Wednesday Morning Briefing: A more presidential president

By Derek Caney

Gone were the ad hominem attacks on his critics. The bellicose bravado was toned down. He shifted from his harsh rhetoric on immigration. At times, he even sounded like a Democrat (infrastructure, paid family leave, investment in women's health). He didn't even take pot shots at the media.

But while the tone in President Donald Trump's address to Congress was more measured, most of the policies were old favorites from President Donald Trump's campaign. He still wants to repeal Obamacare. He still wants a border wall, although conspicuously absent was his call for Mexico to pay for it. He still wants to slash corporate tax rates. He still doesn't think allies are shouldering enough of the cost of security alliances. He even made a crack about applause during a tribute to the American soldier killed in Yemen in January.

There weren't many of those details last night. But for the first time, Trump backed the use of tax credits to help people buy health insurance that would replace Obamacare. A draft Republican replacement for Obamacare would include an age-based monthly tax credit that Americans who do not get health insurance through their employer could use to buy coverage and take from job to job. Some Republicans are opposed to that plan.

Five things Trump did not mention:

Russia
North Korea
Syria
Border adjustment tax
Delays on Cabinet confirmations

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