What’s played out in American politics in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s Election Day victory has been a pretty remarkable thing to watch unfold from my perch among my fellow cheap seat dwellers.
I honestly can’t recall a time in modern history when a President-Elect was essentially turned into the de facto president almost immediately. On the other hand, the sitting president – who was forced out of the presidential race by his own party – largely faded into the background, perhaps to sulk and/or reluctantly admit to himself that he is grateful his Oval Office roller coaster ride will soon be over.
It’s been amazing to see some of Trump’s loudest critics go from “biggest threat to democracy!” to “second look at Trump,” which we saw, for instance from MSNBC co-hosts/veteran cocktail circuit fixtures Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski after Trump won the election
Relatedly, there has also been Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) who though he campaigned for the Harris-Walz ticket also expressed interest in working with Trump should he emerge victorious in November.
As it turns out, Fetterman – who has experienced a political evolution of sorts over the last couple of years – has been true to his word, co-sponsoring the Senate’s Laken Riley Act over Senate Democrat objections, and keeping an open mind and meeting with some of Trump’s nominees ahead of their confirmation hearings: