Moore: Things are looking up, thanks to Trump

The piece treats improved headlines as proof that “America First” is automatically working, and that’s a little too tidy. Optimism matters, but conservative governance is not a mood board. The real question is whether today’s “looking up” is built on durable choices or temporary wins.

What gets lost in celebratory framing is the harder work: restoring public trust, tightening border and interior enforcement, and pursuing trade policy that protects workers without inviting chaos for small businesses. A serious America First agenda also means national security that prioritizes readiness and deterrence, not just better news cycles.

Conservatism is strongest when it insists on rule of law and stable institutions even while chasing growth. The principle at stake is competence that lasts, not confidence that fades.