Trump 2.0: A Survival Guide for Democrats

• Pew Research Center report shows that the presidential race between Harris and Trump is currently deadlocked, with each candidate receiving 49% support among registered voters. Voters regard Trump as stronger on the economy while Harris is preferred on abortion and personal traits like honesty.
• The survey asserts that voters are divided on Trump’s actions related to the 2020 election and his age. Additionally, Harris would make history if elected, being the first woman, Asian American, and Black woman president, while Trump would become the oldest person to assume office at 78.

• Brendan Duke at Center for American Progress argues that Project 2025 proposes a tax plan that raises taxes on low- and middle-income families while giving significant tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations.
• The analysis asserts that the introduction of a flat consumption tax and elimination of income taxes would result in higher costs for middle- and low-income households, shifting the tax burden away from wealthy individuals and large corporations.

William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings discuss the importance of presidential debates in addressing voter concerns, highlighting Kamala Harris's effort to define herself and correct misconceptions about her political stance and capabilities.

The commentary asserts that Donald Trump's debate performance was inconsistent, often veering off-topic and failing to broaden his appeal beyond his base, indicating a potential challenge for his campaign in attracting new supporters.

• Bryan Burack at Heritage Foundation writes that the Trump administration's significant foreign policy legacy was its strategic response to China's economic warfare against the U.S., emphasizing the importance of maintaining these measures for deterrence.
• The article asserts that the Biden administration has adopted a less assertive approach, reviving engagement policies with China due to concerns that aggressive economic protections might provoke conflict, which has led to counterproductive security tradeoffs.

• Adam N. Michel at Cato Institute argues that tax policy's prominence in the presidential campaign is due to the impending expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the candidates' proposals for new special-interest tax breaks that complicate and increase the tax code's complexity.
• The report asserts that while there is bipartisan support for extending most of the expiring tax cuts, proposed targeted benefits for tips, families, homeowners, domestic production, and seniors will further complicate the tax system and pose significant fiscal challenges.