Alternative Perspectives on Patriotism and Immigration

You're listening to Trump's terms, I'm Sot Dettr The president has both an ability and a willingness to use the power of his office to think outside the box. Nobody makes a better deal than President Trump. We're gonna do better and better and better. Nobody can believe what they're watching Every episode, we bring you one story from NPR's recent coverage of the forty seventh Pident with a focus on ways his administration is pushing the boundaries of presidential power. Here's the latest R NR News. I'm Steve Inskpe. And I'm Michelle Martin. Americans celebrated the fourth of July in all kinds of ways. It was the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the United States. New York had so many fireworks, they set the Brooklyn Bridge on fire. Other cities dodged extreme heat or thunderstorms and celebrated anyway. In Washington, a white nationalist group marched through the city as did counter protesters, while military jets flew over the city for much of the day. I think Michelle, you were watching and listening to that as we went through the day. The DC fireworks began very late, delayed by a thunderstorm And by a speech by the president who started after eleven o'clock Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the world, only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. The weekend offered contrasting views of America, and NPRs Mara Lason was watching and listening to much of it. Mara, good morning. Good morning, Steve. What was your impression of the presresident's speech The president's speech was overtly political. Just like his speech on Friday at Mount Rushmore, he excoriated Democrats, using his latest epithet for them, communists He's trying to use to his advantage the fact that a handful of members of the Democratic Socialists of America won some primaries, which in deep blue districts in places like New York City may not matter that much since the districts are likely to elect a Democrat in the general election. But there are many Democrats who are worried that in some swing states and districts They could be nominating candidates who are too far to the left to win. So the president and the Republicans are trying to take advantage of this and they're using the communist label as well as some of the positions found on the Democratic Socialist for America website like defeund the Police, abolish Iice, free all incarcerated individuals. And they're trying to paint the entire Democratic Party as too far to the left and as communists. Well, the highest profile person on the left in the United States right now is probably Mayor Zoran Mamdani of New York City, who has focused in his own public presentations on practical governance in New York, and he certainly hasn't been shy about the spotlight. gave his own speech over this holiday weekend. How different was his view of America It was very different. Mom Donna gave a speech on july third at New York City's City haall to a group of newly naturalized citizens. And his speech really was the opposite of Donald Trump's He criticized the constant denigration of immigrants. Here's what Mamdani said. American exceptionalism, the conventional wisdom tells us makes our freedom a little more free is how we dug the Eerie canal and irrigated the West is why children in fara away lands grow up dreaming of one day moving here. And yet the irony is that the story of America has so often been written by those who were told by others with power and influence and wealth that they were anything but Exceptional Mamani said that instead, America should continue to be a place of asylum for the persecuted. And he described a kind of patriotism that sees the nation's flaws and embraces dissent Mara, listening to you, you noted that's the alternative view, the alternative view to the administration. But in many of the decades of politics that you've covered, I think that would have been the normal bipartisan view of America that it's a nation of immigrants, that we work on our flaws. Right, absolutely. almost a nostalgic view, a kind of retro view of what makes America great But in this case, standanding up for immigrants and talking about how they are great contributions to America and actually made America great It's now considered the opposition viewpoint And P's Mar Eliason, thanks so much. You're welcome A note before we go, If you value this show and want to help keep it going, a free and totally easy way to support us is to rate and review Trump's terms on the platform where you listen in a world of algorithms that goes a long way toward helping us reach new listeners. If you have left a review in the past, thank you so much. I'm Scott Detreu, Thankks for listening to Trump's Terms from NPR.