The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Democrats on track to outperform 2026 House forecasts
English Summary
The Brookings report argues that Democrats are positioned for a significant electoral gain in the 2026 House, projecting a potential swing of 25-30 seats. This advantage is attributed not to local issues, but to powerful national trends, including the incumbent party's low approval ratings and a structural 'diploma divide' that grants Democrats a turnout advantage. Strategically, the findings imply that Democrats should focus on mobilizing voters based on national discontent and educational patterns, while Republicans face an uphill battle against historical midterm losses and structural electoral headwinds.
中文摘要
布魯金斯（Brookings）報告指出，民主黨在2026年眾議院選舉中有望取得顯著的選票增益，預計可能搖擺25至30席。報告認為，這一優勢並非源於地方議題，而是歸功於強大的國家趨勢，包括現任黨派低支持率，以及一種結構性的「學歷鴻溝」（diploma divide），這使民主黨獲得了更高的投票率優勢。從策略角度來看，研究結果暗示民主黨應著重於動員基於國家不滿和教育模式的選民；而共和黨則面臨著與歷史中期選舉失利和結構性選舉逆風抗衡的艱鉅挑戰。
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