Regarding housing problem in the US, well known here on HN patio11 has a simple solution: build homes [1]. Does this mean that he is a populist? Or do politicians just call themselves left-wing or right-wing, and in reality both of them represent the interests of landlords, as the article suggests?
I don't known which articles and columns you read. But I am from this European country with rising populism. In my opinion, things are going in a better direction than in the times of non-populist government. The current government fulfills promises and pays broad social benefits, but at the same time this populist government has reduced the budget deficit.