As Democratic stars come to Bakersfield, local Republicans rally their own
With progressive stars Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slated to make an appearance in Bakersfield on Tuesday, local Republicans plan to hold their own rally across the street.
"Our purpose is clear: We are here to peacefully protest against tyranny and defend the principles that make Kern County great," a social media post from the Bakersfield Republican Women, Federated said.
Billed as a "Welcome to Bakersfield Block Party," the event's flyer shows a crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump, many of them wearing the signature red "Make American Great Again" hats and a slogan that reads "Let them know this is MAGA country."
"Our goal is to be a strong opposition to socialist ideology, all while fostering a spirit of respect and dialogue," Bakersfield Republican Women, Federated said. "Together, we will make our voices heard without succumbing to provocation. Let's stay focused and outsmart those who wish to undermine our freedoms!"
The Republican rally runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Truxtun Avenue and N Street, across from the Dignity Health Arena where doors open for the Sanders event at 10:30 a.m.
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are the latest in a series of visits to Bakersfield by out-of-town Democrats.
But where past visits specifically targeted the highly competitive 22nd Congressional District currently held by Republican David Valadao of Hanford, Tuesday's visit is part of a nationwide blitz of rallies by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.
Bakersfield has seen several large demonstrations against the Trump administration, particularly with regard to its policies around immigration, but the city and Kern County are Republican-dominated.
Trump received 53% of Kern County's vote in 2016 and 2020, but in 2024 his share of the vote shot up to 59%.
Sanders, a Vermont Independent, previously visited Bakersfield in 2016 and 2020 as part of his Democratic presidential campaign. Tuesday will be the first time visiting the city for New York Democrat Ocasio-Cortez.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Trump's DC military parade 2025: Start times, schedule, route, map, how to watch
President Donald Trump's multi-million dollar festival and parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army kicked off Saturday morning, June 14, and will continue late into the evening, rain or shine, the White House says. The 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade will conclude a day-long festival, full of music, fireworks and a fitness competition. The pomp and circumstance also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. "For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America's Army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home," Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social in early June. "This parade salutes our soldiers' remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won't want to miss it. Just don't miss this one. It's going to be good." Here's everything to know about the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade. The military parade and festival celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to establish the Continental Army, organizers say, marking the creation of America's first national military force more than a year before the Declaration of Independence. With Trump arriving at the parade early, the event began at 6 p.m. ET. Trump arrived at his viewing stand to watch the parade at 5:43 p.m. ET, about half an hour earlier than originally scheduled, as evening rain and thunderstorms are anticipated. The president will watch the parade alongside some of his Cabinet members, Republican lawmakers and other top allies. It is unclear if the 7:45 p.m. end time will change as a result of the weather. Here's a look at the full festival schedule*, per the U.S. Army: *The times listed in the above schedule are in eastern time. The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue NW, starting on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street and ending on 15th Street alongside the National Mall, near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It is next to the Smithsonian Metro Station NW entrance, which will be closed, organizers say, though the Smithsonian Metro Station SW entrance will be open. Yes, the military parade is free. Tickets are not required, but those who register on the U.S. Army event website may get a good view of the procession. Prospective attendees will need to provide their full name, phone number, email and address. Attendees are limited to two RSVPs per phone number. To learn more or RSVP, visit A full list of road closures is available here. USA TODAY will stream the military parade on its YouTube channel. The livestream is also at the top of this story. A full round-up of TV broadcast plans, including CNN, NBC and Fox News, can be found here. Officials initially estimated the Army Birthday Festival and parade would range in cost from $25 million to $45 million, but the Army's latest estimate totaled $40 million, as USA TODAY's Tom Vanden Brook previously reported, citing a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Trump has said that the Saturday parade will go on, rain or shine, even though the National Weather Service's forecast, as of Friday afternoon, showed a 60% chain of rain. "I hope the weather's okay, but actually if it's not, that brings you good luck, and that's okay, too," Trump said on June 12, during the congressional picnic at the White House. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't affect the tanks at all, it doesn't affect the soldiers. They're used to it. They're tough. Smart." The last major military parade, the National Victory Celebration, was held on June 8, 1991 to celebrate the end of the Gulf War. Contributing: Joey Garrison, Tom Vanden Brook, Amaris Encinas and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Trump's DC military parade 2025: Start times, schedule, route, map, how to watch
President Donald Trump's multi-million dollar festival and parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army kicked off Saturday morning, June 14, and will continue late into the evening, rain or shine, the White House says. The 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade will conclude a day-long festival, full of music, fireworks and a fitness competition. The pomp and circumstance also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. "For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America's Army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home," Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social in early June. "This parade salutes our soldiers' remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won't want to miss it. Just don't miss this one. It's going to be good." Here's everything to know about the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade. The military parade and festival celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to establish the Continental Army, organizers say, marking the creation of America's first national military force more than a year before the Declaration of Independence. With Trump arriving at the parade early, the event began at 6 p.m. ET. Trump arrived at his viewing stand to watch the parade at 5:43 p.m. ET, about half an hour earlier than originally scheduled, as evening rain and thunderstorms are anticipated. The president will watch the parade alongside some of his Cabinet members, Republican lawmakers and other top allies. It is unclear if the 7:45 p.m. end time will change as a result of the weather. Here's a look at the full festival schedule*, per the U.S. Army: *The times listed in the above schedule are in eastern time. The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue NW, starting on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street and ending on 15th Street alongside the National Mall, near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It is next to the Smithsonian Metro Station NW entrance, which will be closed, organizers say, though the Smithsonian Metro Station SW entrance will be open. Yes, the military parade is free. Tickets are not required, but those who register on the U.S. Army event website may get a good view of the procession. Prospective attendees will need to provide their full name, phone number, email and address. Attendees are limited to two RSVPs per phone number. To learn more or RSVP, visit A full list of road closures is available here. USA TODAY will stream the military parade on its YouTube channel. The livestream is also at the top of this story. A full round-up of TV broadcast plans, including CNN, NBC and Fox News, can be found here. Officials initially estimated the Army Birthday Festival and parade would range in cost from $25 million to $45 million, but the Army's latest estimate totaled $40 million, as USA TODAY's Tom Vanden Brook previously reported, citing a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Trump has said that the Saturday parade will go on, rain or shine, even though the National Weather Service's forecast, as of Friday afternoon, showed a 60% chain of rain. "I hope the weather's okay, but actually if it's not, that brings you good luck, and that's okay, too," Trump said on June 12, during the congressional picnic at the White House. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't affect the tanks at all, it doesn't affect the soldiers. They're used to it. They're tough. Smart." The last major military parade, the National Victory Celebration, was held on June 8, 1991 to celebrate the end of the Gulf War. Contributing: Joey Garrison, Tom Vanden Brook, Amaris Encinas and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
What US adults think about Pope Leo XIV, according to a new AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON (AP) — Just over a month after Pope Leo XIV became the first U.S.-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church, a new poll shows that American Catholics are feeling excited about their new religious leader. About two-thirds of American Catholics have a 'very' or 'somewhat' favorable view of Pope Leo, according to the new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research , while about 3 in 10 don't know enough to have an opinion. Very few Catholics — less than 1 in 10 — view him unfavorably. Among Americans overall, plenty of people are still making up their minds about Pope Leo. But among those who do have an opinion, feelings about the first U.S.-born pope are overwhelmingly positive. The survey found that 44% of U.S. adults have a 'somewhat' or 'very' favorable view of Pope Leo XIV. A similar percentage say they don't know enough to have an opinion, and only about 1 in 10 see him unfavorably. As he promises to work for unity in a polarized church, Americans with very different views about the future of the church are feeling optimistic about his pontificate. Terry Barber, a 50-year-old Catholic from Sacramento, California, hopes Leo will seek a 'more progressive and modern church' that is more accepting of all. 'I'm optimistic. Certainly, the first pope from the United States is significant,' said Barber, who identifies as a Democrat. 'Since he worked under the previous pope, I'm sure he has similar ideas, but certainly some that are original, of his own. I'm looking forward to seeing what, if any changes, come about under his leadership.' Bipartisan appeal About half of Democrats have a favorable view of the new pope, as do about 4 in 10 Republicans and independents. Republicans are a little more likely than Democrats to be reserving judgment. About half of Republicans say they don't know enough to have an opinion about the pope, compared to about 4 in 10 Democrats. Republicans, notably, are no more likely than Democrats to have an unfavorable opinion of the pope. About 1 in 10 in each group view Pope Leo unfavorably. Victoria Becude, 38, a Catholic and Republican from Florida, said she's excited about the first U.S.-born pope and hopes he can steer the country back to Catholic doctrine and make Americans proud. 'I'm rooting for him,' she said. 'I hope that America can get back to faith, and I hope he can do that.' Being a political liberal or conservative, of course, isn't the same thing as identifying as a liberal or conservative Catholic. But the poll found no discernible partisan gap among Catholics on Pope Leo, and Catholics across the ideological spectrum have expressed hope that Leo will be able to heal some of the divisions that emerged during the pontificate of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Pope Leo recently criticized the surge of nationalist political movements in the world as he prayed for reconciliation and dialogue — a message in line with his pledges to make the Catholic Church a symbol of peace. Before becoming pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis' pontificate by having women serve on the Vatican board that vets nominations for bishops. He also has said decisively that women cannot be ordained as priests. Donald Hallstone, 72, a Catholic who lives in Oregon, said he expects that Leo will continue to promote women in governance positions 'at a time when there's a shortage of priests' and other leaders in the church. 'It'd be great to see women in those roles,' he said. 'Women were not excluded in the first centuries.' On the other hand, some right-wing U.S. Catholics hope Leo will focus on Catholic doctrinal opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. Becude, the Republican, said she's against same-sex relationships because she believes that unions should be between a man and a woman, something that Pope Leo has reiterated . Even though she describes herself as 'very conservative,' though, she's in favor of reproductive rights even when church teaching opposes abortion . 'I don't believe that they should stop women from having abortions,' she said. 'We should have our own rights because you don't know the circumstances behind the reason why a woman would want the abortion in the first place.' Few have negative views — yet There's plenty of room for views to shift as Leo's agenda as pope becomes clear. Not all Americans have formed an opinion of the new pope yet; particularly, members of other religious groups are more likely to be still making up their minds. About half of born-again Protestants, mainline Protestants, and adults with no religious affiliation don't know enough to have an opinion about the pope, although relatively few — about 1 in 10 — in each group have an unfavorable view of him. Older Americans — who are more likely to identify as Catholics — are also more likely than younger Americans to be fans of Leo's. About half of Americans ages 60 and older have a favorable view of Pope Leo, compared to about 4 in 10 Americans under 30. But even so, only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 have an unfavorable view of the pope right now. Mercedes Drink, 31, is from the pope's hometown of Chicago. She still hopes that women will become ordained under his pontificate. 'It's cool; I like him because he brings something different,' said Drink, who lives in Minnesota and identifies as being part of the 'religious nones' — atheists, agnostics, or nothing in particular. 'As a young woman, I hope that he can bring change … considering who he is, he brings something new to the table. I hope he opens the world's eyes to modernizing the church, bringing more people in, having more diversity.' ___ Henao reported from Princeton, N.J. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,158 adults was conducted June 5-9, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
