The country appears to be in the midst of a populist awakening, with a majority signaling approval for a wave of MAGA-inspired reforms in the recent election that would combat corporate interests, decentralize loci of power, and create a fairer playing field for everyday Americans. Taking note of the shift in the climate, even Democrats in the media have rushed to signal their own populist credentials and have struck a friendlier tune when it comes to Trump.
It remains to be seen if lawmakers will heed this trend as carefully as some media figures already have. We’ll have an early test for that in a number of states starting next month, in which a battle is already quietly brewing over a type of legislation known as right of first refusal acts. Wisconsin seems poised to go first.
