Is Springsteen born to run?

Kudos to Bruce Springsteen for practicing his First Amendment rights to rail against the corrupt policies and immoral actions of the Trump administration. Springsteen has never shied away from holding up a thoughtful mirror reflecting the state of our nation. His subjects have included the treatment of Vietnam veterans (“Born in the USA”), the AIDS epidemic (“Streets of Philadelphia”), the Sept. 11 attacks (“The Rising”) and race relations (“American Skin”). These masterpieces have all been rendered with empathy and the sharp eye of a seasoned storyteller.

President Donald Trump’s response to this criticism was characteristically buffoonish (“Trump reignites fiery Springsteen feud with doctored golf ball video,” May 22). Childish, vitriolic insults and an online message to “KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT” ensued. A doctored video of Trump hitting a golf ball knocking Springsteen over was posted on the president’s Truth Social and X accounts. So much for First Amendment rights to voice political dissent.

“Rainmaker, a little faith for hire Rainmaker, the house is on fire Rainmaker, take everything you have Sometimes folks need to believe in something So bad, so bad, so bad They’ll hire a rainmaker.”

So writes Springsteen in his 2020 release “Rainmaker.” I encourage everyone to take a listen to this fiery anthem. Bruce has asserted that this song does not target any specific politician. It is a universal parable that details desperate people coming under the spell of a charlatan. It can be applied to any of a number of demagogues including President Trump. Infused with equal parts outrage and sympathy, the song is a must-listen in these trying times.

The GOP has been floating the idea of amending the Constitution to allow for a third Trump presidency. If passed, Democrats should counter with their own heavyweight candidate: former President Barack Obama.

Fellow musician Sheryl Crow recently spoke out to support Bruce at a concert in Boston. She joked, “I don’t know, Bruce Springsteen for president?” Don’t laugh. Everyone knows Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

— Eugene Wu, Sparks

The populists are in control

As we all know by now, President Donald Trump and his supporters are devout populists; that is, people who feel their concerns are being disregarded by “elite” political groups.

President Trump, for his part, has always had populist leanings despite his wealth, as manifested in his disregard for laws that annoy him and his love of more proletarian cultural events like professional wrestling.

While populists generally address serious problems, their proposed remedies are often divorced from reality. As the acerbic — albeit usually accurate — Baltimore Sun journalist H.L. Mencken observed a century ago, “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.”

President Trump has clearly fallen into this trap with his ill-advised policies and self-destructive behavior. Unfortunately, he has taken us with him. God help us all.

— Mike Barrett, Ashburn, Virginia

Hogan back as governor?

Wouldn’t it be great if our former governor, Larry Hogan, was our governor again? Wouldn’t it be interesting if our legislature was at least equal in Republican and Democratic representation? This can happen in 2026!

— Richard T. Webb, Parkton