In just six months, the global landscape seems dramatically altered. What once seemed like conventional wisdom now feels out of touch.
Things that were inconceivable just a while ago have become disappointingly average.
Recall when there were about 10,000 illegal crossings each day during Biden’s presidency?
Many believe “comprehensive immigration reform” is the answer, essentially a sweeping pardon of sorts.
Now, however, the influx of new illegal immigrants has vanished, likely due to the enforcement of current immigration laws and a shift in presidential policies.
And what about the reported shortage of 40,000-50,000 recruits in the military?
There were many reasons cited for the challenges—gang affiliations, obesity, substance abuse, and fierce competition from civilian jobs.
Yet now? Recruitment goals have been met in a surprisingly short time. It’s a controversial topic, to say the least.
So, what’s the reason? The new Pentagon has turned previous practices on their heads, eliminating what was deemed a biased program, which, in turn, has invited middle-class rural Americans—including white men—back into the ranks. They had disproportionately served and sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What’s changed with NATO? Once a point of contention involving American pressure, most member nations are now not just meeting but exceeding their defense spending commitments, planning to increase from 2% to 5% of their GDP.
Countries like Sweden and Finland, previously neutral, have now armed themselves and joined the front lines of NATO. The NATO Secretary-General even dubbed Trump as the “daddy” of the alliance.
As for Iran, a longstanding player in the Middle East drama, they haven’t won a war in over fifty years. Their proxies, like Hezbollah and Hamas, seem a threat, yet, now? Most of these groups have been severely weakened, with their leadership either in hiding or eliminated.
Iran lacks a strong air force, an effective navy, or a credible nuclear program. Its safety relies heavily, it seems, on the leniency or decisions of either the US or Israel, which could strike at any moment.
What about the dire predictions of recession, hyperinflation, market crashes, and rising unemployment from economists just a few months back?
Employment growth has been solid, and inflation in April was at its lowest in four years. The GDP remains steady.
The stock market has even reached new heights. Trading partners are in negotiations with the US to maintain a foothold in its consumer market.
These nations seem eager to establish reasonable tariffs, believing the benefits could outweigh the costs.
With tax cuts, deregulation efforts, and the push for increased energy production, the grip of the Green New Deal is loosening, possibly opening the door for $8 to $10 trillion in foreign investment.
Then there’s been our elite universities.
After a crackdown on their long-held arrogance, one university president has quite publicly resigned. It appears as if the public is catching on to their excesses.
The campus has backtracked from their resistance against a recent Supreme Court ruling on civil rights.
Now, they seem frantic to clarify what prejudiced ideologies really mean, especially given their recruitment of foreign students from oppressive regimes.
As a result, these prestigious institutions appear to be humbled, now focusing on correcting their course and returning to the core purpose of unbiased education.
What happened to the assertion that gender is merely a social construct and that biological males should dominate women’s sports?
People seem to have awoken to the idea that gender is determined biologically. Many are now saying that those who dominate women’s sports are not champions; they’re bullies.
And where are the billionaires who championed movements like BLM? What happened to the supposedly unshakeable wisdom that was proffered?
I wonder where figures like Professor Ibram X. Kendi are now, after charging $30,000 for lessons on combating racism with what many perceive as racism.
These individuals have been exposed for what they are—merchants of racial conflict. The notion that it’s acceptable for a supposed victim to harbor racist views has been revealed as untenable.
So, what spurred this transformation?
For years, we lived in a world where it felt like “the emperor has no clothes.” Many recognized that the establishment narrative was ridiculous and that our so-called experts were even more so.
But it took a bit of courage to finally call out, “The Emperor is naked,” shattering those illusions. Once that occurred, reality seemed to return.
Victor Davis Hanson is a distinguished fellow at the American Center for Greatness.
