The phrase "overall thrust" refers to the main point or main idea of something. It is like the central message or main focus that encompasses everything else. Full definition
They all meant different things, but with a similar overall thrust. (whatgamesare.com)
Obviously, the peppering of minutiae in the fast - flowing stream of rhetoric during a debate may not be as important as overall thrusts of one candidate or another. (dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com)
Given the new law's overall thrust of reducing federal authority in education, however, ensuring that the needs of English learners are met will be complicated by the fact that education agencies in 50 states and the District of Columbia will be interpreting the new mandates and perhaps implementing them differently. (edsource.org)