The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Americans have had enough of Trump-GOP’s cruelty, incompetence, lies and stupidity. There’s hope; Americans are organizing, protesting and voting. The turnout for No Kings protests was stunning in Wisconsin and across America. Moreover, Americans are voting for their pocketbooks – affordability and economic security – and against corruption, police state tactics and bigotry. Pollsters have found vehement majority opposition to the Iran War.

Since Trump took power in 2025, Democrats have swept gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia by double digits, won all 3 Pennsylvania state Supreme Court contests and local elections across the nation. In addition, Democrats have flipped 30 GOP-held state legislative seats, including Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida palace, and another seat in Tampa.

In Wisconsin, voters rebuffed Musk’s millions electing Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court, and appear poised to repeat that win by electing Judge Chris Taylor. But please don’t take this for granted; vote before or on Tuesday, April 7. Moreover, the Wisconsin 3rd CD is key to winning a Democratic-led House. Candidate Rebecca Cooke, a family farm daughter, fits the CD perfectly and is laser focused on an economy that works for regular folks. Coming from a military family, Cooke is spot-on in criticizing the costly, senseless and unconstitutional Iran War.

Trump, in a self-imposed corner, is flailing with ever shifting rationales for the war and a seat-of-the-pants strategy. Trump, who avoided military service, dishonors U.S. casualties by shamefully fundraising off their deaths. Truth is also a casualty. Trump, his appointees and the GOP attack the press because they want to hide the truth. Here’s what they don’t want you to know: “Russia giving Iran targeting data to attack U.S. assets” (Washington Post); lifting sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil in a delusion to somehow reduce the price of oil, but giving both countries a windfall to kill Ukrainians and Americans; and Trump’s lies about bombing an Iranian school and ending the Iran War.

Iran is a monstrous, authoritarian theocracy, but Trump’s war has opened up the gates of hell. The war is escalating fast with thousands of U.S. ground troops on the way. The global economy is in trouble as oil and gas prices soar, including the U.S., with higher interest rates and more economic trouble for farmers. Affordability and economic security are not soundbites. Drew Altman, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), said: “The war may cost Republicans some votes with independents and some MAGA Republicans opposed to foreign and ‘forever’ wars, who may stay home and not vote, but healthcare costs have staying power as one of the top voter concerns.”

A KFF survey found that Trump and the GOP’s refusal to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced tax credits caused enrollees to drop coverage or to “cut back on basic household expenses to afford coverage.” Moreover, Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, says ACA enrollment is “too high”, millions will lose ACA healthcare coverage.

Monsters at home. Voters know a better, corrective path in the November midterm elections. 

Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.