Democrats to rally Saturday in Pottsville
The 'Musk/Trump Take Your Hands of my … Rally' is set for 11 a.m. to noon Saturday in Garfield Square. In addition to giving people a chance to voice their disappointment in the Trump administration's policies and actions, they can show support for at-risk federal programs and agencies, said Todd Zimmerman, chairman of the Schuylkill County Democratic Committee.
Zimmerman said Saturday's rally is one of several planned in the county this year.
Those attending are encouraged to bring signs to show support of key agencies facing closure by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Trump ally Elon Musk.
'Everyone is affected in different ways,' Zimmerman said.
Residents have called or emailed the Democratic office with concerns about a variety of issues — especially the potential closing of Social Security offices — or asked how they can get involved, he said.
Zimmerman suspects voters from other political parties are also surprised at actions Trump has taken since he began his second term in January, such as tariffs imposed against other nations that resulted in economic uncertainty.
'Every day it's like Russian Roulette with the tariffs,' he said.
Also, the mass firing of probationary government employees is causing confusion for many people.
'Government is necessary,' Zimmerman said.
He conceded there is some excess that could be trimmed, but said mass firings are not the way to go about it.
Another issue the rally aims to address is support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Zimmerman said he expects some counter-protesters will attend Saturday's rally to show support of Trump's policies, which is their right to do.
More information on this and other events can be found at schuylkilldems.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Hosts US's Oldest Pacific Ally Amid Tensions With China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The leader of the Philippines, the oldest U.S. ally in the Pacific region, aims to win over President Donald Trump in talks this week with an offer of greater economic engagement, including a "mutually beneficial" trade deal, to head off a looming 20-percent tariff on Philippine goods. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who arrived in the United States on Sunday and is due to meet Trump on Tuesday, is staunchly pro-American and has made U.S. ties a priority since he was elected in 2022, replacing a predecessor who spurned the U.S. in favor of closer relations with China. Why It Matters The United States and the Philippines have cooperated closely on defense for decades, based on a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. The former U.S. colony would be crucial for the U.S. military in the event of a confrontation with China over Taiwan. Under Marcos, Philippine forces have been trying the push back against China's expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine efforts have been met with Chinese blockades, ramming and water cannon attacks that last year injured several Philippine service members. The United States last year set out funding of $500 million for the Philippines' military and coast guard in a show of support in the face of Chinese actions in disputed waters. China accused the U.S. of creating tension and inciting confrontation with its support for the Philippines, which now hosts at least two types of U.S. missile systems on its territory. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pose during Hegseth's visit to Malacanang Palace on March 28, 2025, in the Philippine capital, Manila. Marcos will meet President Donald Trump on... Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pose during Hegseth's visit to Malacanang Palace on March 28, 2025, in the Philippine capital, Manila. Marcos will meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss tariffs and security. MoreWhat To Know Marcos, the son of U.S.-backed dictator Ferdinand Marcos, said he would be offering Trump exclusive economic benefits. "My top priority for this visit is to push for greater economic engagement, particularly through trade and investment between the Philippines and the United States," Marcos said before his departure. "I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of," he said. In a July 9 letter to Marcos, Trump said the 20-percent tariff on goods from the Philippines was necessary to address what he said was a "far from reciprocal" trade relationship. Marcos said he expected his talks with Trump to also focus on security and defense. Under a 2014 deal, called the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, the U.S. military has access to Philippine bases and sites for joint training and for facilities such as runways, fuel storage and troop housing. The agreement was expanded in 2023 to allow the United States access to nine locations, up from five before. Manila has not explicitly said whether these would be available for use in a U.S. defense of Taiwan, but leaders including Marcos previously said the sites cannot be used to launch attacks. What People Are Saying Ferdinand Marcos Jr., president of the Philippines, in a public statement, said: "We will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States concerning the changes that we would like to institute so as to be able to alleviate the effects of a very severe tariff schedule on the Philippines." Donald Trump, U.S. president, in a July 9 letter to Marcos, wrote: "Please understand that the 20 percent number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity that we have with your country." What Happens Next The two leaders will meet at the White House on Tuesday, and any agreement struck over two-way trade is expected to reflect the Philippines' growing geopolitical importance to the United States, too.
Los Angeles Times
5 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Newsom needs to stop kidding around. He's running for president
SACRAMENTO — No outsider politicians venture into sultry South Carolina in July unless they are running for president. Certainly not a West Coast politician. Especially a California governor who lives in delightful Marin County near wonderful cool beaches. A governor who could easily vacation at spectacular Big Sur or hike a wilderness trail into the majestic Sierra. We can assume Gov. Gavin Newsom didn't choose South Carolina for its nightly light show of amazing fireflies or symphony of crickets. He was attracted to something so alluring that he was willing to brave skin-eating chiggers and oppressive humidity. The lure, of course, was that South Carolina will hold one of the earliest — perhaps the first — Democratic presidential primaries in 2028. The precise calendar for contests hasn't been set. But Newsom knows this: South Carolina propelled Joe Biden to the party's nomination in 2020. And it provided a huge boost for Barack Obama in 2008. 'What South Carolinians saw this week as … Newsom made a two-day swing through the state was more than a highly visible candidate who probably will run for president in 2028,' wrote Andy Brack, editor, publisher and columnist at the Statehouse Report and Charleston City Paper. 'They saw a guy sweating through a white shirt in the South Carolina heat who was having fun. Yep, he seemed to enjoy engaging with voters in rural places too often forgotten by many candidates.' Yes, Newsom, 57, loves campaigning on the stump — a whole lot more than he does toiling in the nitty-gritty of governing. I'd only bicker with Brack's word 'probably' when characterizing Newsom's White House bid. We're talking semantics. California's termed-out governor actually has been running for months. And he'll run as far as he can, slowly for a while and try to pick up speed down the road. That's conventional politics. Most candidates — especially office holders — initially claim that running for president is 'the furthest thing' from their mind, then ultimately declare their candidacy with all the hoopla of a carnival barker. OK, I admit to having been wrong about the governor in the past. I should have known better. I took him at his word. He persistently denied any interest in the presidency. 'Subzero,' he asserted. But to be fair, he and reporters previously were centered on the 2024 race and the distant 2028 contest got short shrift. I figured Newsom mostly was running for a slot on the 'A' list of national political leaders. He wanted to be mentioned among the roster of top-tier potential presidents. He clearly savors the national attention. But I've also always wondered whether Newsom might be leery of running for president because of his lifelong struggle with dyslexia. He could view the task with some trepidation. The governor has acknowledged having difficulty reading, especially speeches off teleprompters. That said, he has adapted and is an articulate, passionate off-the-cuff speaker with a mind full of well-organized data. He excels on the stump — especially when he restrains a tendency to be long-winded and repetitive. Newsom is finally starting to acknowledge the White House glimmer in his eye. 'I'm not thinking about running, but it's a path that I could see unfold,' he told the Wall Street Journal last month. More recently, in a lengthy interview with conservative podcaster Shawn Ryan, Newsom said: 'I'll tell you, the more Trump keeps doing what he does, the more compelled I am to think about it.' Newsom's proclaimed hook for traveling to South Carolina was to 'sound the alarm' about President Trump's brutish policies and to light a fire under Democratic voters to help the party win back the U.S. House next year. He's again trying to establish himself as a leader of the anti-Trump resistance after several months of playing nice to the president in a losing effort to keep federal funds flowing to California. But it's practically inevitable that a California governor will be lured into running for president. Governors have egos and ears. They constantly hear allies and advisors telling them they could become the leader of the free world. And, after all, this is the nation's most populous state, with by far the largest bloc of delegates to the Democratic National Convention — 20% of those needed to win the nomination. But there's a flip side to this California benefit. There's a California burden. In much of the country, we're seen as a socialist horror with dreadful liberal policies that should never be emulated nationally. 'People who live in other states just don't like us, whether they're Democrats or Republicans,' says Democratic strategist Darry Sragow. 'A Democrat from California is going to have an uphill fight no matter who they are. That's just a reality. 'The odds [for Newsom] are pretty long, although he has a shot because the field is totally open.' But Democratic strategist Bill Carrick — a South Carolina native — says the California burden 'is exaggerated. That's just the Republican stereotype of California. Who cares? 'If Newsom runs, he'll be competitive. He's smart. Good charisma. South Carolina was a good trip for him.' Former Democratic consultant Bob Shrum, director of the Center for the Political Future at USC, says: 'Too many people write Newsom off. He has a realistic chance. 'He's very good at pushing off against Trump. It all depends on whether he goes into the election with a message about the future. The message has to center around the economy. The two times Trump was elected he won the message war.' Can Newsom win the nomination? Maybe. The presidency? Probably not. But there's no certainty about anything in an antsy country that swings from twice electing Barack Obama to twice anointing Donald Trump. Newsom is smart to roll the dice. The must-read: Forget the high road: Newsom takes the fight to Trump and his allies The TK: Will she or won't she? The California governor's race waits on Kamala Harris The L.A. Times Special: The forgotten godfather of Trump's scorched earth immigration campaign Until next week,George Skelton —Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
The Hill
5 minutes ago
- The Hill
Oliver, Stewart mourn CBS cancellation of Colbert
Jon Stewart and Jon Oliver, two of the biggest names in current events-focused comedy, expressed dismay at the decision by CBS to cancel 'Late Night' with Stephen Colbert. 'It's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy,' Oliver said during a recent event in Erie, Pa., adding that he is 'partly excited to see' what Colbert and the show's staff 'do over the next 10 months.' CBS announced last week it was canceling Colbert's show, calling the move a 'financial' decision and saying 'Late Night' would conclude at the end of its current broadcast season. The news came just days after CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by President Trump over a '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Colbert has for years been sharply critical of Trump, often mocking the president and his allies. During a recent podcast episode, Stewart, a prominent Trump critic, was asked if he was worried about his future at Comedy Central, which Paramount also owns. 'I'd like to think we bring enough value to the property,' he said. 'Like if they're looking at it as purely a real estate transaction. But I don't know. They may sell the whole f—— place for parts.' Paramount is trying to secure a mega merger with fellow entertainment giant Skydance, a multi-billion dollar deal that will need approval from Trump administration regulators to clear. The president has repeatedly railed against major media companies with news divisions he feels do not cover him fairly, and top officials at the FCC have suggested certain outlets face federal investigation.
