Fierce race behind the scenes

With a packed schedule, arranging a 30-minute meeting these days is not easy for many leaders of research and policy consulting agencies (also known as think tanks) in the US.

Influential forces

Meeting me, the head of an American think tank shared: "From November 4th until the end of the week, I did not have a single moment of rest. I had to work continuously with sponsors on the developments and scenarios of the US election."

The south side of the White House just before Election Day.

Think tanks receive funding from organizations and individuals to operate, from research and policy advice to governments, businesses and other organizations both in and outside the United States. In addition, there are also think tanks that are lobbying organizations that play a "pillar" role for politicians and political parties in the United States. In these cases, think tanks must strive to support political factions throughout the election process.

Having breakfast with me at 8:30 at the Cosmos Club - a place in Washington DC frequented by the elite, a former senior US official and think tank worker had to "hit and run" to keep moving. He had just returned to Washington DC at midnight the night before after many days of "wandering" everywhere. And when the election is still "convoluted", the work schedule of such people will be "breathless", even if they are no longer working in the government.

There are now more than 2,200 think tanks in the United States, more than double the number of think tanks in the country in the 1980s. In theory, think tanks generate new ideas for policymaking, evaluate existing policies, draw attention to neglected issues, bring together experts for discussion, and interact with the media. They also engage in political advocacy efforts.

However, there are also some allegations that much of the policy advocacy work of think tanks is done covertly in closed, informal, and non-public meetings. Such allegations suggest that there is a potential risk that policymakers will adopt the views of think tanks. In other words, these allegations concern the manipulation of policy by think tanks.

Typically, in August, a UK-based investigative journalism organization, The Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR), released a video containing a conversation with Mr. Russell Vought - a co-author of Project 2025. A famous figure on the right wing, Mr. Vought once headed the US Office of Management and Budget (under the White House) under President Donald Trump.

In the video, Mr. Vought reveals his behind-the-scenes work to prepare policy if former President Trump returns to the White House. Specifically, he reveals policies that would expand presidential power while tightening immigration. The expert even claims that his team is secretly drafting hundreds of executive orders, regulations, and memos to lay the groundwork for quick action on former President Trump's plans if he wins the election, and describes his work as creating "shadow" agencies for the White House if Mr. Trump returns to power.

Of course, the Democratic Party also has "friendly" think tanks. Therefore, when the election takes place, the think tanks also enter the fierce race behind the scenes.

Extended until after the election

Meanwhile, many think tanks that do not have direct political interests in the US, but instead lobby for businesses or foreign countries, will have to pursue other activities.

A polling place in Arlington County, Virginia.

"From now on, we have to evaluate the scenarios of the election results. After the official election results, we have to consider potential candidates for positions in the cabinet of the next US President, thereby forecasting upcoming policies," said the head of a department of a think tank specializing in European relations with the US as well as cooperation within NATO.

According to the assessment, if former President Donald Trump wins, it is likely that a new "team" will be brought into the White House, but the members of his "team" in the 2017 - 2021 term will hardly be able to return after many of his former subordinates have criticized him. For that reason, many forecasts say that if Mr. Trump wins the election, the new cabinet will be prioritized for high loyalty, so it is not certain that Mr. Trump's policies will still be consistent with the 2017 - 2021 term.

On the contrary, if Vice President Kamala Harris wins, what her cabinet will look like is still a mystery that many parties are watching. While current President Joe Biden has half a century of foreign policy experience, Ms. Harris has not actually experienced much foreign affairs. In addition, Ms. Harris is considered a new generation in current American politics, so she will have a different connection to international issues than her predecessor. Therefore, although the general foreign policy direction may not change, the way it is implemented may change significantly. How much of a change it will depend largely on the members of her cabinet if she wins.

All of this will force think tanks and diplomats from various countries to closely monitor developments, plan scenarios, and calculate the future US policy direction. In this way, the race will continue even after the election results are "finalized" and may even last until the end of January 2025.

Conspiracy theory warning

Election officials across the US — especially in battleground states — have pledged to maintain the integrity of the vote and urged voters not to be fooled by conspiracy theories.

"In Georgia, voting is easy but cheating is hard. Our system is secure and our people are ready," Georgia state official Brad Raffensperger emphasized on November 4.

Before Election Day, former President Donald Trump and many Republican politicians claimed that the vote was “rigged.” Trump repeatedly made claims (disproven to be false) that Democrats were cheating in the election. He was also accused of “distorting” individual voting issues in an attempt to make his supporters believe that the election was illegitimate if he lost.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nuoc-my-giua-cuoc-dua-vao-nha-trang-cuoc-dua-quyet-liet-o-hau-truong-185241105233520042.htm