Democrats aren’t waiting for midterms results or any more polls: They’re sketching out a post-Trump playbook. From politicians on Capitol Hill to outside advocacy groups, the Washington Post reports, Democrats are drafting bills and ethics plans aimed at narrowing presidential power, tightening conflict-of-interest rules, and rebuilding barriers between the White House and the Justice Department once President Trump is out of office. Ideas on the table include curbing emergency powers used to justify tariffs and troop deployments, forcing public review of White House renovations, barring presidents from taking foreign payments without Congress’ signoff, and blocking settlements that could shield a sitting president from tax scrutiny.
There’s also a push to prohibit politically motivated prosecutions, require blind trusts for wealthy officials, and bolster civil service protections so a president can’t easily oust career staff members. Backers frame it as a Watergate-style reform moment waiting to happen, noting a Pew survey that found broad unease with expanding presidential authority. Conservatives call the effort hollow, arguing that Democrats won’t constrain their own presidents and that Trump is operating within a long tradition of muscular executive action. Even some advocates warn the big test won’t be writing new laws, but whether a polarized Congress—and a public that may like decisive action—will actually enforce them. The Post piece can be found here.