When was the last time you went a whole day without thinking about the president?
Just this month, you may have seen that Donald Trump posted a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama, demanded Dulles International Airport and Penn Station be renamed for him, falsely claimed that he was “100% exonerated” on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, nominated a man accused of being a white nationalist to the State Department and criticized the Super Bowl halftime show, to name just a few headlines.
It’s no small irony, then, that Presidents’ Day may be one of the few days this year that many Americans won’t hear much about Trump. Whether they’re using their day off to get outside for a hike or head to the mall (Presidents’ Day sales!), they could be blissfully tuned out from the nonstop barrage.
A nonstop presidency wasn’t supposed to be the norm. The Framers of the Constitution envisioned that Congress would be the rowdy center of American political life, with the president only stepping in during an emergency or to outline a broad goal for the country. They certainly didn’t think he would be the constant center of everyone’s attention, like your messy friend who is always having a crisis during your birthday party.
Yes, I know that I cover national politics and live in Washington, D.C., so I may be more attuned to the drama than the average American. But the data suggests I’m not alone.
This is a preview of Ryan Teague Beckwith’s latest column. Read the full column here.
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