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The animating beliefs of this administration range from dangerously wrong to head-spinningly crazy. Tariffs are in the first tranche, along with the myth that NATO has been ripping off the United States for decades, that immigrants commit more crimes than native-born Americans and that "He who saves his country commits no crime" (just to name four). The beliefs that vaccines cause autism, that fluoridated water is a public health threat, that threatening allies and neighbors enhances national security, and that taxing foreign holders of Treasuries would be a good way to solve the (nonexistent) problem of trade deficits belong in the second tranche.
The Trump administration marries insane ideas to gross, bullying tactics. But even when this administration stumbles upon an idea that is not deranged, illegal or immoral, it has the capacity to do great harm. I'm thinking of the reported plans to encourage marriage and motherhood. The administration is considering proposals to award mothers $5,000 "baby bonuses," to reserve 30% of Fulbright scholarships to parents, to reduce the costs of IVF (not clear how) and to fund programs to educate women about ovulation cycles (I kid you not).
I've been promoting marriage for decades, not as part of a religious agenda but as the result of studying the social science literature demonstrating that marriage makes adults happier than non-marriage and that stable, two-parent homes are the very best environment for raising children, building thriving neighborhoods and reducing crime, homelessness and substance abuse.
The Trump administration cannot adopt this message without turning it rancid. If you hope to persuade people, you must start by showing good faith — that your intentions for them are good. This crowd has displayed open contempt for women — at least those women who vote for the other party or otherwise assert their individuality. In light of the president's apparent requirement that any nominee for a major cabinet role have at least one serious accusation of sexual misconduct, the vice president's sneers about "childless cat ladies" seem mild. Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pete Hegseth and Linda McMahon all trailed accusations that would have been disqualifying in any other administration. (Only Gaetz was undone.)
But then, the thrice-married, adulterous president himself has been found legally liable for sexual assault in the E. Jean Carroll case and has been accused of similar behavior half a dozen or so times by other women. What that may mean is that Trump must convince himself and others that accusations of sexual misconduct are always and everywhere "fake news." Also, he just doesn't give a damn. Trump has endorsed and campaigned with sexual predators ranging from Roy Moore to Herschel Walker, and one of his first acts as president in the second term was to effectuate the release of Andrew and Tristan Tate from custody in Romania on rape and human trafficking charges. (So they "can" effectuate releases from foreign countries.)