This glaring weakness could bring Trump to his knees

President Donald Trump has left his opponents an opening, one with which Democrats can claw away at his seemingly unbreakable hold on power in Washington. It is just not necessarily one that jumps to mind.

In the entirety of Trump's term, nothing has galvanized interest and controversy like the fate of the Epstein files. Yet despite righteous fury over what appears to be an obvious cover-up of historic proportions, there is nothing to indicate that scandal alone, no matter how big and worthy, can threaten Trump's governing coalition and backing in Congress.

So without giving so much as an inch on the Epstein matter, Democrats must prove that they handle two priorities at once by focusing on the vast numbers of voters Trump has left behind in an economy starting to teeter on the brink of a serious downturn.

The Left needs "Project 2026: An economy for all Americans."

For all his wretched racism, his shocking authoritarianism, the never-ending scandals, even increasing concerns about his cognitive decline, Trump and MAGA still poll at their historic average — somewhere between 42-45 percent approval.

But without regard to the baggage, Trump has never had to defend himself amidst serious economic worry. Additionally, he's given no indication to anyone, supporters or otherwise, that he prioritizes working wages, has a plan to fight inflation, or a way to defend the average American's standard of living. Trump has left his entire flank exposed by favoring the fate of his billionaire buddies and crypto-bros.

"No tax on tips" isn't even the tip of an iceberg when it comes to policies promoting working and middle-class voters, definitely not with Medicaid cuts, inflation, and weak job growth.

But that is not Trump's only problem. The choice to fire someone over the release of a moderately disappointing jobs report, as well as a history of trying to create his own reality, demonstrates a preference to conceal that which Americans already feel rather than put forth a plan in response.

It says, "I don't care."

Fitting, because nothing indicates he does.

And that is the flank Democrats must attack. Fortunately, such an action plan need not come at the expense of shedding any values. Democrats can and must still defend equality across all lines. Protect the environment. Investigate Epstein. And hold tight to democracy over authoritarianism. The good news is that it can be done without much difficulty. The ground is that wide open.

Trump's absolute power depends wholly on a subservient Congress, something made infinitely easier during relatively good economic times. Democrats must force Congressional Republicans to continue to do Trump's bidding on Epstein, militarizing cities, tax cuts for billionaires, and tariffs, but now make them own it while dancing backward in a spiraling economic symphony.

Make them defend the Trump economy, knowing he has nothing to offer as Americans lose ground by the month.

We know Trump feels vulnerable. He claims numbers are hoaxed while fighting to shamelessly redistrict Congress. Anything and everything to create an illusion while avoiding a plan. But Americans know that prices aren't hoaxed, and their vote remains theirs without regard to district. The question falls to Democrats: do they have a plan? Can you dance?

Trump taught us all that branding matters in meme-based minds. So brand it.

"Project 2026: An Economy for All Americans."

It is true that much of Trump's appeal to his base rests on racism, misogyny, nativism, and theocratic urges, but consider all that as baked in the base and immovable — sad as it is. Americans are even supporting his militarization of Washington. The only opening lies in pure economic self-interest, the part Trump overlooks as politically unimportant. Maybe it's not to MAGAs … in a good economy.

I pound this all the time. Trump has never had to defend himself amidst bad economic news. The concerning reports are just now starting to trickle in, and the predictions are that it will get worse. Create a plan to be on top of it as the problems snowball, slowing the economy further. All power means all blame.

Yes, the fact the federal government is suppressing evidence of Trump's ties to the world's most notorious child sex-trafficker is important, and every Democrat in Congress needs to press the issue. But no one better rely on a scandal to sufficiently smash Trump's 2026 numbers. He is already accusing the victims of being nothing more than "Democrats." His true base will buy it.

But they won't be buying homes, cars, or even beef in the coming year. Sad as it is, perhaps only that realization will allow Democrats to pick off perhaps one-third of Trump's supporters, now looking at him with a more critical eye. One wishes that the racism, the rape allegations, the authoritarianism, vulgarity, all of it, were enough. It hasn't been so far and, infuriating as it may be, there's no reason to think it ever will be.

But backing down in quiet rage isn't an option. Fortunately, the flank that Trump left exposed is really exposed.

He has nothing on the horizon, and his hard work for billionaires leaves a soon-to-be convenient opening. Democrats need only to prioritize economic action for all and then sell it. Propose an immediate increase in minimum wage, affordable daycare, give tax breaks to employers who pay higher wages and salaries, and stack real numbers into a real plan of action to really get a message across.

One message focused on one election.

For God's sake, start now to have it in place as we go back to school, to the holidays, all leading into 2026. Juxtapose "the Trump economy" with "Project 2026: An economy for all Americans." Talk "trickle up," invest in working Americans, rescind the "tariff tax," and bring it up all the time, every time.

Trump's entire professional and political career is composed of backpedalling from scandal and panic, but never amidst growing economic angst. He is defenseless.

Attack that flank and watch how fast everything else starts to finally matter.