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.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

People watch Old Trails Fire from W. Northwest Blvd., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Spokane, Wash. (AP...

Associated Press

Wind-driven wildfire prompts evacuations in eastern Washington

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds and high temperatures swept across northwest Spokane on Saturday before jumping the Spokane River and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. The Old Trails Fire started around noon, burning brush and grass in an open area, but quickly spread north and east toward […]

3 hours ago

President Donald Trump, center, walks from Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morrist...

Associated Press

Saudi crown prince urges Trump not to escalate Iran war as US leader weighs new strikes: AP source

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, in a phone call with President Donald Trump on Saturday raised concerns about the U.S. potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders’ discussion. The discussion, which was first reported on by Axios, comes as […]

4 hours ago

shooting Idaho In-N-Out burger...

REBECCA BOONE AND MARTHA BELLISLE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Multiple people dead after shooting at fast food restaurant in southern Idaho

A shooting at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in southern Idaho on Saturday afternoon left multiple people dead and others injured, police said.

5 hours ago

Associated Press

Multiple people injured in southern Idaho shooting

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A shooting near a southern Idah shopping center left multiple people injured Saturday afternoon, authorities reported. Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke said Sheriff Jack Johnson told him five people were hurt in the shooting, which started at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant. While there were no immediate confirmations of deaths […]

6 hours ago

rain seafair aug. 1...

Tom Brock

Blue Angels cancel Saturday Seafair performance due to high winds

The U.S. Navy's precision flight team, the Blue Angels, had to cancel its Saturday performance at Seafair, due to high winds.

7 hours ago

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks with voters following a Senate candidate stump event ahead of a...

Associated Press

Darline Graham promotes Trump’s agenda in her political debut ahead of special Senate primary

LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Sen. Darline Graham made her political debut before hundreds of Republican voters in South Carolina on Saturday, saying that she never envisioned a life in politics for herself until after the death of her brother Lindsey Graham, and now wants to work hard to promote the state and President Donald Trump’s […]

8 hours ago

Is the GOP now the Party of Populism?