Republicans are already debating their next presidential nominee after a bruising defeat at the ballot box.
asserted
Republicans → debate → box
But harder conversations must come first, writes Daniel Horowitz.
asserted
Horowitz → come → ?
Ever endured a stomach bug so vicious you were certain nothing could possibly be left to vomit — only to feel the nausea return?
uncertain
nausea → endure → bug
That is what Republicans face after last week’s electoral gut-punch.
asserted
Republicans → face → punch
They want relief.
asserted
They → want → relief
Instead, they have two more years of Donald Trump.
asserted
they → have → Trump
Conservatives are busy blaming tariffs, the Iran war, bad Senate candidates, feckless congressional leaders, and White House staff for the midterm collapse.
asserted
Conservatives → blame → collapse
Nearly everyone avoids the man who dominates the Republican Party and whose administration owns those decisions.
asserted
administration → avoid → decisions
If we had a movement instead of a craven industry, we would be asking how to get the albatross off our neck.
asserted
albatross → have → neck
Replacing the White House chief of staff or replacing Mike Johnson and John Thune will not change the face voters associate with the economy, the war, and corruption.
asserted
voters → replace → economy
A post-election Economist/YouGov poll found that 62% of registered voters disapproved of Trump’s job performance.
asserted
% → find → performance
My friends in conservative media may prefer to tiptoe around him.
uncertain
friends → prefer → him
They know who signs the orders, makes the promises, starts the wars, and claims the credit.
uncertain
who → know → credit
Somehow we have decided he should escape the blame.
asserted
he → decide → blame
Trump has effectively led the American right for 10 years.
asserted
Trump → lead → years
He controls its message, machinery, and public image.
asserted
He → control → message
Even if he suddenly changed course, how would voters believe the change?
asserted
voters → change → change
Since the election, he has bragged about his ballroom, defended the Iran war and tariffs, entertained claims of election fraud, and defended Nvidia’s Jensen Huang amid scrutiny over his adulterous relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.
uncertain
he → brag → spy
Every appearance reminds voters why they wanted to punish his party.
asserted
they → remind → party
If this is the performance immediately after a historic defeat, why should anyone expect sobriety when the next crisis comes?
asserted
crisis → expect → sobriety
So I have seven questions for those on the right who think replacing a few aides, nominating the next man in line, or changing a policy or two will clear this wreckage.
asserted
replacing → have → wreckage
How do we win younger voters while Trump insists that high stock prices and swelling 401(k)s prove the economy is wonderful?
asserted
economy → win → voters
Young people struggling with rent and housing costs are not impressed by a Baby Boomer bragging about his portfolio.
asserted
people → struggle → portfolio
Nobody on the right can talk over Trump, much less persuade those voters that Republicans have heard them.
asserted
Republicans → talk → them
The party cannot offer an affordability agenda while its leader treats a booming stock market as proof that families have nothing to complain about.
asserted
families → offer → nothing
How do we loosen Trump's chokehold on candidate recruitment and the party apparatus?
asserted
we → loosen → recruitment
He will continue endorsing people based on personal loyalty rather than conservatism or electability.
asserted
He → continue → loyalty
What mechanism allows a genuinely independent Republican movement to develop while he remains its center of gravity?
asserted
he → allow → gravity
RELATED: The GOP’s worst defeat may be its best chance to move on
Megan Varner/Getty Images
uncertain
defeat → move → ?
What happens if the economy gets worse?
asserted
economy → happen → ?
The Iran war continues, and the housing and AI booms may not last.
uncertain
booms → continue → ?
Another economic downturn could reproduce the electoral catastrophes Republicans suffered in 2006 and 2008.
uncertain
Republicans → reproduce → 2006
Democrats will control Congress, but Trump will still be the president.
asserted
Trump → control → Congress
His party will own the consequences, whether the pundits think that fair or not.
asserted
that → own → consequences
The blame will stick.
asserted
blame → stick → ?
How can Republicans sell a fresh presidential nominee in 2028 when Trump will dominate the campaign until Election Day?
asserted
Trump → sell → Day
Some colleagues want to clear the field for Vice President JD Vance, as if the best response to an unpopular administration is to nominate its second in command.
asserted
response → want → command
Even the Bush-era GOP did not try to run Dick Cheney in 2008.
5.
asserted
GOP → try → 2008
How do we win back the suburbs?
asserted
we → win → suburbs
Republicans cannot win 218 House seats without suburban districts, and the party's image there is toxic.
asserted
image → win → districts
…and 23 more, not listed.
The Aporia
