STATE OF TUESDAY: The GOP Is Trying To Reheat Trump's 2024 Magic, But The Fries Have Gone Stale

In “State of Tuesday,” the piece argues that Republicans are struggling to replicate the populist momentum of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. It highlights Rep. Mike Lawler’s effort to echo Trump’s McDonald’s stunt from Pennsylvania—an image that, according to the article, helped signal understanding for Americans “forgotten by Washington.” The author says the original spectacle worked because it communicated more than theatrics, but that Republicans in power have failed to deliver the policies that initially aligned their coalition. The article points to domestic glyphosate production orders, continued Middle East war pressures on household costs, and disputes over mass deportation statistics. It also criticizes officials for prioritizing loyalty over persuasion. The piece concludes that Trump’s Georgia rally remarks about oil profits underscored public frustration, yet the strategy still isn’t landing.