With the Year 2018 ending, it is customary for people to check the score cards of their 2108 predictions and offer new ones. I would say my Dec 2017 post was very close to the points. 2018 has certainly been a worse year than 2017, and I think 2019 will be even worse.
The only good thing for Trump in 2019 will be the Russia stuff coming to conclusion, and Trump will get a pass on the serious charges. Democrats must be disappointed, but the case was never strong against Trump anyway, and my 2017 post just couldn't imagine he was smart or knowledgeable enough to do anything.
But this doesn't mean Trump is all clear, because almost everything else will be bad. The Democrats will control the House, and subpoenas will fly. We all like to see his tax returns, which will show and confirm what rich people like him game the system for how long.
The economy will go into recession. This is a big prediction, as most economists say 2020 is more likely. But bold predictions pay of better. 2018 is nominally a good year because of the doping tax cut law passed in 2017. But I don't believe the trade wars with China, EU, and everybody else will be over in 2019. In fact, they will be worse. Prices will go up, interest rates will go up, leading to commercial and real estate bankruptcies and stocks collapsing. Unlike 2008, this time no country will or can bail out the US, and global economy will suffer, although US will be among the worst affected. The only way to delay the inevitable is to stop the trade wars, but its chance is lower than having a hot war somewhere, which further imperils the economy.
In terms of wars, withdrawing US from Syria is welcoming, although not yet fulfilled, but it doesn't cancel out the potential conflict with Iran. Middle East remains bad and hopeless. North Korea is mostly a made-up issue. Hawkish US officials are luckily countered by a reasonable South Korean government. Russia is also a made-up issue by the NATO and EU. Having hawkish and sycophant American officials doesn't help, either. Trump's campaign promise having a good relationship with Russia is no where to be realize. Not that how real he believed it.
Domestic and immigration issues will still be hotly contested, but if there are any movements, they are likely in Trump's favor. ACA is still not safe. The High Court will decide many cases for Trump or the conservative base; maybe even a new opening for a conservative justice. Immigration will be the same as in 2018. Trump has all the cards. Courts can hold back some of them, but not all. Attacks against immigrants and minorities will continue in the US. Gun violence? Business as usual.
In the end, it is hard to see a silver lining ahead in 2019. Decent and intelligent people don't want to associate with it, so previously fringe characters are abound and around Trump, who doesn't know and doesn't care. As long as the craze pledge allegiance to Trump, they will be free to impose their immoral, stupid, and disastrous visions on everybody. The worst, or the best part of this, is, two more years.
