ROOKE: It Only Took A Couple Weeks For Dark Skies To Clear Up For GOP’s Future

The Republican Party has faced ongoing challenges in 2025, including economic pressures, immigration concerns, and criticism over inaction in Washington. Yet, under President Donald Trump’s leadership in early 2026, a renewed sense of optimism is emerging within the GOP.

New year, new party? Not exactly. While core issues like stagnant economy, border security, and bureaucratic gridlock persist, Trump’s decisive actions are creating momentum for progress and demonstrating the impact of strong leadership.

Take Venezuela as a prime example. U.S. forces conducted a successful operation, capturing former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and bringing them to the United States to face longstanding drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. This bold move removed a hostile regime, enhancing American national security by disrupting alliances with adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China, as well as narco-trafficking networks. (Sign up for Mary Rooke’s weekly newsletter here!)

Economically, Trump’s move will deliver immediate gains. Venezuelan officials have agreed to supply the U.S. with 30 to 50 million barrels of oil at market prices, stabilizing energy markets, reducing dependence on unreliable sources, and helping lower gas prices for Americans. The intervention showcases a president who is decisively committed to protecting U.S. interests.

Building on this momentum, Trump’s tariff policies are positioned to yield tangible benefits in 2026 as companies ramp up reshoring efforts to navigate the trade environment. While they appeared to be a drain on the American economy in 2025, these tariffs encourage domestic production, reversing years of offshoring that cost American jobs. Apple expanded U.S. facilities for products like iPads and Watches. Nvidia initiated major investments in chip manufacturing in Arizona and Texas. Intel and TSMC accelerated semiconductor plants in Ohio and Arizona. General Electric increased its domestic operations. Whirlpool announced expansions for domestic appliance production.

GE Appliances plans to shift production of refrigerators, gas ranges and water heaters out of China and Mexico as part of a more than $3 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.

The investment is expected to… pic.twitter.com/LSuMiVXPdb

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 13, 2025

These initiatives are driving a revival in American industry, generating higher-wage jobs, more resilient supply chains, and greater energy independence. As facilities become operational in 2026, communities in manufacturing centers will see real economic gains, reinforcing support for the GOP’s America First approach.

Further bolstering this trajectory is Trump’s firm response to fraud scandals, especially those involving Somali-operated programs in Minnesota, where billions in taxpayer funds were allegedly diverted in childcare and welfare schemes. The administration has deployed approximately 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis, frozen suspicious funding, and launched comprehensive investigations to uphold accountability. The focus on enforcing the law protects public resources for American citizens.

For Republicans, the Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota serves as a powerful unifying issue, galvanizing the party around a shared agenda to overhaul immigration policies, reform entitlement programs, and strengthen oversight mechanisms — all while reinforcing core commitments to fiscal responsibility and border security. The allegations involve billions in misused federal funds through childcare and welfare schemes, with the Justice Department charging 98 individuals, most of Somali origin, in what has been described as one of the largest fraud operations in U.S. history.

Win #10 – Minnesota Somali Fraud

As @nickshirleyy’s excellent reporting has revealed, Tim Walz’s Minnesota is rife with fraud.

To date, the DOJ has charged 98 total defendants—85 of Somali descent—in Medicaid fraud and related case programs. 64 defendants have been convicted so…

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) January 1, 2026

It allows the perfect opportunity for GOP leaders to highlight how Democrats promoted lax immigration enforcement and inadequate vetting that have enabled such abuses. Republicans should propose reforms like blocking immigrants from accessing benefits, mandatory audits for high-risk programs, and stricter penalties for those who exploit our systems.

By framing the scandal as a symptom of broader systemic failures under prior administrations, Republicans can rally their base, attract independents frustrated with waste, and build momentum for comprehensive reforms that protect American resources and sovereignty. (ROOKE: American Might Or Paper Tigers Everywhere? Trump Exposed The World For What It Truly Is)

Republicans’ main goal for the rest of 2026 is not to waste this opportunity. Maximize domestic efforts to revitalize the economy and address fraud, waste, and abuse of American taxpayer dollars. Use the wins to highlight the successes in messaging and campaigns, pursue legislation to solidify them, and engage grassroots supporters. Trump has once again set the stage for them to win. All the GOP has to do is not screw it up.

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