President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[falafel]

Trump's disapproval minus approval is at the worst now during his second term. He's 12.9 points underwater: 55% disapprove to 42.1% approve.

https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-a...ilver-bulletin

The latest CNN poll (out yesterday?) is even worse.

37% approve
63% disapprove

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/polit...trump-midterms

[USUC]

I'm not sure there is any evidence that Trump's terrible numbers are due to the shutdown. I know Dems want that to be the case. But his polling is more likely tied to his general caustic personality/way of operating combined with his terrible economic policies.

[BlueK]

I'm not sure there is any evidence that Trump's terrible numbers are due to the shutdown. I know Dems want that to be the case. But his polling is more likely tied to his general caustic personality/way of operating combined with his terrible economic policies.

It might just be a coincidence but the worst numbers of his first term happened during the shutdown and the same thing just happened again. Is that evidence? I don't know, but take a look at the chart on the link I provided. His numbers have stayed the same for months. Now they've gotten worse when there is a shutdown. His caustic personality has always been there however.

[USUC]

Help me define “elites” in this context. I’m genuinely confused. How do they not think Trump, Bessent, Nutlick, Kennedy, are elites? Elite certainly doesn’t seem to be an economic measure.

Are elites defined by MAGA as intellectually elite? Something else?

I think JL explained it well but the definition of "elites" is interesting depending on where you sit politically. Those on the left define elite as rich white people (excluding rich people of color) while those on the right define elite as those who spring from the liberal monoculture of academia, entertainment, government bureaucrats, and the wealthy progressives from large blue cities who have the largest cultural impact. But it's not quite so black and white for either view. Where does the plumber who makes 3 times as much money as the progressive professor at Weber State sit? What about people like Don Trump jr?

[falafel]

I'm not sure there is any evidence that Trump's terrible numbers are due to the shutdown. I know Dems want that to be the case. But his polling is more likely tied to his general caustic personality/way of operating combined with his terrible economic policies.

They broke out the poll a bit, and the vast majority of it was people upset with Trump's handling of the economy. ICE enforcement was not popular either. I didn't see much about the shutdown.

[BlueK]

They broke out the poll a bit, and the vast majority of it was people upset with Trump's handling of the economy. ICE enforcement was not popular either. I didn't see much about the shutdown.

Apples and oranges. What I posted was a composite of all the different polls, showing the trend over Trump's entire term and a recent dip in that average number that concides chronologically with the current government shutdown.

What you guys are talking about is a single poll that looks bad for Trump, discussing all the reasons for it. Two different concepts.

Here is another aggregator of polls frpm a more right-lesning source, Real Clear politics. The same pattern is there -- the distance between approve and disapprove is pretty constant for months with a recent sharp increase in disapproval and decrease in approval that coincides chronologically with tge government shutdown.

https://www.realclearpolling.com/pol...pproval-rating

[falafel]

Apples and oranges. What I posted was a composite of all the different polls, showing the trend over Trump's entire term and a recent dip in that average number that concides chronologically with the current government shutdown.

What you guys are talking about is a single poll that looks bad for Trump, discussing all the reasons for it. Two different concepts.

Here is another aggregator of polls frpm a more right-lesning source, Real Clear politics. The same pattern is there -- the distance between approve and disapprove is pretty constant for months with a recent sharp increase in disapproval and decrease in approval that coincides chronologically with tge government shutdown.

https://www.realclearpolling.com/pol...pproval-rating

Right. I only meant to discuss the poll that I had seen. I haven't looked at the aggregators.

[USUC]

A year removed from an astounding victory, MAGA and the GOP seem utterly feckless without Trump in the ballot. This is no doubt the result of Trump needing all successes tied directly to him. I don't see how the GOP doesn't get completely decimated in 2028 after Trump fails to be on the ballot again after stoking all sorts of chaos in hopes he can. I pray that the Mamdanis don't gain control of the DNC like MAGA did the GOP. But I suspect we are at least a decade away from the end of the populist era.

[Bo Diddley]

A year removed from an astounding victory, MAGA and the GOP seem utterly feckless without Trump in the ballot. This is no doubt the result of Trump needing all successes tied directly to him. I don't see how the GOP doesn't get completely decimated in 2028 after Trump fails to be on the ballot again after stoking all sorts of chaos in hopes he can. I pray that the Mamdanis don't gain control of the DNC like MAGA did the GOP. But I suspect we are at least a decade away from the end of the populist era.

What kind of leadership are you seeing from the Democrats?

[falafel]

What kind of leadership are you seeing from the Democrats?

what does that have to do with anything?

Kind of joking, but mainly this is a comment on the fact that people these days often vote against a party rather than for one.

[Bo Diddley]

what does that have to do with anything?

Kind of joking, but mainly this is a comment on the fact that people these days often vote against a party rather than for one.

Yeah, I'll wait and see. And even if it happens, my expectations are low with where we go from there.

[Northwestcoug]

Viva la revolucion, as per my daughter. She wants people who her generation are excited to vote for, and Mamdani personifies optimism and vision. Also helps that he's unapologetically hard left.

Good luck Zohran. You're going to need it. There are plenty of establishment political leaders from both sides of the aisle that will root for your failure.

[USUC]

Viva la revolucion, as per my daughter. She wants people who her generation are excited to vote for, and Mamdani personifies optimism and vision. Also helps that he's unapologetically hard left.

Good luck Zohran. You're going to need it. There are plenty of establishment political leaders from both sides of the aisle that will root for your failure.

I mean, he either moderates or he fails because his policies have either never worked or are cost prohibitive. Also, there are statutes on the books in NYC that require things be done in a way that will impede his plans (budgets for instance).

[USUC]

What kind of leadership are you seeing from the Democrats?

Despite how the GOP may spin it, the VA and NJ democratic governor candidates are fairly moderate. I the NYC is a non replicatable situation. I tend to agree with falafel, until reasonable people emerge from one of the parties, it will just be voting against whoever is in power.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Viva la revolucion, as per my daughter. She wants people who her generation are excited to vote for, and Mamdani personifies optimism and vision. Also helps that he's unapologetically hard left.

Good luck Zohran. You're going to need it. There are plenty of establishment political leaders from both sides of the aisle that will root for your failure.