美国国家公共电台 NPR--Trump's White House bid comes as the GOP shapes its future after frustrating midterms

Trump¹'s White House bid comes as the GOP shapes its future after frustrating² midterms

Transcript³

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Republican strategist Alice Stewart about Donald Trump's latest presidential run, and the future of the GOP.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

For more analysis on Trump's run and Republican tensions, we're joined by Republican strategist Alice Stewart, who previously⁴ worked with a number of prominent Republicans, including Senator Rick Scott when he was Florida's governor. Good morning. And thanks for being on the program, Alice.

ALICE STEWART: Good morning, Leila. Great to be with you.

FADEL: So my first big question really is, should Donald Trump be the Republican Party's candidate for the 2024 presidential election?

STEWART: That's certainly what Donald Trump would like to see happen. But I can assure you, up and down the Republican ranks, people are wanting to turn the page from him. And we heard in his speech last night that he says it's time to make America even greater again. And one thing that jumped out with me in his speech is that we need to go far, fast. And the problem is he did go far, and he failed. Donald Trump's brand of extremism has met its expiration⁵ date.

And the last person you talked with made some excellent points in terms of he's done a great deal for the Republican Party and building and solidifying⁶ the base. But his constant efforts to deny the elections and conspiracy⁷ theories and relitigate the past election in 2020 was tiring on many people. And candidates that he endorsed⁸ that espoused¹⁰ those policy points lost widespread across the board in this midterm election. And many people are saying it's just time to turn the page.

FADEL: Now, you point out that his form of extremism, of denying the election, that lost in the midterms. But I wonder why, previous to that voting day, so many prominent Republicans didn't call him out for those lies.

STEWART: Quite frankly¹¹, there are a lot of people that believe that there is widespread voter fraud. I do not. I think we have free and fair elections. And every day, if you're in public office or you are surrounded in politics, you should remind voters that our election process is one of integrity. And we should encourage people to vote. The fact we had record numbers of voters turn out in this election goes to show that people do have confidence in the process.

And some of the issues that the former president talked about last night that he would focus on, in addition to the conspiracy theories, was to improve our economy, secure the border and achieve energy independence. These are key tenets of the Republican Party. And there are many people, many faces that have indicated they would want to run in 2024 that would put these on the agenda and do so in a positive message, looking forward, talking about pocketbook issues that are critical to the American people. And that's the kind of face and voice that Republican voters that I've talked to across the country and up and down the ranks of the party would want to see.

FADEL: You mentioned other faces. There's a lot of speculation¹² around Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis. I wonder, though, do you worry that the party could split? I mean, Trump still has a powerful base. There are others emerging as powerful in the party. What does this mean for the future of the Republican Party?

STEWART: Look; a healthy, robust¹³, vigorous primary is important. And it's part of the process. I've been on five presidential campaigns. And that's how you test the voice and the will of the party. We're going to have several people put their name in the ring. And that's a healthy part of letting the base decide who they want to support them. But I will say this. If Donald Trump thinks he is going - if he's going to get to the top by insulting popular governors like DeSantis and Youngkin, he's making a tremendous mistake. I think he needs to focus on the issues that he wants to espouse⁹ and stop attacking people that are popular and successful as state governors.

FADEL: That's Republican strategist Alice Stewart. Thank you so much for your time this morning.

STEWART: Thank you.

(SOUNDBITE OF VITAMIN STRING QUARTET'S "THANK U, NEXT")

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

6 solidifying   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的现在分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• The substances are formed from a mixture of liquids solidifying under pressure. 这些材料是由几种液体混合在一起并加压使之凝固而成的。
• Painting is an art solidifies time and space for solidifying. 绘画是凝固了的时间和空间的艺术。

7 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

8 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 espouse   

v.支持，赞成，嫁娶

参考例句：

• Today,astronomers espouse the theory that comets spawn the swarms.如今，天文学家们支持彗星产生了流星团的说法。
• Some teachers enthusiastically espouse the benefits to be gained from educational software.有些教师热烈赞同可以从教学软件中得到好处的观点。

10 espoused   

v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They espoused the notion of equal opportunity for all in education. 他们赞同在教育方面人人机会均等的观念。
• The ideas she espoused were incomprehensible to me. 她所支持的意见令我难以理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

12 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

13 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。