swamp describes a system of DC individuals working to benefit their ideology. We need our own swamp,one that blocks out those who cannot see the moment. It is the natural conclusion if you want to win.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886780535-cb17a", "type": "html", "content": "
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", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" } ], "relatedArticleIds": [], "notes": "" }, { "id": "trump-to-fire-pam-bondi-1783886200338-1d754", "slug": "trump-to-fire-pam-bondi", "title": "Trump May Fire Attorney General Pam Bondi — What Happens Next?", "url": "https://americafirstinsight.com/trump-to-fire-pam-bondi/", "excerpt": "Sources suggest President Trump may soon remove Attorney General Pam Bondi. Here’s what’s behind the move and who could replace her.", "image": "https://americafirstinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FiringBondi.webp", "imageAlt": "Trump May Fire Attorney General Pam Bondi — What Happens Next?", "author": "Mark Christian", "publishedAt": "2026-04-02T17:00:00.000Z", "updatedAt": "", "category": "Politics", "tags": [ "Politics" ], "status": "published", "visible": true, "featured": false, "premium": false, "breaking": false, "opinion": false, "sortOrder": 100, "seoTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "socialImage": "", "body": [ { "id": "block-1783886200338-6bbd1", "type": "html", "content": "
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UPDATE: 1:32pm EST 4/2/26

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Trump has fired Pam Bondi, and has placed Todd Blanche as interim Attorney General.

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Trump May Soon Fire Attorney General Pam Bondi

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Today, multiple sources have suggested that President Trump may soon move to fire his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and that she has been informed her time could be nearing an end. Compounding PR issues and a perceived lack of action appear to be the main reasons.

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Back to the Beginning

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Let’s go back to the beginning. We gave Bondi a solid pre-cabinet review, and I largely stand by that. Her actual legal work has been fairly strong, and her prioritization of DOJ resources has been notable, particularly on violent crime, fraud, and unrest-related cases.

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However, Bondi has not been without flaws. It is fairly clear that she has struggled in public-facing roles. Her statement on national TV that the “Epstein files were right on her desk” was politically damaging, especially given that it did not appear to be accurate. More broadly, her early difficulty clearly explaining legal matters in media appearances did not help her standing.

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Trump has, at times, posted criticisms of Bondi’s pace on pursuing alleged wrongdoing by members of the Democratic Party, though he has also remained publicly friendly. As of this writing, Trump responded to a CBS request for comment by praising Bondi—though similar praise has preceded personnel changes before. Still, in my view, this issue is not her most significant challenge.

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The Real Challenge: DC Courts and Venue

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Many of the alleged crimes in question would fall under Washington, DC jurisdiction, meaning they would be handled by DC judges and juries—an environment that may be less favorable for politically charged prosecutions. This is part of why a pivot toward cases tied to the Mar-a-Lago investigation could be strategically appealing, as any related charges would likely be brought in a more favorable Southern Florida venue.

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Who Could Replace Pam Bondi?

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Either way, several sources suggest Bondi could be out soon. One name continues to surface as the likely successor, though there are at least two serious contenders.

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The Assumed Successor: Lee Zeldin

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First is the assumed successor, Lee Zeldin. Zeldin has been a strong ally of Trump since his time in Congress and gained national attention when he came within roughly six points of winning the New York governorship in 2022, signaling a notable rightward shift in the state.

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Zeldin currently serves in the Trump administration as EPA Administrator and secured some bipartisan support during his confirmation (56–42), suggesting he could be confirmed to Attorney General without major difficulty.

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He also has a legal background, becoming one of the youngest attorneys in New York in 2004. After serving in the Military Intelligence Corps, he worked as an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and later started a general practice law firm.

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Zeldin would likely be seen as a loyal and effective choice, and potentially a stronger communicator in national media settings.

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The Other Strong Contender: Todd Blanche

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The other likely replacement is Todd Blanche, currently the DOJ’s number two. Blanche has received criticism from some quarters, particularly from those already dissatisfied with Bondi, but he remains a serious contender.

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Blanche was confirmed 52–46 and has been a lawyer since 2003, including more than eight years in the SDNY division of the DOJ, where he focused on prosecuting violent crime. He has also served as a personal attorney for figures such as Paul Manafort, Rudy Giuliani, and Trump himself, and played a central role in Trump’s defense in multiple high-profile cases.

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Trump clearly trusts Blanche, though his involvement in some of the same PR controversies—particularly surrounding Epstein—could work against him. That said, he should not be ruled out.

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Dark Horse Candidates

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There are also a few potential dark horses, such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (possibly in exchange for exiting the Texas Senate race), or former Missouri Attorney General, and current FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey.

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Where Does Pam Bondi Go From Here?

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If Bondi is removed, she could remain within the DOJ in a reduced or less public-facing role. Her day-to-day legal work has generally been solid; her main challenges have been in public communication. For now, however, nothing is set in stone.

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", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886200338-515f2", "type": "html", "content": "
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Your America First Insight — June 2nd, 2025

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", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783886200338-6e908", "type": "html", "content": "
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\n \"Mark\n
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About the Author

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\n Mark Christian is a writer and Founder of America First Insight. \n Follow him on \n X @FLMarkChristian.\n

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", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" } ], "relatedArticleIds": [], "notes": "" }, { "id": "trump-youth-coalition-1783874471727-b3e8d", "slug": "trump-youth-coalition-where-does-it-go-from-here", "title": "Trump Youth Coalition Where Does It Go From Here?", "url": "https://americafirstinsight.com/trump-youth-coalition-where-does-it-go-from-here/", "excerpt": "A data-driven analysis of Trump’s 2024 youth gains, examining why the so-called youth coalition may be overstated and difficult for Republicans to sustain.", "image": "https://americafirstinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TrumpYouth.webp", "imageAlt": "Trump Youth Coalition: Where Does It Go From Here?", "author": "Mark Christian", "publishedAt": "2026-04-11T19:00:00.000Z", "updatedAt": "", "category": "Politics", "tags": [ "Politics" ], "status": "published", "visible": true, "featured": false, "premium": true, "breaking": false, "opinion": false, "sortOrder": 100, "seoTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "socialImage": "", "body": [ { "id": "block-1783874471727-3a174", "type": "paragraph", "content": "In the aftermath of the 2024 election, a dominant narrative emerged: Donald Trump had made major gains with young voters, often followed by discussion of a potential realignment as this historically Democratic group shifted to the right.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-3fdfc", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Commentators and influencers pointed to topline numbers as key evidence of a changing generational coalition. That interpretation, while not entirely unfounded, is an incomplete reading of what occurred.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-518c1", "type": "paragraph", "content": "A closer examination of the data suggests that the idea of a sustainable “Trump youth coalition” is overstated. The apparent gains among younger voters were uneven, subgroup-dependent, and likely shaped by the specific circumstances of 2024 more than any durable shift. As such, much of this support is unlikely to be retained by Republicans.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-d471e", "type": "heading", "content": "The Problem with Topline Numbers", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-4a7c6", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Much of the confusion surrounding Trump’s youth performance comes from a misunderstanding of aggregate statistics. While it is true that Trump improved his overall share of the 18 to 29 vote compared to 2020, that topline figure masks significant internal divergence.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-cd496", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Among White voters aged 18 to 29, Trump’s support did not improve and instead declined modestly. He went from roughly 54 percent of their vote in 2020 to about 49 percent in 2024. This change was driven largely by losses among White women in this age group.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-bb994", "type": "paragraph", "content": "In 2020, Trump narrowly won White women aged 18 to 29, by around 4 points. By 2024, he lost them by a clear margin, losing them by 10. Meanwhile, support among White men in the same age range remained largely stable, moving only slightly and likely within the range of statistical variation, going from 54 to 53.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-9e705", "type": "paragraph", "content": "By contrast, much of the aggregate improvement came from minority voters. Within the 18 to 29 group, Hispanic voters, particularly men, were a major driver of the shift. This creates the appearance of a uniform movement when the underlying reality is more fragmented. Different subgroups moved in different directions, raising an important question about whether these voters can realistically remain part of the same coalition. Young White voters and minority youth voters often hold different views on key issues, including immigration and enforcement. This tension suggests that the gains seen in 2024 may reflect a temporary alignment rather than a stable coalition built on shared priorities.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-73df9", "type": "heading", "content": "Who Actually Turned Out", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-7bc4a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "It is important to understand that the Trump coalition itself was not especially young. Despite the attention given to youth trends, Trump’s electoral base in 2024 remained heavily reliant on older voters. In fact, it was the oldest coalition he has assembled. Data from sources such as the Pew Research Center and exit polls consistently show that voters aged 45 and above made up a disproportionate share of his support.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-ebd6d", "type": "image", "content": "", "level": 2, "url": "https://americafirstinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Of-Trumps-Coalition-Broken-Down-By-Age1.png", "alt": "Trump coalition by age breakdown chart", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-e6822", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Look at the graphs above, since 2016, Trump’s voting coalition has gotten 2% more on the 45 and above side, particularly those above 65, who went from 18% of the coalition to over 28%. This shift is not unique to Republicans. The electorate as a whole has aged, and the Democratic coalition has experienced similar movement. This helps explain why political attention often skews toward older voters, who remain the most reliable participants in elections.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-1683d", "type": "heading", "content": "Anti-Incumbency, Not Realignment", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-a4c8a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "If the gains among younger voters were not driven by a unified ideological shift, then what explains the outcome in 2024?", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-9b698", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The more plausible explanation is the broader political environment. Periods of dissatisfaction tend to produce larger swings among younger voters, who generally exhibit lower levels of long-term partisan loyalty. Economic concerns, frustration with current leadership, and general political fatigue can all contribute to movement within this group.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-e501f", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Younger voters are less ideologically anchored and more reactive to immediate conditions. Their preferences can shift quickly from one election cycle to the next. Historical patterns support this. Millennials, for example, were once viewed as a strongly Democratic generation, often voting by large margins. Over time, that margin narrowed as the cohort aged and its political identity became more defined.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-80c2c", "type": "paragraph", "content": "As a result, gains among younger voters are often temporary. They reflect conditions at a given moment rather than a lasting shift. This makes it difficult for either party to rely on them as a stable base of support.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-fa2b6", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Historical patterns support this. Millennials, for example, were once viewed as a strongly Democratic generation, often voting by large margins. During the Obama era, there was widespread discussion that Millennials would lock in a long-term Democratic advantage, with Barack Obama benefiting heavily from overwhelming youth support in both 2008 and 2012.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-6305a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "At the time, this was often interpreted as the beginning of a durable generational realignment. However, over time that margin narrowed as the cohort aged and its political identity became more defined. Millennials moved from roughly a D+30 advantage to a much smaller Democratic lean, closer to D+5 in many modern estimates.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-1ea9f", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The broader point is that youth coalitions are often misread as permanent political realignments when they are more accurately understood as life-cycle and condition-driven behavior. As a result, gains among younger voters are often temporary, reflecting political context rather than fixed ideological identity.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-03b76", "type": "heading", "content": "Minority Youth Gains: Opportunity or Mirage", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-d70dc", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The most significant area of Republican improvement in 2024 came from minority voters, especially among younger age groups. Hispanic youth voters were a central part of this shift.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-76648", "type": "paragraph", "content": "However, the durability of these gains remains uncertain. Historically, minority voters have aligned more closely with Democratic policy priorities, particularly on economic support programs, immigration, and group-based policy approaches.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-4485e", "type": "paragraph", "content": "This creates a structural challenge for Republicans in sustaining gains without consistent alignment on those issues.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-e2e3e", "type": "paragraph", "content": "This raises a broader question. Can Republicans build a lasting coalition with minority youth voters, or were the 2024 gains primarily a response to short-term conditions? If the latter is true, then maintaining those voters would require a level of policy alignment that has not traditionally existed.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-af183", "type": "heading", "content": "What Can Actually Be Sustained", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-6040a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "If the 2024 youth coalition was uneven, what elements can Republicans realistically expect to maintain?", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-96e07", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The most consistent component of the Republican youth vote remains young White men. This group has shown relatively stable engagement and alignment with core Republican themes, including national identity, skepticism toward immigration, and support for merit-based systems. While not sufficient on its own to define a national coalition, it represents a reliable base within the youth electorate.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-d1bd6", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Among the groups that shifted in 2024, Hispanic men may represent a more realistic opportunity for continued gains. However, maintaining support at 2024 levels appears unlikely. The key question is whether this shift reflects a deeper alignment or simply the conditions of that election cycle.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-9ded0", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Other groups, including Black and Asian voters, as well as women within these demographics, are likely to be more difficult to retain. Their movement in 2024 may have been influenced more by immediate political factors than by long-term alignment with Republican priorities.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-8952e", "type": "heading", "content": "Conclusion", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-50f39", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The narrative of a rising “Trump youth coalition” is built on an unstable reading of the data.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-4ba94", "type": "paragraph", "content": "While Republicans did make measurable gains among younger voters in 2024, those gains were neither uniform nor clearly durable.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-8bab9", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Rather than representing a generational realignment, the evidence points to a conditional shift shaped by the specific political environment of that election.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783874471727-7216c", "type": "paragraph", "content": "The central challenge is not whether these voters can be won again, but whether they can be held as part of a stable governing coalition. The evidence suggests this is unlikely. Governing imposes far greater and more sustained demands than campaigning, and coalitions that form under electoral conditions often fracture when exposed to the realities of governance and policy tradeoffs.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" } ], "relatedArticleIds": [], "notes": "" }, { "id": "rest-in-peace-lindsey-graham-1783873527914-010fb", "slug": "lindsey-graham-passes-away-at-71-what-happens-next", "title": "Lindsey Graham Passes Away at 71", "url": "https://americafirstinsight.com/lindsey-graham-passes-away-at-71-what-happens-next/", "excerpt": "South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has died at 71. America First Insight remembers his life, Senate career, and political legacy.", "image": "https://americafirstinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GrahamArticle.webp", "imageAlt": "Rest In Peace, Lindsey Graham", "author": "Mark Christian", "publishedAt": "2026-07-12T15:00:00.000Z", "updatedAt": "", "category": "Politics", "tags": [ "Politics" ], "status": "published", "visible": true, "featured": false, "premium": true, "breaking": true, "opinion": false, "sortOrder": 100, "seoTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "socialImage": "", "body": [ { "id": "block-1783873527914-f8b2c", "type": "paragraph", "content": "On the evening of July 11, 2026, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham passed away at the age of 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-fb643", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Graham was first elected to the United States Senate in the 2002 midterm elections and went on to serve more than two decades representing South Carolina. Throughout his career, he became one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable voices on foreign policy, earning a reputation as a foreign policy hawk while also becoming known as a dependable team player within the GOP.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-a4d00", "type": "paragraph", "content": "One of Graham’s defining moments came during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham forcefully defended Kavanaugh during the contentious confirmation process and played a major role in rallying Republican support for his confirmation.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-f323a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "During the current Congress, Graham served on both the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was heavily involved in Republican reconciliation efforts and remained an important figure in advancing the party’s legislative agenda. In June, he won the Republican nomination for another term in the Senate.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-4651b", "type": "heading", "content": "A Life of Service", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-f547b", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Outside of politics, Graham overcame significant hardship early in life. His mother died when he was 21, and his father died roughly 15 months later. Graham then became the legal guardian of his younger sister, Darline, helping raise her while continuing his education.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-f690c", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Graham later served in the United States Air Force as a military lawyer. He continued serving for decades through the Air Force Reserve and retired with the rank of colonel. His military experience helped shape the foreign policy views that would become central to his career in Congress.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-c8f84", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Before entering the Senate, Graham served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and represented South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. He was first elected to Congress in 1994 and later won the Senate seat previously held by Strom Thurmond.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-d561c", "type": "heading", "content": "What Happens to Graham’s Senate Seat?", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-bbab5", "type": "paragraph", "content": "South Carolina law now sets in motion the process to fill the vacancy. Governor Henry McMaster is expected to appoint an interim senator to serve until the winner of the November 3, 2026, general election is sworn in.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-8e7f8", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Because Graham had already secured the Republican nomination for this year’s election, the Republican Party must select a replacement nominee for the November ballot. A special Republican primary is expected to be held on August 11. If no candidate receives the required majority, a runoff could follow.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-11d53", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Unlike in some states, the person appointed by McMaster is not barred from seeking the full six-year term.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-4fa39", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Several names are already being discussed for the interim appointment or a possible campaign. Those mentioned include Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who recently lost the Republican primary for governor, as well as Representatives Ralph Norman, Joe Wilson, and Nancy Mace. At this early stage, these names should be viewed as political speculation rather than confirmed candidacies.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-5f989", "type": "heading", "content": "Graham's Legacy", "level": 3, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-af49c", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Regardless of political differences, Lindsey Graham leaves behind a significant legacy in both South Carolina and the United States Senate. Over more than two decades in office, he became one of the Republican Party's most influential senators, shaping judicial confirmations, federal budgeting, national security, and American foreign policy.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-67751", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Graham played a central role in confirming dozens of conservative federal judges and several Supreme Court justices, including Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and later Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he helped guide many of the Republican Party's most consequential legislative and judicial priorities through the Senate.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-5542a", "type": "paragraph", "content": "During the 119th Congress, Graham was instrumental in crafting and advancing both Republican reconciliation packages. As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he authored the budget resolutions that unlocked the reconciliation process, helping secure funding for border security, defense, and the broader Republican legislative agenda. A pivotal part of both the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the 2nd reconciliation bill which has funded ICE until 2029.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-c76d5", "type": "paragraph", "content": "On foreign policy, Graham established himself as one of the Senate's leading voices on national security. A retired Air Force colonel, he consistently advocated for a strong American military, close alliances with Israel, support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion, and an aggressive posture toward America's adversaries. Whether one agreed with his positions or not, Graham was widely regarded as one of the Senate's most influential voices on international affairs.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-399ff", "type": "paragraph", "content": "His influence on judicial confirmations, conservative legislation, foreign policy, and Republican politics will continue to be felt for years to come. Few senators leave behind a record of leadership that spans so many of the institution's most important responsibilities.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-af5b6", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Tributes to Graham quickly poured in from Republican leaders, congressional colleagues, and foreign officials. President Donald Trump described Graham as a member of his family and praised his loyalty, friendship, and work in the Senate. Vice President JD Vance reflected on his personal history with Graham, while Stephen Miller highlighted Graham’s effectiveness as a legislator and his role in advancing the administration’s agenda.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-58f7f", "type": "paragraph", "content": "Senators and representatives from across the Republican Party also shared memories of working alongside him, praising his humor, patriotism, military service, and ability to build relationships throughout Congress. The breadth of the response reflected the personal connections Graham formed during more than three decades in Washington and the influence he held within the Republican Party.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-9a961", "type": "paragraph", "content": "America First Insight extends its prayers and condolences to Senator Graham’s family, friends, staff, and the people of South Carolina.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" }, { "id": "block-1783873527914-30627", "type": "paragraph", "content": "May he rest in peace.", "level": 2, "url": "", "alt": "", "caption": "", "ordered": false, "items": [], "provider": "", "embedUrl": "" } ], "relatedArticleIds": [], "notes": "" } ] }