SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Is the GOP now the Party of Populism?

Dec 1, 2016, 11:29 AM

There’s a time when we move on from leaders of the past. And maybe it’s time to move on from Ronald Reagan.

This is the view that was expressed by Steven Moore, who is a long time economic adviser to the Republican Party. He’s said that just as Reagan converted the GOP to a Conservative party, Trump has turned the GOP into a Populist party.

I have a populist, radical bent within myself. But what exactly are the goals and policies of populism? Is it simply having a strong man in place, who takes control?

Trump seems to be taking control and picking a cabinet of people with their own minds, not simply yes men.

The downside is that Trump talks about wanting to do things like give working class Americans a $1 trillion dollar work project. These kinds of things have not worked in the past.

And now he’s talking about making flag burning illegal, a sure populist move. Is this really what we need to be talking about and dealing with right now?

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

Spokane County's Wildfire Heroes Recognized on National Stage in NYC....

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Spokane County’s wildfire heroes recognized on national stage in New York City

Firefighters and law enforcement officers from Spokane County were honored in New York City for their response to the Spokane Complex Fires.

2 hours ago

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (4)...

Nate Connors

WSDOT completes Tacoma Narrows Bridge repairs one week early

Pierce County commuters were handed some good news when WSDOT announced that it had completed repairs on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

2 hours ago

FILE - Computer monitors and a laptop display the X, formerly known as Twitter, sign-in page, July ...

Associated Press

Graphika finds China-linked Spamouflage accounts posing as US voters on X

WASHINGTON (AP) — The long-running influence campaign known as Spamouflage is active ahead of the midterm elections, with accounts likely linked to China posing as U.S. voters and posting divisive content about U.S. politics, social issues and the elections, analysts say. In a blog posted on Friday, Graphika, a New York-based firm that tracks online […]

2 hours ago

Stolen SUV suspect pointed gun at officer before jumping into Lake Washington, Seattle police say...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Stolen SUV suspect reportedly pointed gun at officer before jumping into Lake Washington

A man was arrested after allegedly stealing an SUV, ramming a police vehicle, pointing a gun at an officer, and treading water in Lake Washington.

2 hours ago

End of an Era: Former Fox Island Christmas Tree Farm Set for Redevelopment...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

End of an era: Former Fox Island Christmas tree farm set for redevelopment

A former Christmas tree farm in Pierce County will soon become eight custom homes, marking a final goodbye to a beloved family business.

3 hours ago

helicopters...

KIRO 7 News Staff

2 helicopters collide mid-air in Oregon; no survivors

Three people have died following a mid-air collision between two helicopters in Oregon on Thursday afternoon.

3 hours ago

Is the GOP now the Party of Populism?