The Trump Effect

IN THIS ISSUE DIVIDE AND CONQUER: The Trump Effect

Duration: 19:26

Since his election as president, Donald Trump’s policies have been dividing the United States. But there are signs that the so-called “Trump Effect” may be backfiring. With midterm elections around the corner, Democrats are hoping to win back some power. And they’re being backed by some very unlikely supporters. It seems some lifelong Republicans have had enough. CBC’s Paul Hunter went to the very red state of Texas to talk about the state of the Democrats, and he visited the Mexican border CREDITS to find out what people who live there think News in Review is produced by about Trump’s promised wall. CBC NEWS and Curio.ca GUIDE Related News in Review Stories Writer/editor: Sean Dolan Additional editing: Michaël Elbaz  Trump vs. the Media: The War on Journalism VIDEO (Mar 2018) Host: Michael Serapio  Women’s March on Washington: Stronger Senior producer: Jordanna Lake Together (Mar 2017) Packaging producer: Marie-Hélène Savard Associate producer: Francine Laprotte  U.S. Election 2016: Trump Nation (Dec 2016) Supervising manager: Laraine Bone  U.S. Election 2016: Trump and the Evolution of the GOP (Oct 2016) Visit www.curio.ca/newsinreview, where you will find an archive of all previous News in Other related Curio.ca content Review seasons. As a companion resource, we recommend that students and teachers  The Fire Breather: The Rise and Rage of access www.cbc.ca/news for additional articles. Donald Trump (The Fifth Estate)  Jorge Ramos (Mansbridge One on One) Closed Captioning  Republican leadership 'shackled' to Trump: News in Review programs are closed captioned for the hearing impaired, for English David Frum (The National) as a Second Language students, or for  Who will win the war – Donald Trump or the situations in which the additional on-screen media? (The National) print component will enhance learning.

 Will protests hurt President Trump? CBC authorizes reproduction of material (The National) contained in this guide for educational purposes. Please identify source.

News in Review is distributed by: Curio.ca – CBC Media Solutions

VIDEO REVIEW 4. Why do some people oppose the building of a border wall?

Before Viewing 5. List two (2) problems with the physical construction of a border wall. 1. List three words you think accurately describe 6. Why do some people support the building President Donald Trump as of a border wall? a leader. Share your three words with a partner. 7. What is the estimated cost of a border Branch out and share again with another wall? pair of students in your class. In your small group, decide which two words you think After Viewing “sum up” President Donald Trump as a leader. Be prepared to share and justify 1. Why do you think some loyal Republicans your choices in a class discussion. are turning against President Trump?

2. The majority of U.S. voters identify 2. Why do you think the majority of themselves as Republicans or Democrats Republicans still approve of President (there is a smaller percentage that identify Trump? themselves as Independents). Being a 3. All countries have a right to protect their Democrat or Republican can be a strong borders for the safety and security of their part of an American person’s identity. citizens. Given this fact, why is Trump’s plan People tend to remain loyal to their for a border wall so controversial? Democratic or Republican identity throughout their lives. Why do you think this 4. What questions remain for you about is the case? Are Canadians the same in Trump, the wall, and U.S. politics after their allegiance to a political party? Do you watching this video? What credible sources identify with a specific political party? might you use to answer one of your Explain your answer. questions? Viewing

1. Why did Larry Strauss change from being a Republican to being a Democrat? 2. List one reason why some Texans support President Trump. 3. President Trump made an election promise that he was going to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.  True  False

THE STORY

Donald Trump is a divisive president. Rather than uniting his country, he seems to enjoy polarizing it. Some critics claim that Trump has already committed many impeachable acts including colluding with the Russian government in the 2016 presidential election, obstructing justice, and protecting corrupt practices by his staff and family members. There are a growing number of conservatives and Republicans who are distancing themselves from the president. Some Republican leaders are even publicly criticizing him. This is not typical, considering that Trump is a Republican president and loyalty to the party is very important in U.S. politics.

Here are some of the main concerns that some Republicans have with Trump’s presidency:

Trump and Putin – Many in the Republican Party feel that Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is a danger to U.S. national security. They are deeply suspicious of Putin, a former officer in the KGB (the Soviet secret police) and think that Trump is not critical enough of the Russian leader. They remember the Cold War and how the United States and the Soviet Union used to be sworn enemies.

The idiom “loose cannon” refers to a person who is uncontrollable. The origin of the expression comes from cannons breaking loose Top to bottom: A local headline motivates Democratic Party on old war ships during battles or storms and running volunteers and staff in Texas; Lupe Valdez, an openly gay wildly across the deck or in the hold of the ship. former sheriff, is eyeing the governor's office: Chanda Parbhoo founded the group South Asian American Voter Empowerment. Trump: The loose cannon – The Republican of other respected Republicans including Party leadership also distrust Trump since he ran Senators John McCain and Paul Ryan (and on a platform that was hostile to their own every one of his Republican opponent in the leadership. He verbally attacked the credibility 2016 presidential race). Trump has even been

accused of mistreating his own staff and To Consider cabinet. The fact that Trump is a loose cannon unnerves his own party as the president 1. Why do you think the majority of Trump routinely unleashes wild accusations of “fake voters remain Trump supporters? news” at the mainstream media as well as resorting to taunting tweets aimed at anyone 2. Why do you think some Trump voters are no who critiques him. longer Trump supporters?

Trump’s loyal base – However, the majority of 3. Do you think Trump will be a candidate in the next U.S. election? Why or why not? people that voted for him remain loyal and supportive of him. Why is this? Trump is very effective at demonizing his opponents. For example, he has waged a bitter war with the media, calling the reporting and motives of certain outlets into question. Trump proclaims “fake news” every time there is a negative news release about his presidency. His supporters believe that the media is manipulating and lying to the people of the U.S. when they criticize Trump. His supporters stay with him regardless of Trump’s occasionally racist, sexist and xenophobic rhetoric. Trump supporters believe that he is a good president, despite his flaws, who is helping the economy and is delivering on his promise to “drain the swamp” in Washington — ridding politics of elites and bureaucrats who only care about lining their own pockets and not about the average person’s concerns. It will be interesting to see if there is anything that Trump can do or say in the next three years that will make him lose his loyal supporters.

TRUMP AND MEXICO motion. San Diego has spent more than $1 million on security for the eight 9-metre tall prototypes Trump’s Wall erected in October 2017 just north of the existing border fence. Six companies were selected to When Trump announced his candidacy for build the prototypes at a cost of between $2.4 President of the United States, he pledged to million and $4 million. The executive order has yet build a border wall to protect Americans from to pass into law. Trump’s wall continues to be a illegal immigration from Mexico. In the incendiary contentious issue. In the end, no one really knows speech that launched his campaign, he said, if the wall will or will not become a reality. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. . . . They’re bringing drugs. Research “border walls” throughout history and They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” comment on whether the walls you discovered were ultimately effective in Fear and mistaken notions serving the intended purpose of those who built them. Some famous walls: Some of the facts that Trump failed to mention Great Wall of China, Theodosian Walls, (or was not aware of) is that undocumented Hadrian’s Wall, Berlin Wall immigrants to the U.S. pay $11.6 billion each year in local and state taxes. He also seems unaware of the fact that more Mexican immigrants have TASK – returned to Mexico from the U.S. than have Political cartoon analysis of “Trump’s Wall” migrated to their northern neighbour, resulting in an immigration net loss of 140,000 people from Political cartoons are a media form that 2009 to 2014. It seems that Trump is relying on fear combines humour, often irony or sarcasm, to and mistaken notions to boost his popularity. bring to light a political argument or to question political ideas and actions. A good political Trump: Mexico will pay for it cartoon uses images that are easily recognizable During his election campaign, Trump promised to to most people and allows them to “get” the build a 1,600 km long wall between the United joke. Drawings can be realistic or can be States and Mexico to prevent illegal migration. caricatures. A caption is often the “punch line” of He also boasted that the Mexican government the political joke and serves to point out the would be made to pay for it. Mexican President absurdity of the political idea or person in Enrique Pena Nieto has been equally insistent question. If you don’t “get” a political cartoon, it that he will not be paying for any kind of border may mean one of two things: the cartoonist did wall. not succeed in reaching you with their message or you do not have a specific understanding or Looks like U.S. taxpayers will foot the bill knowledge of the situation to grasp its meaning.

Since his election, the president has accepted 1. Do an internet search for political cartoons that US taxpayers would have to pay for the wall on “Trump’s Wall”. Choose two (2) cartoons and he has signed an executive order to set it in that you understand and that you think are

effective. Explain three (3) qualities or characteristics of the cartoon that you think makes it effective.

2. Choose two (2) cartoons that you don’t fully understand and try to figure out what information you need to know so that you can understand its message.

3. Create your own political cartoon on a topic that you are interested in.

According to the Pew Research Centre, six states account for 59 per cent of unauthorized immigrants: California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Look at this interactive map: www.pewhispanic.org/interactives/unauthorized‐immigrants/

What conclusions can you draw from the map? Why are some states more prone to illegal immigration than others?

Democrats and Republicans: What’s the difference?

The Republicans Pre-reading Activity That being said, there are some key beliefs and Before reading, engage positions that tend to in a class discussion distinguish Democrats from focusing on any Republicans. Those areas are immigration, gun characteristics or beliefs laws, taxation, government regulation and you think are unique to health care. Republicans tend to be more anti- Democrats and immigration, supporting the protection of their Republicans. For example, Democrats tend to borders and lower immigration. They also support gun control laws, while Republicans support the Second Amendment to the U.S. uphold an individual’s right to bear arms. constitution that promotes the right to carry guns. They want less government involvement, The two main political parties less regulation and less taxation. They believe in free markets, even in the realm of health The Democratic Party and the Republican care which they believe should be a privately- Party are the two main political parties in the run industry. Republicans tend to be anti- United States. It is interesting to note that, in abortion and anti-same sex recent decades, Democrat and Republican marriage. presidents have been consistently alternating control of the Oval Office. This fact reminds us The Democrats that the political views of the people of the U.S. Democrats on the other tend to change over time. hand support more open Extremists and moderates immigration and refugee policies, same-sex marriage The two parties maintain a diverse range of and adoption, and access to abortions. They ideas. It is difficult to define exactly where they believe in the importance of governments to stand on many issues and to clearly identify the intervene in economic issues, including line that separates them in terms of their healthcare, because they hold the position beliefs. You can find extremists and moderates that the state has a responsibility to support on both sides and sometimes their opposition people in need. to each other is not neatly defined. In fact, divisions within the Republican and The Democratic Party is represented by a donkey while the Democratic parties may be as important a Republican Party is represented by an elephant. Research how factor in U.S. politics as the divisions between the parties got their animal symbols. Suggest a possible update them. to their animal mascot.

Afraid of each other as “immoral”, “lazy” and “dishonest.” Among those highly engaged in politics, fully 70 per In recent decades, pollsters have noted that cent of Democrats and 62 per cent of negative feelings about the opposing party Republicans say they are afraid of the other are as powerful as positive feelings about one’s party. What does this mutual fear of each own party. More than half of Democrats (55 other mean for U.S. politics and the state of the per cent) say the Republican Party makes nation? How can one overcome fear in them “afraid,” while 49 per cent of politics? These are the questions that the U.S. Republicans say the same about the public will need to navigate if they hope to Democratic Party. Democrats label achieve less conflict and more consensus Republicans as “closed minded” and between their two major political parties. “dishonest” while Republicans label Democrats

Task: Take a humorous quiz to determine if you are liberal (Democrat) or conservative Consider the following selection of “artifacts” (Republican). within a group of four (4) and answer the questions provided. www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/are-you- liberal-or-conservative

1. Red States and Blue States – In these maps Did the results of the quiz surprise you? you will see which states have traditionally Explain your answer. voted for Republicans or Democrats. What do you notice? What questions do you Follow up: Create your own quiz based on have? a Canadian political leader or contentious political issue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_bl ue_states 3. Examine the changing demographic profiles of Republican and Democratic 2. Are you more of a Democrat (liberal) or a voters (2016). Republican (conservative)? Check out: www.people-press.org/2016/09/13/ Take a quiz to see which political the-parties-on-the-eve-of-the-2016-election- orientation you tend to support. two-coalitions-moving-further-apart/

www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/ What conclusions can you draw from the – OR – statistics presented? If you were campaigning in the next U.S. election, how might your political platform try to appeal to different groups of voters?

Sources: Christensen, L, Gardner, M. and Wiehe, M. (February 2016). Undocumented immigrants’ state and local tax contributions. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Gonzalez-Barrera, A. (November 19, 2015). More Mexicans leaving than coming to the U.S. Pew Research Center. Mark, M. (November 2017). The Trump administration just unveiled eight prototypes for the border wall—see what they look like. Business Insider. Partisanship and political animosity in 2016. (June 22, 2016). Pew Research Centre.