During the final day of the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference, a panel of seasoned journalists gathered to discuss the challenges facing the nation in a time of heightened political and economic uncertainty. The discussion shed light on the deep divisions and shifting dynamics that have come to define the current political landscape, from the turbulent policies of the Trump administration to the Democratic Party’s struggle to connect with voters.
According to Ryan, the state of the economy is at the heart of the public’s concerns, suggesting that it is now “the coupon class versus the ruling class.”
The panelists grappled with the impact of the Trump administration’s “America First” policies on the economy, debating whether the disruptive approach was necessary or ineffective. “Back in the day, we used to see these commercials [to] ‘look for the union label,’” Ryan said. “The concept of what [Trump]’s saying is actually perfect, but the execution of it: there’s the problem.”
Cupp added that the uncertainty and “chaos” created by the administration’s policies have made measuring the true economic impact difficult. “The uncertainty is the biggest challenge of the uncertainty,” she said, pointing to the administration’s approach to regulations as a key example.
“Trump came in promising to really cut regulations,” Cupp said. “But he was so disinterested in the process that he actually ended up adding regulations because 77% of what he did was overturned by courts. That chaos, uncertainty, and disinterest in how to best do it show up in a lot of things.”
The discussion also delved into the recent efforts to cut government spending, particularly in areas like health care and aviation.
Ryan expressed concerns about the “human cost” of these cuts, noting the potential impact on vulnerable populations, such as Medicaid recipients and federal employees.
“This is where it’s no rhyme or reason,” Ryan said. “… the people left with their active key cards … could get into the websites and do anything. This was not HR. This was, ‘I’m going to cut waste, fraud, and abuse, not knowing how it’s impacted.’ And this is … our federal government that we trust … but where does human life fit into this?”
Both panelists suggested that the cuts were not well-executed or targeted, leading to unintended and far-reaching consequences.
The conversation also touched on the shifting political landscape, with the panelists discussing the importance of messaging and outreach.
Cupp criticized the Democratic Party’s approach, suggesting it has not effectively addressed the key concerns of voters. Additionally, she cautioned against the Party’s “protectiveness” against candidates, recounting her invitation to interview former Vice President Kamala Harris, but being restricted from asking her own questions. “[There’s this] desire to protect and bubble wrap these people.”
The rise of independent and third-party candidates was also discussed, with the panelists acknowledging the growing dissatisfaction with the traditional two-party system.
“When the two parties are telling you, ‘you don’t check every one of these boxes, you’re not a good enough Republican or you’re not a good enough Democrat’ … well, most of us don’t check all the boxes,” Cupp said. “And if more people start feeling like [moderates], they’re going to say no to the Republicans and no to the Democrats.”
This 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference session was sponsored by Delta Air Lines.
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