I am an independent that leans conservative on most issues. I consider myself somewhere in the middle on the abortion topic, and feel the Supreme Court decision tamped down the “red wave” in 2022. I do not agree with late-term abortions, nor do I think all abortions should be taxpayer funded as some on the left support. Abortion will remain a hot topic issue, until some form of Roe vs. Wade is codified. The left seems to be in no rush, as it will continue to remain an issue they can run on.
I’m not a political science expert, but it seems populism has a very broad definition and can be broken down into two subsets that are quite contrary to each other - left-wing populism, which can be likened to socialism, and right-wing populism, which can be likened to nationalism. There are “extremes” on both sides of the spectrum, like Bernie Sanders (Left-wing) and Josh Hawley (Right-wing).
While the Republican Party may be leaning in more of a populist direction than it was a decade ago, I think there is a propensity of the majority of the media to focus on one extreme but not the other. A lot of the Republican move toward populism has been reactionary, due to left-wing populist ideas set forth by the Obama administration. One example is Obamacare.
In the end, I can’t think of a great example of right-wing populism in action. Perhaps the border wall, but immigration reform had been a hot topic issue for decades before Trump was elected the first time. Maybe the idea of peace through strength would be considered populist.
As a right leaning independent, I don’t believe the idea of Republicans moving toward populism will change my vote, as the other side of the spectrum seems to be moving more and more toward another form of populism by the moment.
