BILLBOARD News Now
Red Scare
President Trump put America on alert that communists were overtaking the Democratic Party. He told a convention of the Faith & Freedom Coalition “We have to stop this, this horrible thread of cancer that’s permeating our country called communism.” This sounded a lot like the First Red Scare which occurred after World War I and the Russian Revolution. Or the second Red Scare that took place after World War II as tensions grew between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Driving Trump’s Red Scare is his concern about Republicans losing control of Congress in the mid-term elections. Trump knows he will be a target for another impeachment and corruption investigations if Democrats take over.
He saw an opportunity to frighten Americans that the Democratic Party is being taken over by socialists. Hard to believe he would let a couple of self-proclaimed Democratic Socialists who won a primary election in New York lead him to this conclusion. Trump’s internal poll numbers must be worse than those being reported by news organizations.
Trump likely learned the importance of scarce tactics from Roy Cohn. Cohn played a significant role in Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in the 1950’s. McCarthy claimed that communists had infiltrated the federal government. After the McCarthy hearings, Roy Cohen became a prominent New York lawyer and mentor to Donald Trump.
Trump is not the first Republican to use communism to influence an election outcome. In the 1964 battle for the party’s nomination, anti-communism became a dividing line between conservatives and moderates. Phyllis Schlafly, a strong anti-communist, often accused some politicians of being soft on communism. She wrote a book “A Choice Not an Echo”, which supported Senator Barry Goldwater and attacked the moderate-to-liberal wing of the Republican Party.
Schlafly who had ties to the John Birch Society, promoted the idea that communism influence of prominent public officials who were knowingly or unknowingly advancing communist objectives in 1964.
Not unlike Trump’s using communism to paint the Democratic Party to fit his needs…it didn’t work in 1964, and it won’t work in 2026.
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
New Times
What President Trump described as a “simple redrawing” of congressional districts in Texas has explored into a partisan battle across many states. The long-standing tradition of drawing political lines only once a decade, after each census is giving way to endless...
Uncertainty
Governor Ron DeSantis future is uncertain. Marc Caputo, a nationally respected Axios reporter with tight Florida connections wrote last week DeSantis is begging President Trump for a job. DeSantis leaves office in January 2027 without a landing spot. This morning...
Three Buckets
A lot of media attention is focused on “Trump corruption”. The reporting can be put into three big buckets. Business fraud, conflicts of interest and using government power to benefit donors or Trump family interests. Let’s start here…a $500 million UAV-back...
A Better Ride
(Editor's note: Jim Lees attorney and former candidate for Governor of West Virginia submitted this thoughtul commentary. We are pleased to publish.) Twenty-six years ago I was running for Governor of West Virginia. My wife and I had four children and I truly wanted...
25th Amendment
(Editor’s note: In recent days we heard a lot about the 25th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. We decided to read it and thought others may be interested in its provisions.) Twenty-Fifth Amendment Section 1 In case of the removal of the President...
Hitler’s Edifice Complex
(Editor’s note: The Atlantic magazine spans more than 165 years and reflects major shifts in American culture, politics and media. In the 19th century The Atlantic evolved to emphasize thoughtful, in-depth writing. Today it published a piece by author Timothy W....
Chance for Peace
After listening to President Trump this evening, it brought to mind a “Chance for Peace” speech by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower a retired U. S. Army General. On April 16, 1953, he spoke before the American Society of Newspaper Editors in Washington, D. C. it...
Your Vote In Jeopardy
(Editor’s note: Senator Mark Warner from Virginia wrote a Guest Essay which appeared in today’s New York Times. He discussed how our election’s greatest threat comes from within. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligences Committee.) In the decade since...
On The Road Again
Millions of Americans are doing just that today “on the road” taking part in the third “No Kings” protest. If you’re paying attention, it’s easy to understand what is driving this exploding protest. They are taking over the country to say “No Kings”. The public is...
On The Road Again
Millions of Americans are doing just that today “on the road” taking part in the third “No Kings” protest. If you’re paying attention, it’s easy to understand what is driving this exploding protest. They are taking over the country to say “No Kings”. The public is...
Tipping Point
(Editor’s Note: Earlier today I was working on a commentary asking, “is our political structure broken?” My focus was to be on the President’s push to nationalize our elections, the political parties and Congress. We have seen how Mr. Trump single handedly manages...
Political Tidbits
(Editor’s note: For our new readers Political Tidbits is done periodically. Occasionally there maybe one with a link for more detail. BTW, any tips appreciated. Send to [email protected].) These are scary times…and it’s the 13th on a Friday…readers still...
BILLBOARD Archives
Power Play
(Editor’s note: This morning Axios AM published the piece below. They offer an interesting summary of Trump 2.0. More importantly they “Go deeper: with “The most unprecedented presidency in 250 years.” Take time and click to read the deeper piece.) President Trump...
Trump’s War
This is Trump’s War. Unlike other recent Presidents Trump did not prepare the country for what was to come. There was no oval office address, on or off the record interviews with the White House press corps or urgently called meetings with his National Security...
Was the Republic Saved?
(Editor’s note: David French an American political commentator wrote in today’s New York Times about the recent Supreme Court tariff decision. He asks “Is This the Most Important Supreme Court Case of the Century?) The Supreme Court may have just helped save the...
Signal to Congress
The Supreme Court, in its tariff decision may have telegraphed to Congress they need to take more seriously its constitutionally assigned responsibilities. Specifically, as related to the tariff ruling, the Court made clear the power to impose taxes and tariffs...
National Security
National security is normally thought of as our nation’s ability to protect its people, territory, economy and institutions from threats – both foreign and domestic. Until President Trump signed an Executive Order (March 25, 2025) one never thought of including...
Pact with the Devil
(Editor’s note: Dr. Jorea Marple, a nationally recognized educator and author based in West Virginia offers her view of what is occurring in Congress and the country. This guest commentary deserves serious thought.) Has Congress just become a collection of Faust like...
Expressing Sorrow
(Editor’s note: Peggy Noon an opinion columnist at the Wall Street Journal wrote this morning about the action to diminish The Washington Post. I thought it should be shared. Ms. Noonan was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2017.) The diminishment of the...
Rural Voters Count
As political parties and candidates prepare for the 2026 & 2028 elections rural voters are the center of attention. They play an outsize role in who will control the next Congress and who is elected the 48th President…let alone keep our system of government. In...
Plain Truth
(Editor’s note. Those observing the World Economic Forum in Davos may have witnessed a reordering of world relationships. David French, an Opinion columnist says Mark Carney the Prime Minister of Canada in his Davos address “Spoke the Plain Truth”. French writes...
Yesterday America…today the World
A year ago, Americans watched and wondered what chaos Trump would bring. Today, the world is on edge as President Trump heads to Davos for the World Economic Forum, which attracts global leaders, business figures and thinkers to discuss world issues. After 365 days...
Political Tidbits
We’re back…hope your holidays were fun! Our first item is hardly a Political Tidbits…but is thought provoking. Today January 6th…is a sad day…the very darkest episode in American history. Triston Snell said it best in her Substack today. She wrote “It is the darkest...
Trying Times
“These are the times that try men’s souls” Thomas Paine in 1776. Some 249 years later this statement could well describe what is taking place in America today. Events are moving fast as Trump and his Republican Party (MAGA) confront the 2026 election. An event...