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13-06-2025
- Politics
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Donald Trump Sounds Like a Democrat From the 1980s
One of the most entertaining recent social media love fests involved President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.). Warren wrote that she and the president agree about scrapping the debt ceiling—a congressional limit on federal borrowing. Its goal is to force the government to live within its means. Congress often relaxes the limit, but "Katy, bar the door" if extreme progressives such as Warren get their way. Trump was "very pleased" to announce his agreement with her that such limits would lead to "economic catastrophe." He thinks it's wrong to put such power in "the hands of political people," as if the root spending isn't done by politicians. Anyhow, it was the latest example of the Horseshoe Theory, whereby the two political extremes don't occupy distant points along a line, but are as close together as the two ends of a horseshow. There's indeed an odd similarity between right-populism and left-progressivism. Justin Amash, the former Republican congressman from Michigan, is one of the few politicians who lives up to his own billing ("a principled, consistent constitutional conservative dedicated to individual liberty, economic freedom and the Rule of Law"). He threw shade on the Trump/Warren kumbaya session: "Donald Trump is, at his core, a big-government politician with misguided views on economics and the federal budget. He's a more socially conservative Elizabeth Warren, which is to say he's a 1980s Democrat." Bingo. Having grown up as a Democrat in Pennsylvania in the 1970s—the only Republicans I knew were of the Rockefeller variety and wore bowties—I was greatly influenced by the rise of Reagan and eagerly switched parties after the 1980 election. I remember the era's politics clearly, as I was studying political science at George Washington University. (I couldn't get back to my dorm room after the Reagan assassination attempt, as the president was convalescing at GWU hospital and the streets were closed.) So when I hear my Republican friends compare Trump to the Reagan era, I half-heartedly agree. Yes, we're seeing the revival of that decade's debates—except Trump is an almost exactly replica of the Democratic politicians of the time, but with a socially conservative twist. It's as if Missouri Democrat Dick Gephardt, the congressman and later a Democratic presidential candidate, had a love child (politically speaking, of course) with Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo. I'm relieved that I'm not the only one to have noticed. In a February column in The Dispatch, Kevin D. Williamson quoted from the 1980 Democratic platform: "We will not allow our workers and industries to be displaced by unfair import competition." He added: "The Democrat Trump sounds like is Dick Gephardt," who "in the 1980s and 1990s…was the face of center-left trade Luddism, the union goons' answer to Ross Perot." Luddism refers to the Luddites, those 19th-century British textile workers who fought against technological advancements—mechanized looms—to protect their antiquated jobs. Although an aside and the subject for another day, 1980s Democrats also were oddly unconcerned about the expanding, freedom-crushing Soviet Empire. They couldn't bring themselves to unequivocally condemn communist totalitarianism, preferring instead to seek out toothless negotiations, with some Democrats oddly sympathetic to dictators such as Cuba's Fidel Castro and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega. Yes, I'm referring to Trump's awkward praise for modern despots, and his amoral approach toward Vladimir Putin and his Ukraine invasion. Remember that democratic-socialist U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders—another progressive with whom Trump occasionally makes economic common cause—took his honeymoon in the USSR. Gephardt was fairly hard-edged in his approach to immigration, at least by Democratic standards. But the alignment between MAGA and progressivism goes much deeper than agreement on particular pro-union, anti-trade, big-spending policies. The Washington Post's conservative columnist George Will—who I heard speak during the Reagan era at a conference in Washington, D.C.—recently listed the "nine core components of progressivism" and concluded that "Trump nails every one." To summarize Will's points, Trumpism inserts politics into every aspect of society and its cultural institutions; is confident in using government to intervene; uses industrial policy to "pick winners and losers"; supports central economic planning, especially with manufacturing; expands his party's political base by handing out entitlements; uses tax policy for social engineering; believes in limitless borrowing (e.g., removing the debt limit); governs by executive fiat; and believes in "unfettered majoritarianism," or populism. There is nothing truly conservative about his administration. Reason's Veronique de Rugy sees Trump's latest tax plan—one that's too much even for Elon Musk—as "a leftist economic agenda wrapped in populist talking points." The Trump team and its cadre of former Democratic advisers, "glorify union power, rail against globalization and scoff at the very idea of limited government," she added. That is indeed pure 1980s-era Democratic leftism. If you support it, fine, but please stop accusing its foes of being RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). This column was first published in The Orange County Register. The post Donald Trump Sounds Like a Democrat From the 1980s appeared first on
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
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No Kings, Pride protests scheduled in Columbus this weekend. See where they will happen.
It is looking to be a week filled with sign-waving and chant-shouting in Columbus and Central Ohio as several large protests supporting LGBTQ+ people and defying a Washington D.C. military parade are planned for the coming days. These protests are set against a national backdrop of growing unrest due to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Protests that started in Los Angeles on June 6 have spread to cities across the U.S., like Austin, San Francisco, New York City and Columbus. Two hundred to 300 people marched across downtown Columbus on June 10 to protest ICE and show solidarity with Columbus' immigrant communities, The Dispatch previously reported. The protests scheduled for Columbus this week were planned before the Los Angeles protests erupted. Here are the protests you can expect to see in Central Ohio soon. The Stonewall Columbus Pride March will take place at Broad Street and High Street on Saturday, June 14, starting at 10:30 a.m., and the Pride Festival and Resource Fair will take place on June 13 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and June 14 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Goodale Park. Today's Pride Month and pride marches stem from the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, when members of the LGBTQ+ community in New York rioted after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, on June 28 of that year, The Dispatch previously reported. The first pride march was held on June 28, 1970, to commemorate the uprising, according to the Library of Congress. Stonewall Columbus was founded in 1981 after an anti-Moral Majority Rally at The Columbus Baptist Temple, according to the organization's website. Nationwide "No Kings" protests are scheduled to defy the large military parade the Trump administration has planned in Washington D.C. to commemorate the Army's 250th birthday on June 14, which is also President Trump's birthday. The $30-million plus taxpayer-funded parade of soldiers, armored vehicles and tanks will roll down the streets of Washington D.C. on that day, USA TODAY previously reported. There are several "No Kings" protests set to take place in central Ohio on June 14. They are: An Indivisible Central Ohio No Kings protest from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the Stonewall Columbus Pride March A No Kings Hilliard protest at Warehouse 839 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A No Kings Clintonville protest at the intersection of North Broadway and Indianola Avenue from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. A No Kings: National Day of Action protest at Westerville City Hall from 3 to 4 p.m. A No Kings Grove City protest from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. A No Kings Pickerington protest at the intersection of State Route 256 and Refugee Road from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. A No Kings Delaware protest at Delaware City Hall from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. A No Kings London protest at the Madison County Courthouse from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. There are also several recurring protests organized by Indivisible Central Ohio that are happening this week. Support Veterans Rush Hour Rally at the Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on June 10 Highway sign waving on the footbridge over State Route 315 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 10, June 11 and June 13 Worthington Rush Hour Rally at the intersection of State Route 161 and High Street from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on June 10 Wednesdays at Bernie's Columbus Office Protest at U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno's office from noon to 1 p.m. on June 11 Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@ and at @NathanRHart on X and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Upcoming Columbus protests: Pride, No Kings events this weekend
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
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Columbus City Councilmember Barroso de Padilla denounces ICE cruelty, promises to protest
As protesters in California continue to clash with law enforcement over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla denounced the federal government's immigration crackdown and commended peaceful protesters. "I stand in solidarity with brave individuals protesting in Los Angeles against the cruel and inhuman actions of ICE," Barroso De Padilla said. She made the comments from the dais at the beginning of the Columbus City Council meeting on June 9 while wearing a T-shirt touting that she is the daughter of immigrants. Born in Columbus, Barroso De Padilla is a first-generation Cuban-American. Barroso De Padilla told The Dispatch ahead of the meeting that she planned to attend a protest planned for the evening of June 10 in front of City Hall. Several pro-immigrant and left-leaning groups organized the "ICE Out!" protest, including 50501, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Columbus, the La Raza Movement, and the Columbus Democratic Socialists of America. Related: As LA protests erupt, multiple demonstrations planned in Columbus this week "These protests are a reflection of the pain and outrage felt by communities across the country who have been torn apart by unjust immigration policies," Barroso de Padilla said. "These protests are not just about opposition. They are a call to action for leaders at every level to defend immigrant rights, to invest in communities rather than criminalize them and to build a system that treats all people with compassion and respect." Barroso de Padilla told The Dispatch ahead of the council meeting that President Donald Trump's administration committed to deporting criminals, and the federal government has overreached. Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council member denounces ICE raids, supports peaceful protest
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11-06-2025
- Politics
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Columbus ICE Out! demonstration brings anti-Trump protesters Downtown
Between 200 and 300 people gathered in downtown Columbus June 10 to protest the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, show support for the city's immigrant communities, and to express solidarity with protesters in Los Angeles. Several pro-immigrant and left-leaning groups organized the "ICE Out!" protest, which took place June 10 at Columbus City Hall on West Broad Street. The Ohio Immigrant Alliance, 50501, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Columbus, the La Raza Movement and the Columbus Democratic Socialists of America organized the demonstration. Scores of protesters holding signs denouncing the Trump administration and showing support for immigrant communities were in attendance as organizers gave speeches and led pro-immigration, anti-Trump chants and slogans. Other protesters waved Palestinian flags and donned the traditional keffiyehs or held upside-down American flags, which is used as a signal of distress. Rene Levino, 69, of Pataskala, told The Dispatch that he attended the protest because as a Vietnam veteran, he felt obligated to continue to protect the country from what he called a "form of dictatorship." "I'll do whatever it takes to stand up for my country," said Levino, donning a black Vietnam veteran cap. "I just want our country back, and I want (Trump) to follow the law." James McCullough, 22, of Columbus, said that it was hypocritical that the United States relies on immigrant labor but at the same time is trying to have undocumented immigrants deported. McCullough also noted the plight that migrants from African countries face, such as Senegalese and Sudanese migrants. "(Immigration) is another race issue," said McCullough. The demonstration was entirely peaceful. After leaders led chants and gave speeches at Columbus City Hall for an hour, protesters walked onto Broad Street and marched eastbound before turning north onto High Street while still chanting. Columbus police officers, including officers from the division's dialogue team, largely stayed on the periphery of the crowd while temporarily shutting down street intersections so protesters could safely march through. The protesters marched past Columbus police headquarters as they continued back onto West Broad Street in front of Columbus City Hall. Protesters then dispersed without incident. Columbus City Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said on June 9 that she would attend the protest, but The Dispatch could not immediately determine if she was in attendance. Columbus' ICE Out! protest was a sharp contrast to pictures and videos coming out of Los Angeles. Protests and outright riots have broken out in L.A. in response to ICE agents conducting immigration raids and arresting immigrants at businesses in the city. The protests there hit a boiling point on June 7, as masked protesters stormed city streets, hurling slabs of concrete, Molotov cocktails and other items at heavily armed and masked agents and law enforcement officers. Videos taken by both residents and protesters show rioters blocking highway traffic, facing off with law enforcement agencies and setting fire to Waymo self-driving cars. Law enforcement agencies deployed tear gas to disperse protesters and one officer was captured on video shooting an Australian reporter with a rubber bullet. A New York Post photographer was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by another officer on June 9. In an effort to quell the protests, President Donald Trump deployed a total of 4,000 National Guard troops and a Marine unit consisting of 700 soldiers from Camp Pendleton. Trump's actions drew rebuke from California's leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has filed an emergency lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing Trump and other officials from his administration of violating the Constitution and "trampling over" Newsom's authority. 'Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority. This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic,' Newsom said in a prepared statement. Trump recently stated that he wants an additional 20,000 National Guard troops deployed to LA. The deployment of National Guard troops and the Marine battalion is expected to cost around $134 million, according to reporting from USA TODAY. The addition of 20,000 National Guard troops would cost around $3.6 billion. Several "No Kings" protests are scheduled in central Ohio in defiance of the large military parade Trump is holding in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the Army's 250th birthday on June 14, which is also President Trump's birthday. On June 10, Trump said he expected protesters to try and ruin the parade and warned that they would be met with "very big force." Central Ohio protests scheduled include: An Indivisible Central Ohio No Kings protest from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the Stonewall Columbus Pride March A No Kings Hilliard protest at Warehouse 839 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A No Kings Clintonville protest at the intersection of North Broadway and Indianola Avenue from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. A No Kings: National Day of Action protest at Westerville City Hall from 3 to 4 p.m. A No Kings Grove City protest from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. A No Kings Pickerington protest at the intersection of State Route 256 and Refugee Road from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. A No Kings Delaware protest at Delaware City Hall from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. A No Kings London protest at the Madison County Courthouse from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@ at ShahidMeighan on X, and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus protest opposes Trump, support LA demonstrations
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus City Councilmember Barroso de Padilla denounces ICE cruelty, promises to protest
As protesters in California continue to clash with law enforcement over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla denounced the federal government's immigration crackdown and commended peaceful protesters. "I stand in solidarity with brave individuals protesting in Los Angeles against the cruel and inhuman actions of ICE," Barroso De Padilla said. She made the comments from the dais at the beginning of the Columbus City Council meeting on June 9 while wearing a T-shirt touting that she is the daughter of immigrants. Born in Columbus, Barroso De Padilla is a first-generation Cuban-American. Barroso De Padilla told The Dispatch ahead of the meeting that she plans to attend a protest planned for 6 p.m. on June 10 in front of City Hall. Several pro-immigrant and left-leaning groups are planning the "ICE Out!" protest, including 50501, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Columbus, the La Raza Movement, and the Columbus Democratic Socialists of America. Related: As LA protests erupt, multiple demonstrations planned in Columbus this week "These protests are a reflection of the pain and outrage felt by communities across the country who have been torn apart by unjust immigration policies," Barroso de Padilla said. "These protests are not just about opposition. They are a call to action for leaders at every level to defend immigrant rights, to invest in communities rather than criminalize them and to build a system that treats all people with compassion and respect." Barroso de Padilla told The Dispatch ahead of the council meeting that President Donald Trump's administration committed to deporting criminals, and the federal government has overreached. Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council member denounces ICE raids, supports peaceful protest
