Despite the Mueller investigations heating up and many wanting to know exactly the nature of President Trump’s possible Russian collusion, Trump has quickly pivoted his attention away to other issues, including Obamacare. This pivot is reflected in our media, where issues of Trump policy conflicting with Obama-era policy is becoming more prevalent. This week we look at this trend as illustrated in four particular policies, approaches, or shifts of the Trump administration away from the policies of his predecessor.
Instructors, click on the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt, a debate question, as well as other assessment questions.
Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Obama Policy in the Trump Era
Video
President Donald Trump Again Embraces Full Repeal Of Obamacare Ahead Of 2020
Trump is again calling for a repeal of Obamacare while calling the GOP the party of health care, despite having no outlined play for replacing the existing health care law. Kelsey Snell and Alexi McCammond discuss.
Trump’s pivot from Mueller report to Obamacare stuns many in GOP
The Justice Department is deciding how much of the Mueller report the public will get to see. But the latest CBS News poll finds 77 percent of Americans want the special counsel’s findings on Russian election interference to be made public. Now the president is pivoting from the Mueller report to health care, vowing to terminate Obamacare with or without the new divided Congress. Major Garrett reports.
Articles
- Judge says Trump can’t re-open Arctic waters that Obama closed to drilling
- How killing Obamacare could backfire for Trump
- Trump Administration Dims Rule On Energy Efficient Lightbulbs
- Trump Revokes Obama-Era Rule on Disclosing Civilian Casualties From U.S. Airstrikes Outside War Zones
Assessment
Writing: Regarding a specific policy: How do you feel about drilling for oil in the Arctic? Does it seem good or bad, and why?
Debate: Should we compare current presidents to past ones? After all, aren’t they living in a different time and place? Discuss.
Poll: Is it important for our government to have transparency? For example, should the government let us know what exactly it does and why?
- Yes, No, Unsure
Short Answer: In a scenario where you would have to choose: Are issues of the environment or the Affordable Care Act more important to you?
Current Events Quiz
Currently, presidents are allowed to declare waters off-limits for oil drilling, but they cannot:
- Reopen them
- Close them twice
- Exceed the Department of the Interior budget in doing so
- Close them without first consulting the National Park Service
Trump has promised plans to do this, which depends on Affordable Care Act funding to:
- Normalize vaccinations
- Eradicate the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- Eliminate all STDs and STIs
- Close the national parks
Until recently, Trump did not consistently support:
- Any of the Affordable Care Act
- Clause 2.9 of the Affordable Care Act
- Throwing out the Affordable Care Act completely
- Changing the name of the Affordable Care Act
Due to Obama legislation, you may have seen more ____ on your store shelves in the last few years.
- National Park Service coupons
- Water pistols
- Drones
- LED lightbulbs
Trump’s policy regarding drones reflects a lack of:
- Thoughtfulness
- Transparency
- Conformities
- Military acumen
Photo credit: The New York State Senate