| participants | title |
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2-6 |
Two viewpoints |
The vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats – is a defining feature of American politics today.
When it comes to getting news about politics and government, liberals and conservatives inhabit different worlds. There is little overlap in the news sources they turn to and trust. And whether discussing politics online or with friends, they are more likely than others to interact with like-minded individuals, according to a new Pew Research Center study.
Let's read a couple of political articles as a group and then discuss them, as well as the news media, social media and the way people talk about politics with friends and family.
Before we get to the articles, let's first get to know your reading group. Take a minute to introduce yourself in the chat below, and try to find things in common with your co-readers.
Answer one or more of the following:
- What sense of purpose or duty guides you in life? What is your mission statement?
- What would your best friend say about who you are and what makes you tick?
- What are your hopes and concerns for your community and/or the country, now and long-term?
Now we can get to our politically loaded articles themselves. As you read them, try to understand what makes the author tick.
- What beliefs and values does the author seem to have?
- What assumptions do they make?
- Do you agree or disagree with them?
The media was quick to report Thursday night on rumors that President Trump was backing off of his monetary demands for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. With a government shutdown looming on April 28 and Democrats refusing to allow tax dollars to go toward construction of the wall, Trump is starting to compromise, multiple outlets said.
"Trump Signals Shift on Wall Funding," reported Bloomberg. "Trump's border wall fantasy is crumbling," according to a Washington Post opinion writer.
It's not true, President Trump tweeted Tuesday.
Don't let the fake media tell you that I have changed my position on the WALL. It will get built and help stop drugs, human trafficking etc.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2017
On the campaign trail, Trump told supporters unequivocally that Mexico would be paying for the wall. More recently he's asked for $1.5 billion in taxpayer funding, with Mexico chipping in "eventually."
While Trump may not get the $1.5 billion he wants for the wall, Fox News's John Roberts said Tuesday the White House has said that the president is "confident" he'll get at least some money for it.
- What values does the author seem to have?
- What assumptions do they make?
- Do you agree or disagree with them?
Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" border wall might turn out to be like so many other things he fixates on—a figment of his imagination. Although the White House had wanted Congress to fold an initial outlay for Trump’s wall into a government funding bill, the GOP's governance meltdown has necessitated Democratic help in keeping the government funded by the April 28 deadline. Democrats, in turn, have threatened to withhold their votes if any funding for the wall is included in that bill.
“Senate Democrats are prepared to fight this all the way,” Sen. Chuck Schumer told attendees of a National Council of La Raza event Tuesday.
In order to avoid yet another GOP #fail in the form of a government shutdown, Republican leadership is weighing the idea of separating money for the wall from the government funding bill. Politico writes:
While no decision has been made by GOP leadership, Republican lawmakers may decide to decouple the two to avoid a confrontation with Democrats. If they do, the chances of getting Trump’s wall funding passed this spring become slim.
“It remains to be seen,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) in an interview. “What I would like to see is a plan for how the money would be spent and a good faith discussion about what border security is really composed of. We haven’t had that.”
Asked about the prospects for a lapse in government funding, Cornyn was definitive: “There’s not going to be a shutdown.”
Trump had aimed to get about $1.4 billion for the wall out of the initial funding bill with more to follow in a subsequent funding measure. But it turns out building the $20- to $50-billion wall is equally as unpopular as the man who insists on building it, with only 35 percent of American taxpayers supporting the wall, especially if taxpayers are footing the bill. That leaves very little incentive for Congressional Republicans to supply funding for an unpopular project being pushed by a pr*sident with abysmal approval ratings.
This little funding snafu is going to absolutely tweak Trump, who's been obsessed with building the wall since the day he announced his candidacy. Trump put his weight behind health care mostly because he was desperate to get a win—any win—under his belt, but the wall is his baby. If Congress stiffs him on it, there'll be hell to pay on Capitol Hill.
- What values do you think the author has?
- What assumptions do they make?
- Do you agree or disagree with them?
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