A root cause on why "Because Democrats were really out front in 2020 on these things,...Democrats were saddled with so much recent support for what voters now did not want, there was little they could do to recover."

Democratic policy and media messaging / "talking points" have a leftward bent, like a leftward pull in a steering system. The violent police racism of the late 'teens was way outside the behavior guardrails most people expect from their police. It NECESSITATED a strong corrective response, which happened to be right in line with Democratic anti-racism platforms and the game changed.

But because of the leftward pull, it over-corrected, swerved too far to the left for most people. Became defund the police and trying to force low policing policies - which became part of the political feast from heaven for the Pubs. And they can't get back to the center line without a quick steer back to the right.

The answer to Trump is not going further left. Whatever.