Us & Them: 100 Days And A Lot To Discuss At Our Dinner Party

During his first months in office, President Donald Trump has issued about 150 executive orders and is taking action on the very issues he promised during the campaign. 

There’ve been dramatic changes in immigration in the form of mass deportations despite concerns over a lack of due process. The administration continues to make good on moves to cut the federal workforce, government agencies and a variety of government-funded organizations. And nearly every day there’s economic news about Trump’s reciprocal tariffs with countries around the world and the impact on the global economy. 

With all of this to digest, it’s time for another Us & Them Dinner Party as host Trey Kay brings together guests of varying political persuasions to share a potluck meal and their views on President Trump’s first 100 days in office. 

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.

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For more than a decade, Us & Them has told stories from America’s cultural divides. About five years ago, we decided to bring those divisions to the dinner table — the way many families do. We invited conservatives and liberals to share a potluck meal and a conversation about the issues of the day.

The last time our Dinner Party crew sat down together was just two days after the 2024 election. Although we had a good discussion, emotions were raw. Someone suggested we meet again around the 100-day mark of Donald Trump’s second presidency — so we followed up. Our group included some longtime Dinner Party guests and a new face.

Greg Carroll is new to the Dinner Party. Originally from Texas, he moved to West Virginia in the late 1960s after spending time as a child visiting his grandfather in Putnam County. He fell in love with the land and later convinced a group of friends to buy property nearby, believing their corner of the world is “almost heaven.” Carroll is a retired historian who worked with the state archives.  

“It’s a nightmare for democracy. Most intellectuals now admit it’s so much worse than they ever thought it could be. The man is almost insufferable—but, as you said, he’s predictable. No one thought someone could dismantle a government built over 200 years, right in front of our eyes, and he has to be stopped.

He’s for the rich, and he’s making little children suffer all over the planet. We have to decide what kind of country we want to be.”

— Greg Carroll, reflecting on the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second presidency.  

Terri Triplett DeLauder says she’s generally pleased with the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. She believes Trump is willing to make tough decisions that previous presidents have avoided. Terri supports his foreign policy—including his leadership on Ukraine and Gaza—as well as his stance on tariffs. She’s also largely in favor of the government cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, though she disagrees with some of the reductions.

“Even though I’m a staunch conservative, the farm-to-table initiative — which is fantastic — really bothers me when it gets cut. They use local farmers, they sell to local schools, they buy local produce. That creates jobs all the way around. There’s just no reason to cut that.

I do think some of those programs will be saved. My hope isn’t necessarily to reduce defense spending, but to bring back some of the money we’re sending overseas — some of these crazy payments to other countries — and use it for programs here at home.

Put the money back into the programs. And when you look at tariffs — just getting a little bit back from them — you’re talking about bringing revenue back here. Once you do that, then you can afford to fund things again.”

— Terri Triplett DeLauder

Lexi Steele believes the Republican Party is undergoing a fundamental shift — one that departs from the traditional definition of conservatism in its allegiance to Donald Trump. She finds this troubling. She’s also concerned about the broader social climate, where public discourse often consists of people who shout talking points without truly listening or being open to change.

She’s disheartened by what she sees as a lack of compassion and empathy from Republicans toward undocumented immigrants. As a young Black woman, she’s especially disturbed by the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives [DEI] — both nationally and in her own campus community.

“Something I’m really struggling with is what DEI looks like in the state — especially on campus. I serve on the advisory council for the Society of Black Scholars. I come from a predominantly white community and attend a PWI [predominantly white institution]. The Society of Black Scholars helped me become comfortable with my identity as an African American woman.

Now it’s gone. We can’t exist unless we reorganize as a club. But we’re not a club — we’re a subset of the university, a space where Black students can be recognized as something distinct, not just lumped in with everything else.

So what can I do? I’ve been protesting. I’ve been speaking out, letting people know this is what’s really happening. It’s not just a broad case study — this is how it’s personally affecting me.”

— Lexi Steele, Marshall University student

Michael Borsuk believes the early days of Donald Trump’s second presidency have gone well. He supports much of the administration’s policy agenda, especially efforts to cut government spending and increase efficiency. Still, he acknowledges that reductions to the federal workforce — excluding defense — only amount to about 8%. While he favors reining in military spending, he’s critical of how the Biden administration allocated foreign aid.

That said, Borsuk doesn’t agree with every Trump policy. He’s particularly concerned about how the administration is handling undocumented immigrants, especially when it comes to due process.

“I’ve said for years the immigration system is broken, and we need to work on the process. And I’ll break from my party on this. It’s scary that they’re not willing to bring someone back to the United States, because everyone is entitled to the right of habeas corpus and the ability to challenge their detention.

We should be stricter on immigration enforcement, but people deserve due process. Keep them here in the States. I don’t agree with the administration sending people back immediately. Yes, we should deport those who are here illegally — but only after they’ve had their rights.”

— Michael Borsuk, Marshall University student

Elliot Hicks is deeply troubled by the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly its stance on Ukraine. He believes the United States prevailed in the Cold War not through military power, but by leveraging its economic strength in partnership with western allies. For decades, he says, the U.S. acted as a trusted and principled global influence — but he no longer believes that’s the case.

He’s also disturbed by the Trump administration’s claim that guaranteeing due process to undocumented immigrants would overwhelm the legal system, especially in light of the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to an El Salvadoran prison — a case he sees as a clear injustice.

“Let’s hire more people to provide due process. From the most conservative to the most radical among us, we should be screaming when people are being seized from the streets without due process.

Every person in this country is entitled to due process. Do we really disagree on that?

Do we really believe we have no influence over fixing a mistake like this? We could correct it if we wanted to.

Why aren’t we using the full force of the United States to make it right? Why aren’t we all screaming about this?

What’s happening with this government is terrible. We’ve abdicated so many of our principles—all to worship this one person [President Donald Trump]. I’m amazed at where we are.”

— Elliot Hicks, Charleston attorney

Jay Gould says he’s been “tickled plumb to death” with the early days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. He supports efforts to cut government spending and backs the administration’s push for U.S. allies to take on more responsibility for their own national defense.

“If I’ve got a neighbor and I’ve got a garden, and I raise my food, take care of my family — and I’ve got a neighbor over here that doesn’t raise a garden, he’s got the same ground, he’s healthy — am I going to take my stuff and give it to him? I’m not going to do it.

They’ve got national healthcare, they have social programs far beyond what we have. Do away with their programs and fund their military — really? And pick up their load?”

— Jay Gould

“We are living in an era full of questions. More than ever, America does not seem to know what its future holds. After two and a half hours at the dinner table, we’ve barely scratched the surface.  

By the time we finish our conversation and pick up our plates, it’s close to 10pm. To be honest, on this night, I’m not sure if our experiment is a success.  I do know that every final thought offered at the table resonates with me, regardless of its politics. 

As our dinner guests depart, I’m not sure when — or if — we’ll join together again. The truth is, I never know. These potluck meals and conversations across the divide only happen when brave people are willing to show up and talk. As an American, I’m always hopeful for another opportunity.”

— Trey Kay