On January 17, 2025, three days before the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States, C-SPAN carried a LIVE broadcast of Sarah Bedford, investigations editor at the Washington Examiner, speaking to students an supporters at a Conservative Women’s Network event Bedford’s address, titled, “What to Expect from the New Trump Administration,” analyzed the political, cultural, and institutional factors shaping President Trump’s return to the White House. C-SPAN replayed the recording of the event several times during inauguration week.
The Evolution of MAGA Infrastructure
In her remarks, Bedford highlighted how the Trump administration of 2025 enters office on more stable footing than it did in 2017, thanks to the development of a cohesive ideological infrastructure over the past eight years. She explained that in 2017, Trump lacked the personnel and think tank support necessary to implement his agenda effectively.
She described how many of Trump’s early appointees misunderstood his platform and instead imposed their own interpretations of his policies.“A lot of the people Trump surrounded himself with just saw him as an empty vessel—someone they could project their own ideas onto,” she said. In contrast, Bedford explained, the Trump team spent its years out of power meticulously preparing for a return to the White House. “They went back to the drawing board. They reviewed what went wrong in every department, vetted résumés, and identified people who could actually deliver on the MAGA agenda,” she said.
“Now, the administration has incubators of talent, think tanks filled with white papers, and a list of vetted candidates for positions all the way down to deputy undersecretaries. Trump is going into office with a level of support and preparation that simply didn’t exist in 2016.”
Retrospective Validation of Trump’s Warnings
Bedford also discussed how events over the past eight years have validated many of Trump’s early warnings, reshaping his public image. “In 2016, Trump warned about what would happen if we didn’t secure the border. He talked about the chaos that would come with weak leadership in the White House,” she said. “Back then, people dismissed these warnings as the ramblings of a reality TV star. But now, with events like the border crisis, the Afghanistan withdrawal, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump’s warnings have been proven right in the eyes of many voters.”
She pointed to the cultural shift in how Trump is perceived as a key factor in his resounding 2024 victory. “When Trump talked about the weaponization of investigative agencies in 2020, [some Americans] didn’t want to hear it. But after years of politically motivated prosecutions, they now see his claims as credible,” Bedford said.
A turning point, she argued, came during the 2024 campaign when Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. “When Trump pumped his fist after the attempt, it became one of the most iconic moments of the campaign. That image completely undercut the idea that Trump is weak or pampered. It was a display of resilience that earned him respect even from skeptics,” she said.
Challenges Ahead
While Bedford acknowledged President Trump’s stronger position entering his second term, she warned of significant challenges, particularly in immigration enforcement. “Trump has pledged a more aggressive deportation policy this time around,” she said. “But we know from 2017 how emotional and powerful those images of deportations can be. When swing district Republicans see pictures of families being separated, the unity within the party on immigration could start to crack.”
Trump’s Legacy and the Future of MAGA
Bedford concluded by emphasizing that Trump’s second term is about more than enacting policies—it’s about setting the stage for MAGA’s future. “This is the last Trump campaign we’ll ever see. He’s in legacy mode now, which gives him the freedom to focus on delivering results. But with that freedom comes accountability,” she said. “If MAGA is going to last beyond Trump, he has to deliver in a way that inspires [Americans] and solidifies the movement.”
College Women Join Tens of Thousands of Americans at the March for Life in Washington, DC
On January 24, 2025, our college women joined tens of thousands of Americans at the 52nd annual March for Life rally in Washington, DC, where Vice President JD Vance delivered his first public address since taking office earlier in the week.
Addressing the crowd amidst the chilly January weather, Vice President Vance expressed his gratitude and admiration for the attendees’ dedication.
He remarked, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a joyful crowd out here, particularly during this time of year. The excitement, the passion, the unwavering conviction that every single person here on the National Mall clearly feels, it is deeply moving to me and means more to President Trump and I than I could possibly say.”
Vance emphasized the sanctity of life, stating, “We march to live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God.” Reflecting on his personal experiences as a father, he shared, “Every parent here knows that feeling, that awe of a newborn child. It is our responsibility to cherish and to protect it.”
Highlighting the importance of family in American society, he called for a renewed focus on supporting young couples and creating an environment conducive to raising children.
He stated, “I want more babies in the United States of America. I want more happy children in our country, and I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them.” He urged the government to take action to make it “easier to raise a family.”
Vance also addressed recent policy changes, noting that the federal government will no longer “direct FBI raids” on the homes of pro-life activists. He affirmed that the era of incarcerating pro-life individuals was over, highlighting President Trump’s recent pardons of multiple activists.
In President Donald Trump’s video address, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pro-life policies and support for families. He emphasized the sanctity of life, stating, “Every child, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of God.” He also highlighted recent actions taken by his administration, including pardoning individuals convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and directing the Department of Justice to limit prosecutions of anti-abortion activists. Trump assured attendees that his administration would “stand proudly for families and for life,” and pledged to support new mothers and young families, as well as promote adoption and foster care.