Skip to Main Content
The Student News Site of Lakota West High School

The West Press

The West Press

The West Press

Benjamin Nguyen

Benjamin Nguyen

Ben is a Senior at Lakota West High School, Class of 2025.  He plays for the Lakota West boy’s Tennis team during the spring season.  This is his third year of Journalism and he usually writes his passions and interests for the website.  Ben likes to talk politics, history, philosophy, and theology, as well as just casually talking with good friends.  He is South Vietnamese American, Christian, and 17 years old.  His driving passion is to be a person who leaves this world better off than the one they came into.

 

“The first step towards failure is bringing it up”

-Ben Nguyen

All content by Benjamin Nguyen
Republicans Were Right (About A Lot): Biden Pardons Biden

Republicans Were Right (About A Lot): Biden Pardons Biden

Benjamin Nguyen December 12, 2024

On December 1st, the Commander in Chief, Joe Biden (82), signed a full and unconditional pardon of his son, Hunter Biden (54), “For those offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief IX: Governor DeWine Signs Bathroom Bill

Buckeye Brief IX: Governor DeWine Signs Bathroom Bill

Benjamin Nguyen December 5, 2024

On November 27th, Governor DeWine signed SB 104 which amended parts of the Ohio Revised Code regarding the College Credit Plus program, as well as enacted the Protect All Students Act which bars transgender identifying persons from using bathrooms that...

Continue Reading
Red Tsunami: Ohio Republicans Win Big in 2024 Election

Red Tsunami: Ohio Republicans Win Big in 2024 Election

Benjamin Nguyen November 14, 2024

On November 5th, Ohioans turned out to the polls with record turnout for early voting and overall voting.  Later that night, off the coattails of President Trump’s impending victory and his charge to Make America Great Again, Ohioans saw a big red...

Continue Reading
Morning Again in America: Trump Re-Elected President

Morning Again in America: Trump Re-Elected President

Benjamin Nguyen November 8, 2024

On November 5th, Fmr. President Donald J. Trump was re-elected President of the United States with a mandate of over 72 million Americans, allowing President-Elect Trump to win with both the electoral and popular vote.  While Nevada and Arizona are still...

Continue Reading
Election 2024: VP Debate Last Televised Appeal Before Election

Election 2024: VP Debate Last Televised Appeal Before Election

Benjamin Nguyen October 10, 2024

On October 1st, the Vice Presidential candidates for the 2024 Presidential Election descended on New York City at CBS’ Headquarters to deliver their cases to the American people on why they and their running mates at the top of the ticket should be...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief VIII: DeWine Defends Springfield

Buckeye Brief VIII: DeWine Defends Springfield

Benjamin Nguyen September 26, 2024

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine [R] wrote an op-ed (opinion letter) for the New York Times on Sept. 20th defending Springfield, Ohio – more specifically its Haitian immigrants – from the large amount of negative attention it's been given as a result of...

Continue Reading
Presidential Debate Night: Trump Squares Off Against Harris

Presidential Debate Night: Trump Squares Off Against Harris

Benjamin Nguyen September 17, 2024

On September 10th, 9 PM EST, the Second Presidential Debate between Fmr. President and Republican Nominee Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris was held in Philadelphia. Less than a month ago, Vice President Kamala Harris was selected as the...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief VII: Ohio Dems Attempt to Change Ohio's Electorate

Buckeye Brief VII: Ohio Dems Attempt to Change Ohio’s Electorate

Benjamin Nguyen August 29, 2024

This November, Issue One 2024 will be on the ballot for millions of registered voters across the State of Ohio.  After reaching signature thresholds set by the State of Ohio, Citizens Not Politicians, an organization pushing against what they perceive...

Continue Reading
Battle For The Midwest: Vance vs Walz for VP

Battle For The Midwest: Vance vs Walz for VP

Benjamin Nguyen August 29, 2024

On the first day of the Republican National Convention, Fmr. President and Republican Nominee for President Donald J. Trump chose Senator JD Vance of Ohio to be the Republican Nominee for Vice President of the United States.  Across the aisle, Vice President...

Continue Reading
Trump Shot: Attempt on Former President's Life at Rally

Trump Shot: Attempt on Former President’s Life at Rally

Benjamin Nguyen July 15, 2024

On July 13th, at 6:11 PM EST, multiple shots rang out at a Pennsylvania rally for Former President Donald J. Trump.  President Trump, who was speaking, quickly reached for his ear and fell to the stage as United States Secret Service agents rushed to...

Continue Reading
Six Months Out: Trump Leading Biden in Key Swing States Ahead of 2024 Election

Six Months Out: Trump Leading Biden in Key Swing States Ahead of 2024 Election

Benjamin Nguyen May 23, 2024

President Trump has seen promising leads from several recent polls, which show Joe Biden as highly unpopular, with a 55% job disapproval rating according to FiveThirtyEight recent polling. The Fmr. President is showing favorable leads in key swing states...

Continue Reading
Biden Doesn't Back the Blue

Biden Doesn’t Back the Blue

Benjamin Nguyen May 23, 2024

The week of May 13th was National Police Week where our men and women from across the country who risk their lives keeping the peace were honored for their dedication.  National Police Week 2024 comes amid a far too frequent epidemic of cop shootings,...

Continue Reading
Trouble in Tehran: Iranian President's Death Sends Shockwaves

Trouble in Tehran: Iranian President’s Death Sends Shockwaves

Benjamin Nguyen May 23, 2024

In Tehran, the Iranian government under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is in slight disarray, following the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi, as well as other senior Iranian officials, in a helicopter crash on Sunday. President Raisi was joined...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief VI: Governor DeWine's 2024 State of the State Address

Buckeye Brief VI: Governor DeWine’s 2024 State of the State Address

Benjamin Nguyen May 9, 2024

On Wednesday, April 10th, I was honored to have been invited as a guest of State Representative Sara Carruthers for Governor Mike DeWine’s 2024 State of the State Address.  In it, the Governor unveiled his plan for Ohio and the successes the state...

Continue Reading
The Vatican Weighs In On Cultural Clashes

The Vatican Weighs In On Cultural Clashes

Benjamin Nguyen May 9, 2024

The Vatican, on April 8th, released a document condemning surrogacy, transgenderism, and sex changes, as well as gender theory as threats to human dignity.  The document, entitled the Declaration “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity comes amid heated...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief V: President Trump Visits Dayton, OH

Buckeye Brief V: President Trump Visits Dayton, OH

Benjamin Nguyen March 20, 2024

President Trump visited Dayton, Ohio last Saturday, March 16th, for a rally in support of Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno, who has the Fmr. President’s endorsement amid the neck and neck Republican Primary.  The Fmr. President welcomed by a huge crowd...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief IV: Ohio Primary Next Tuesday

Buckeye Brief IV: Ohio Primary Next Tuesday

Benjamin Nguyen March 14, 2024

The Ohio Primary Election is next Tuesday hence why, at least for Lakota, we have the day off.  Millions of Ohioans across the state will go to the polls and choose, at least for their parties, who they want to be their Democratic or Republican nominees. ...

Continue Reading
DeSantis Drops Out: Endorses Trump

DeSantis Drops Out: Endorses Trump

Benjamin Nguyen February 1, 2024

On Sunday, January 21st, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended his campaign to be the Republican nominee for President of the United States.  This came almost a week after his second-place finish in the Iowa caucus, carrying 9 delegates and 21.2% of the vote,...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief III: DeWine Vetoes SAFE Act; Assembly Overrides

Buckeye Brief III: DeWine Vetoes SAFE Act; Assembly Overrides

Benjamin Nguyen February 1, 2024

Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine vetoed the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act on Dec. 29th, 2023.  His move resulted in overwhelming backlash from his own party and particularly the Ohio General Assembly, which is controlled by a...

Continue Reading
No Secrets: Epstein's Contacts Revealed

No Secrets: Epstein’s Contacts Revealed

Benjamin Nguyen January 29, 2024

In December, a federal court judge ordered that names relating to Epstein’s court documents be released.  More than 150 individuals are named, including alleged abusers and those who were abused.  The release of the names comes amid continued outrage...

Continue Reading
The Unfiltered Argument For Israel

The Unfiltered Argument For Israel

Benjamin Nguyen December 14, 2023

Israel is a situation not unlike my own story, beginning in Saigon, South Vietnam.  America had promised support but as public support turned, so did the tide of war.  South Vietnam fell on April 30th, 1975.  The Fall of Saigon marks a pivotal point...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief II: Senate Election 2024

Buckeye Brief II: Senate Election 2024

Benjamin Nguyen November 16, 2023

Election season is back, as Ohio prepares for what is forming to be a heavily contested Senate Election.  Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown is up for re-election, for what could be his third term as a US Senator, having served since 2007.  Senator Brown is...

Continue Reading
Buckeye Brief I: Ohio November Issue 1 & 2

Buckeye Brief I: Ohio November Issue 1 & 2

Benjamin Nguyen November 6, 2023

On November 7th, Ohioans will decide whether or not to put into law, or reject, Issues 1 & 2 of the 2023 November Ohio Election.  These measures have raked in millions of dollars for both sides' ability to campaign in getting out the messages: Yes...

Continue Reading
Biden's Katrina Moment: Maui Burned, the President Tanned

Biden’s Katrina Moment: Maui Burned, the President Tanned

Benjamin Nguyen September 21, 2023

In 2005, on August 29th, a category 5 hurricane hit the United States making landfall on Gulf Coast states. Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters to befall the United States. While Katrina hit the United States on...

Continue Reading
Joe’s All In: President Biden Runs For Re-Election

Joe’s All In: President Biden Runs For Re-Election

Benjamin Nguyen May 1, 2023

President Biden formally announced on Tuesday, April 25th, that he is running for re-election.  The 80-year-old Biden asked the American people to re-elect him in 2024 saying “Let’s get the job done!”  The President faces an uphill battle as he...

Continue Reading
The Mickey Mouse Fight House: DeSantis v. Disney

The Mickey Mouse Fight House: DeSantis v. Disney

Benjamin Nguyen March 31, 2023

On February 27th, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed HB9B (2023) into Florida State Law.  HB9B’s purpose: to end Disney’s reign over its special district formerly granted to it by the State of Florida.  Prior to the bill, Disney had special...

Continue Reading
The White House Oilman: Biden Approves Willow Project

The White House Oilman: Biden Approves Willow Project

Benjamin Nguyen March 31, 2023

President Joe Biden approved the Willow Master Development Plan on March 13th, after controversy with climate activists regarding the environmental catastrophe the project may result in.  The Administration as a whole is taking flak for its seeming abandonment...

Continue Reading
Trump Arrest Rumors Loom Over 2024 Election

Trump Arrest Rumors Loom Over 2024 Election

Benjamin Nguyen March 30, 2023

On March 17th leaks from the Manhattan DA’s office of Alvin Bragg surfaced speculating that the DA’s office planned for the indictment and arrest of former President Donald Trump.  These rumors were heightened and used by right-wing influencers and...

Continue Reading
Teacher Feature: Karsten Klint

Teacher Feature: Karsten Klint

Benjamin Nguyen March 7, 2023

Mr. Klint is a teacher here at Lakota West.  His subject is AP Social Studies, specifically US and European history.  While a catchphrase of his class is ‘Keep it Simple Stupid’ the opposite will be done as this West Press Teacher Feature highlights...

Continue Reading
The Republican Showdown: Nikki Haley Runs For President

The Republican Showdown: Nikki Haley Runs For President

Benjamin Nguyen February 24, 2023

Former South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley, has thrown her hat in to be the Republican Nominee for President of the United States in 2024.  She challenges the frontrunner, former President Donald Trump who lost the 2020 election to incumbent President...

Continue Reading
East Palestine Train Derailment; National Responses

East Palestine Train Derailment; National Responses

Benjamin Nguyen February 23, 2023

On February 3rd, 2023, a freight train from the Norfolk Southern Railway Company derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, near the OH-PA border. The train was carrying vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, as well as other hazardous chemicals and combustible liquids....

Continue Reading
Peanut President: The Close of the Carter Legacy

Peanut President: The Close of the Carter Legacy

Benjamin Nguyen February 23, 2023

Former President James “Jimmy” Earl Carter has decided to discontinue hospital visits after a string of stays opting for hospice care, in a statement released by The Carter Center.  The 98-year-old Former President has within the past 10 years broken...

Continue Reading
Buckeye State Hit With Red 'Wave'

Buckeye State Hit With Red ‘Wave’

Benjamin Nguyen November 17, 2022

The Midterm Elections in Ohio were Tuesday, November 8th and the battle for the Governor's mansion and the open senate seat came to a close with republicans Mike DeWine and JD Vance seeing themselves re-elected.  The campaigns went on for nearly a year...

Continue Reading
Load More West Press Articles