Alan Zedndell, November 4, 2026

The majority of Americans are euphoric today as are our partners around the world. But before I address that, I have to say how disappointed I am in the responses of lame duck Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader, John Thune to the thumping voters delivered to Republicans. It’s clear to almost everyone that the magnitude of the Democrats’ victory was a direct response to Donald Trump’s presidency. His basic meanness, insensitivity to average Americans, his greed and corruption, his immorality, and most important, his incompetence and that of his appointees.

Both Johnson and Thune reacted to the election results by defending Trump, reprising his theme that they only lost because he wasn’t on the ballot. The rest of us know the repudiation voters delivered to Republicans was entirely because Trump asked voters to pretend he was on the ballot. They did exactly that, and rejected his administration completely, but Trump’s delusions of grandeur continue.

Trump will always be Trump, but we can be thankful that his ability to harm Americans and disrupt the world order and the rule of law are greatly diminished today. Now, Democrats must prove they can govern, something about which I and three-fourths of Americans have been extremely skeptical. But next year’s expected Speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries, set the right tone this morning. What he said greatly reduced my concern that the Democrats might drop the ball after Trump and the Republicans fumbled it.

The most important thing about Jeffries’ remarks was what he didn’t say. He didn’t talk about impeaching Trump or Pete Hegseth. He didn’t talk about retribution against the venal and vile people who are Trump’s sycophants, though they richly deserve it. Jeffries understands that the worst thing Democrats can do is continue the divisiveness and chaos Trump has brought us, that the Americans who voted for Democrats aren’t interested in a Democratic version of Trump’s revenge tour.

Instead, Jeffries talked about passing a new War Powers Resolution that would require Trump to suspend offensive military operations in the Persian Gulf unless and until he receives Congressional approval and funding. I imagine we might see that very soon, as the lame duck Republicans in Congress who have been terrorized by Trump and defeated largely by the impacts of Trump’s war are now free to vote their consciences. Outgoing Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn should be eager to vote YES this time.

The next item on Jeffries’ agenda was restoring cuts to health care that are leaving millions of Americans without it and millions more struggling with higher Obamacare premiums added on to the price of food and energy.  He stressed that investigations of corruption and malfeasance will take place, but he did not direct Trump-like anger and vitriol at his defeated opponents.

Of greater importance, Jeffries addressed the diversity of the new Democratic Party, reminding Americans that both his Party and the Constitution are broad tents that encourage dissent and promote synergy, the polar opposite of what happens when our leaders surround themselves with yes-people and sycophants. Case in point: Abdul El-Sayed, who handily won his Senate race in Michigan, was not my favorite candidate, nor was he loved by many other Democrats, especially in Jewish communities.

But as a Jew, myself, I see a good deal of truth in El-Sayed’s criticism of the actions taken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I strongly support Israel’s right to exist in peace, but that doesn’t stop me from being horrified at Netanyahu’s attempted genocide in Gaza. I decry El-Sayed’s most radical comments, but there’s room in the Senate for his point of view. Without it, presidents like Trump can run amok as Trump has done throughout his current term.

I hope Jeffries and soon to be restored Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will reclaim Congress’s constitutional responsibility to assess and manage tariffs. Where Trump used them as cudgels to try to force allies like Canada to heel to his leadership, the Democrats will follow the advice of leading economists who actually understand how trade agreements and tax policies work. Another priority of the Democrats must be to restore Europe and specifically NATO’s confidence in America. The least we can expect is an end to the shocking corruption and incompetence of Trump’s people, who have consistently used economic and diplomatic initiatives to enrich themselves.

Of all Trump’s bad policies and the harm he has done, one of the worst was his treatment of Canada. I therefore rejoice with my Canadian friends, who while suffering serious financial harm from the Trump administration, have consistently made it clear that they stand with most Americans and feel the pain Trump has bestowed on us. We have never had an ally like Canada, and we never will. A strong North-American confederation would greatly benefit all of us, but it should be based on mutual respect and recognition of the value each nation brings to the table.