Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the week’s events with editorial page editor Tom Moran.
Q. Here comes 2025, and the start of the race for governor in New Jersey. Does Donald Trump’s strong showing in November tell us that Republicans have a good shot? Or does a Trump presidency light a fire under Democrats and give their candidate an edge?
Julie: It’s too soon to tell. Trump can seriously go off the rails in the first six months, which would impact the race in New Jersey. But I will say that Republicans have as good a shot as they have had in many, many years. After eight years of one-party rule in Trenton, voters may be ready for a change, which is why it is important that we nominate someone who can’t be easily painted as just another extension of the Murphy years.
Mike: Agree with Julie. Certainly, Trump’s stronger showing gives Republicans hope for next year. But I remember when George W. Bush had a similarly strong showing in 2004, giving Republicans hope, only to see Democrat Jon Corzine trounce Republican Doug Forrester by double digits the following year. What remains to be seen is if this realignment is specific only to Trump or a broader victory for the Republican party (or longer-term repudiation of Democrats). Let’s see if how popular Trump is in 10 months, and who gets nominated on each side. Candidates matter.
Q. Trump says he wants to take possession of Greenland once he sworn in as president. As he put it, the U.S. “feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” President Truman floated this same idea, and Greenland’s population of 56,000 has the legal right to declare its independence from Denmark. Is this more than a late-night joke?
Julie: Are we going back to the “might makes right” era of foreign affairs, where larger countries can just take “ownership and control” of weaker countries? Greenland is no more for sale to the United States than Ukraine is for sale to Vladimir Putin. Voters supported Trump because he promised them cheaper eggs, not the invasion of Greenland.
Mike: The colonial era of this world is over, or should be. We aren’t taking Greenland or Canada or anything else.
Q. How about Panama? There, too, Trump is making noises about taking the canal back, saying Panama is charging too much for passage. “This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop,” he wrote.
Julie: See above. The Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine is not what voters signed up for. In Panama’s case, Trump is exacting revenge because the Trump Organization got bounced out of Panama and accused of tax evasion in the process. With Trump, always look to his personal revenge schemes and grievances if you are looking for the motivation for any official act. Trump will be judged on his promise to lower the price of groceries (good luck with that). Let’s not focus on every shiny object he throws our way to deflect from his inevitable failure to do that.
Mike: Negotiating better rates is not the same as taking over a foreign power. The US uses soft and hard diplomacy all over the world to get its way, and our might and wealth are major factors in our success, but so is the fact that for the last 120 years, we have been the first major power in the history of the world to win wars and not take land as a result. Our might also comes from the country’s inherent goodness as a superpower and the trust that’s been built up over more than a century. Our strength does not come from taking what we want, but from guaranteeing peace and freedom for others.
Q. Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for the regime in Iran? An acute power shortage has triggered an economic crisis, with businesses and schools forced to shut down for lack of power. Meanwhile, Iran’s allies in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza have all suffered crushing defeats. What about the hawkish voices saying this is the time to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities?
Julie: The regime in Iran cannot collapse soon enough, but the worst thing the United States could do right now is to launch an overt military strike in order to hasten regime change. This is where regional diplomacy is helpful and I hope that there is someone in Trump’s orbit, whether it is Secretary of State designee Marco Rubio or someone else who understands the delicacy of this moment.
Mike: Julie is right. We want the end of this Iranian regime, and it is happening. The US can hasten Iran’s demise without overt military action.
Q. Meanwhile, as civilian deaths continue to mount in Gaza, Pope Frances described Israel’s bombardments as “cruel.” Why do we so rarely hear that kind of language from American politicians?
Julie: Because one can only imagine the hell on earth that the United States would unleash on a regime that invaded our country; raped, killed, maimed, tortured and kidnapped our civilians; and then held the remaining victims hostage in unspeakable conditions for over a year. Because too many of our leaders have buried their heads in the sand as American Jews face increasing levels of antisemitism in the wake of all this, on college campuses and in the streets of our cities. If Pope Francis wants to take the lead on negotiating the release of hostages in exchange for the end of this war, I nominate him to do that.
Julie: I cannot stand Netanyahu and most of what he does but I would also ask His Holiness: Is it just Israel’s bombardment that’s cruel, or is Hamas’ penchant for hiding behind civilian targets also cruel? Let’s not forget how this all started: with the brutal rape, torture, murder and abduction of innocent Israelis. If the remaining hostages – including a small boy who has lived longer in captivity than in freedom – were released tomorrow, the bombardments would stop.
Mike: Well said. I admire Pope Francis’ desire for peace. All should desire peace. But there can be no unilateral disarming in the face of terrorists who will continue to kill if given the chance. I don’t know how peace in the Middle East is achieved, perhaps ever, but it starts with both sides stopping, not just one. Hamas broke the ceasefire, and Israelis will not relent until they feel they are safe.
Q. Finally, the drones. The contractor who is credited with sighting the first drone, near Picatinny Arsenal, told the New York Times he had regrets. “I feel like I’ve caused mass hysteria,” he said. The FBI has received more than 5,000 reports of drone sitings, and drones have been banned from Trump’s golf club in Bedminster and Picatinny. What do you think? Mass hysteria, or possible space invasion?
Julie: After what happened on November 5th, I would be relieved if our alien overlords were to invade. That might be an improvement.
Mike: Take me to your leader, Julie. The hysteria is silly. We have so many airports near here. Every day, 400,000 passengers pass through Newark, JFK and LaGuardia — not to mention Teterboro, Morristown and a dozen more, small and large, between Westchester, Philly, and Atlantic City. Yet air traffic has not been halted, not even once as hundreds of thousands of souls pass through our skies every day. If there was any danger at all, planes would have been grounded, no chances taken. Whatever it is or was, the government did not think we were in danger.
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A note to readers: Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global, has worked for Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy. We will disclose specific connections only when readers might otherwise be misled.
