Ever since Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump crashed through the gates of American politics in 2015, the professional moderates of both major political parties have twisted their ears toward the dreaded sound of oncoming hooves.
For Republicans, the stampede is an ever-present threat, awaiting irritated instruction from the Oval Office. Even in his waning final-midterm season, Trump in 2026 managed to oust in primaries two sitting United States senators, further cementing his decadelong teardown and reconstruction of the GOP.
