Could Starbucks's Howard Schultz Beat Donald Trump?
*By Britt Terrell*
Howard Schultz's philanthropic efforts and commitment to liberal causes may make him an appealing Democratic candidate. But Schultz, the outgoing executive chairman of Starbucks, could have a difficult time with some liberals if he decides to run for office.
"I wonder if the left wing of the Democratic Party would be receptive to somebody who has CEO at the top of their resume," said Eric Boehm, a reporter at Reason.com. "I think Schultz will face some push-back from that."
In an [interview Tuesday with CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/05/howard-schultz-rips-democrats-for-veering-too-far-left.html), Schultz may have invited push-back when he said some Democrats have unrealistic expectations of what government can do.
"It concerns me that so many voices within the Democratic Party are going so far to the left. I say to myself, 'How are we going to pay for these things?'" Schultz said in reference to popular liberal proposals like single-payer healthcare and government-supported full employment efforts. "I don't think that's something realistic," he added.
Schultz, who announced on Monday he would step away from Starbucks, the company he ran as chief executive or chairman for about 30 years, said he is considering a number of options for his future. Public service is one of them, but even he acknowledged in his CNBC interview that his corporate background could complicate a run for office.
Still, with another businessman occupying the White House, it's difficult to dismiss the potential positives of Schultz's experience in a matchup with Donald Trump. And Schultz's history of incorporating liberal issues as part of Starbucks' public image may be appealing to many mainstream Democrats and centrist voters.
"He knows that companies have to make money and he has done that in a way while still having liberal values," said Ed Carson, a news writer at Investor's Business Daily in an interview with Cheddar. "And I think that would be an effective combination both in the Democratic primary and in the general election."
Boehm also cited Schultz's business pedigree and his experience managing a business from start-up to multinational success as a counter narrative to President Donald Trump's own story as successful businessman.
"He could put his resume, taking a small coffee chain from Seattle and turning it into a globe-dominating brand, he could put that right up against Donald Trump's supposed resume, which includes numerous bankruptcies and business failures," Boehm said, adding that Schultz could make the case to the voters: "Hey, if you want a business man in the White House, maybe it should be me."
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/howard-schultz-2020).
Liana Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, joins Cheddar News to discuss the company launching billboards across the country in response to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
President Biden has announced an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine, including artillery, armored personnel carriers, and helicopters. It comes as Russian forces appear to be preparing for a new, aggressive offensive in the eastern part of Ukraine. Paul McLeary, defense reporter for Politico, joined Cheddar to discuss this new round of aid and what it means for the U.S. commitment to arming the embattled country.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 18, 2022, with Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian city of Lviv killing seven, mass shootings in South Carolina and Pittsburgh, Lucky Charms cereal under official investigation by the FDA, and more.
Activism is growing around the country in response to school boards banning books from shelves that focus on sexuality, gender, identity, or race. Jen Cousins, co-founder of The Florida Freedom to Read Project, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine intensifies, President Biden has announced a ban on importing Russian oil, gas, and energy. To discuss how this ban will impact the war and Americans, Amir Handjani, non-resident fellow at Quincy Institute, joins Cheddar News.
Thousands of protesters around the world are expressing their solidarity with Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
Jason Beardsley, national executive director of the Association of the U.S. Navy and national security expert, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
As gas prices surge amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, other nations could potentially transition faster to using clean energy than previously expected. Philip K. Verleger, a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, joined Cheddar News to explain how this could be a possibility in the near future. "Part of the reason I think we have this invasion and the tantrum that's being thrown by Russia, terrible tantrum, is because the Russians were trying to slow down the transition," he said. "Ironically they speeded it up."
Following the invasion of Ukraine, a multitude of Western companies have paused doing business with Russia. PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Starbucks are the most recent companies to temporarily cease operations in Russia. Dean of Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami, John Quelch, joined Cheddar News to discuss what message this sends to Russia and the Russian consumer. “I would not underestimate the collective strength of all of these multinational companies, essentially coming together to make their collective statement in support of the political statements that have come out of Washington," he said.
The war in Ukraine continues to reveal heartbreaking gut-wrenching stories. The war in itself is not only devastating but also expensive. Experts estimate that Russia is draining nearly $20 million dollars each day to continue occupying and invading Ukraine. All this could force the country to turn to cryptocurrencies. It's a major turn for the country that briefly considered outlined digital assets entirely, but it could also have serious implications for cryptos. Managing Director at Quantum Fintech Group, Harry Yeh, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
