"Behind the Curtain" series: Prepping for radically different '25 scenarios

Photo illustrations featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, the U.S. Capitol Building, and the White House. — Photo illustrations: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Chandan Khann, Christian Monterrosa/AFP, Brandon Bell, Andrew Harnik via Getty Images.

A series of "Behind the Curtain" columns by Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen will help you get ready for the radically different Washington environments that businesses will face depending on the election's outcome.

Why it matters: Whether one party runs the table or we wind up with divided government, expect cultural wars that are stoked by the election's winners and losers, are fueled by the media, then seep into the workplace.

Our four scenarios:

Republican sweep: Trump, with a Republican House and Senate, would institutionalize the MAGA movement, with massive consequences for governance, civil rights and international relations. Keep reading.
Democratic sweep: Harris with a Democratic House and Senate (the least likely scenario, since the GOP looks likely to flip the Senate) would bring a progressive push across virtually every sector. Keep reading.
Trump with handcuffs: If a President Trump were constrained by Democratic control of at least one chamber of Congress, Washington would plunge into an epic power struggle and gridlock. Keep reading.
Harris with divided government: If President Harris faced a Republican Senate and/or House, she'd have to govern like a more moderate version of President Biden. Keep reading.

💭 The series was inspired by a clever "Alternative Futures" matrix by the consultancy FGS Global. Michael Feldman, partner and co-chairman, North America, tells us CEOs and other leaders gobbled up the series:

"It's easy to get lost in the white noise of the data and the sport of the horserace. The reaction to the Alternative Futures analysis from executives and boards has been overwhelming. It's not about predicting results — the power of the tool is in preparation and planning for any outcome."

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"Behind the Curtain" series: Prepping for radically different '25 scenarios

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