Democrats urged to ask voters if they are better off under Trump

Drawing on a question Ronald Reagan posed to Jimmy Carter in 1980, the author suggests that Democratic and independent contenders should ask voters if they are better off than before the current presidency. He points to tariff-driven price hikes that add roughly $1,000 per household each year, as well as increased costs for everyday items and big-ticket purchases. The piece also links the ongoing conflict in Iran to higher gasoline expenses and fertilizer shortages that push food prices up.

Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, along with changes to vaccine dosing, are presented as further burdens on families. The author warns that focusing on economic hardship, rather than debates over socialism or cultural topics, will better resonate with voters.