unmagical@lemmy.ml 12 hours ago
The party opposite Trump’s won enough federal seats to:
- Control what legislation is voted on
- Hold investigations
- Subpoena individuals
- Block appointees
They did not win enough seats to:
- Remove anyone from office
- Pass bills that Trump’s party doesn’t want
- Pass bills that Trump doesn’t want
The effect of that is:
- Everything Trump has done in the last couple years and will do in the next 2 years will be looked into
- There will be no or very few new laws
- The makeup of SCOTUS remains the same unless someone dies
- There will be no or very few backfills or replacements of executive or judicial positions
- Trump will continue to rule via executive decree
- SCOTUS will continent to support him
- Trump will continue to withhold financial support to the majority of the states
On a state level a number of states that were part of Trump’s part strongholds have flipped therefore:
- More states can oppose or collaborate in opposition to Trump’s policies
- More states can sign pro voter legislation
That means:
- No more razor wire in the Rio Grande
- No more Texas specify immigration action
- States can establish independent districting boards to ensure more fair elections in the future
- States can join interstate popular voting compacts which can usurp the limitations of the electoral college system
- States can adopt fairer voting measures like ranked choice, less restrictive voter registration measures, and more voting locations
- States can investigate and prosecute crimes committed in their state (such as tax crimes or ice actions) (Elon Musk lives in a blue state now)
All told, everything at the federal level is blocked, but there will be more “news” about proposals that don’t go anywhere or investigations that turn up vile crimes that can’t carry any charge. States have an opportunity to make future elections look like this one, and there will be more action to hold federal individuals to account so there will be more “news” of [state] finds [billionaire, politician, ice agent] committed [fraud, murder].
FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe 6 hours ago
Very good write up. I will add that bc the dems have a majority (but not supermajority) in congress they can still pass bills through both houses and force trump to veto them. For example, if they push through a bill to reverse the cuts to medicaid then trump is forced to either sign it or veto it, which would be deeply unpopular with his base
Every popular policy that they force trump to veto is a signal to the voters that trump and the republicans are the ones standing in the way of improving our material conditions and if the dems had either a super majority, a dem president, or both then these changes could happen. This would make things swing even more blue in 2028
Of course historically the dems get control and then do nothing or maybe the bare minimum, but the difference this election cycle is that we have openly socialist candidates winning and progressive candidates beating corporate dems. These newcomers are more likely than the establishment democrats to actually get things done. Although its still our job as their constituents to make our voices heard and make them know they have to do their job
daychilde@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
The Democrats need 60 votes (⅘) for cloture - ending debate on a bill and allowing for a vote.
So they still do not have enough for that.
unmagical@lemmy.ml 5 hours ago
Did the Dems pick up enough to clear a filibuster?
daychilde@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
Alas, no. 60 needed in the Senate.