Welcome to the first edition of MSNBC's newest pop-up newsletter. We'll be sharing news and analysis with you each Tuesday about the political and policy implications of President-elect Donald J. Trump's second term in office. If you do not wish to receive these updates, click here to opt-out.
The beginning of a president's second term is not always exciting. Re-election often means the voters liked what they saw during the first term and want more of the same. The president's major goals have either been met already or proved out of reach, perhaps for good. There's little mystery about what may happen next.
That is not the case for Trump's second term.
As the president-elect prepares to take office again later this month, there are serious questions about what he may do, ranging from pardoning the Jan. 6 attackers to firing federal workers to beginning mass deportations. Trump has indicated he may seriously test the guardrails of democracy as he pursues an often contradictory agenda.
In his first term, Trump did not follow through on a lot of his campaign promises. He starts his second term with a 920-page conservative playbook but also a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. He has more experience in using the powers of the presidency but also remains the same impulsive and often shortsighted politician.
With all that in mind, we will be watching Trump's first 100 days — for the second time — with a close eye for what it means for the future of the country. Will Trump succeed in pushing the country farther to the right, follow through on his populist rhetoric or get mired in political infighting?
Those first months will provide clues, which we will cover in this newsletter each week, with analysis from MSNBC contributors such as Charlie Sykes, Susan Del Percio and Paul Waldman. Thanks for reading!
