Fear the GOP Congress as much as Donald Trump

In case you weren't horrified enough about the prospect of Donald Trump becoming the most powerful human being on planet Earth, it's time to think in some very concrete terms about what January will bring. Much of the danger of a Trump presidency comes from its uncertainty — there's just no way to know what someone like Trump might do, particularly in areas like foreign policy where he has a relatively free hand. But when it comes to the substantive policy changes that require legislation, there's no mystery at all.

The most important thing to understand about Trump when it comes to policy is that he just doesn't care. Having gone through the last year and a half, no one can seriously doubt that. He isn't going to be staying up nights poring over the details of changes to Medicare's payment system or new rules for hazardous waste disposal. He just wants to know, is it great? And winning? Then do it.

Which means that Republicans in Congress will be free to do whatever they want. They'll pass bills, and he'll sign them — so, so many bills. What we're in for is an absolute orgy of legislating, as every secret fetish and desire they've had bottled up for eight years will be brought into the light, passed quickly through both houses, and sent to President Trump's desk.

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So what are we in for? Here are some of the highlights:

Abortion: While most abortion policy is made at the state level, Republicans will likely pass a national ban on abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, something they've tried to do before. They may also try to pass some version of the state restrictions on clinics that the Supreme Court recently struck down, in the hopes that by the time challenges to those laws work their way through the courts, they will have picked up another Supreme Court seat (which would mean that Roe v. Wade would be on its way out anyway).

And that "defunding" of Planned Parenthood, meaning Medicaid patients will be barred from getting health services at PP clinics even when they have nothing to do with abortion? That's coming, too.

Health care: The headline is that Republicans will repeal the Affordable Care Act, but there are substantial questions about exactly how they'd do it. The smarter ones are aware that a simple repeal would be spectacularly disruptive — throwing 20 million people off their coverage would be just the beginning — and everything Republicans have suggested to lessen the carnage would take a long time to work its supposed market magic. But there will be enormous pressure from their constituents to just get rid of the whole thing as soon as possible. They also have plans to not just undo the ACA's expansion of Medicaid but cut that program for the poor even further, and block-grant it so that Republican-controlled states can make it even less comprehensive and more stingy. And that's before we get to their long-term goal of privatizing Medicare, which will certainly be on the agenda.

Financial regulation: Working off the theory that the problem with Wall Street is that bankers are unduly burdened by public oversight, they'll likely repeal the Dodd-Frank law passed in the wake of the financial crisis. Look for them also to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has committed the unconscionable sin of working to protect consumers.

Taxes: We don't know exactly the form tax cuts will take, because Trump had one plan and congressional Republicans had another. We do know that they agree on some basic principles, the most important of which is that rich people should pay less. So look for a hugely expensive tax cut that gives almost all its benefits to the very wealthy. Among other things, Ivanka, Donny Jr., Eric, and Barron will finally be free of the crippling anxiety that came with knowing that they might have to pay taxes on their inheritance. There will also be a large cut in the corporate tax — or if they're ambitious, they could do away with the corporate tax entirely.

Labor: They will probably pass some version of a national "right to work" law, which will be one of many measures intended to cripple unions and bring about the end of collective bargaining in America. There will also likely be bills making it more difficult for employees to sue over things like discrimination and violation of workplace safety laws.

Immigration: Not only will there be no comprehensive immigration reform, Republicans will allocate more money for Border Patrol agents and the building of something resembling a wall on the southern border. They will also probably add more ICE agents to accelerate deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Environment: Look for a full-scale assault on environmental regulations at all levels. Not only will President Obama's actions to slow climate change be reversed, but it's likely that in relatively short order it will be easier to pollute the air, land, and water.

Discrimination: Republicans may pass a new Religious Freedom Restoration Act, allowing religious people to ignore laws against discrimination in commerce, employment, and housing. So if you're looking to hang a "We don't serve gays" sign in the window of your shop, you may be in luck.

And after seeing how successful their efforts to suppress the votes of minority groups were this year, particularly in North Carolina, don't be surprised if they try to nationalize the kind of voting restrictions that give such benefit to Republicans candidates.

Guns: Not only won't there be anything like a universal background check law (which is supported by 90 percent of Americans), Republicans will take this opportunity to figure out how they can expand gun rights. It may be hard to imagine how they could actually make it easier to get guns in a country already drowning in them, but you can have faith in their creativity.

That's just for starters, and there will be much more. In the market for a new Patriot Act increasing the government's ability to surveil you? How about selling off public lands and drilling for oil on what's left? Forget about letting refugees into the country; they may get working on that ban on Muslims that Trump suggested to such cheers from his supporters. Capitol Hill is going to become an assembly line churning out one right-wing bill after another, new wishes added to the list as one after another is checked off.

Can Democrats do anything to stop it? If you're hoping for them to slow things down with filibusters in the Senate, don't. The first time Democrats filibuster a bill Republicans care about, Mitch McConnell will change the rules to eliminate the filibuster. No one who has watched the Republicans tear through one norm of behavior after another over the last eight years can honestly doubt that they will do whatever it takes to remove any and every impediment to the realization of their will.

But won't there be a backlash? Perhaps. But they'll accomplish so much before it comes. Chances are they'll keep their majorities in 2018 — they have an ample cushion in the House, and in the Senate Democrats will be defending 25 seats and Republicans only 8. That means they'll likely have at least four years to forge ahead building that conservative paradise they've been dreaming of so fervently.

So yes, we should be terrified of Donald Trump, because you never know what he might do. But we should be equally frightened of Republicans in Congress, because we know exactly what they'll do.