People might say the economy is more important to their voting, but it's not as prominent in the public discourse (which happens not only on the floor of Congre

People might say the economy is more important to their voting, but it's not as prominent in the public discourse (which happens not only on the floor of Congress, speeches, and the occasional debate but in newspapers and on TV and social media). As an outsider who took a passing interest in the last presidential election, I couldn't meaningfully distinguish the candidates' economic policies (I think they both promised to cut taxes and increase government spending, while reducing inflation and the cost of living for ordinary Americans). But I could have told you where they stood on all the culture war talking points. In hindsight, you could perhaps point to things Trump said as an intention to start a trade war with all major trading partners - the defining economic policy of his term so far. But at the time, 150% tariffs on China weren't seen as any more likely than a huge wall that Mexico will pay for.