Politics Central: economy

Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Trump's Polling Is So Low That Even Data Gurus Are SHOCKED

In this video, Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian discuss Donald Trump's historically low approval ratings (0:00).

Trump's Declining Approval (0:00-0:35):

According to various pollsters (AP-Norc, NBC, Yahoo-YouGov, Quinnipiac), Trump's net approval ratings are at a second-term low, ranging from -19 to -26 points.

This indicates he has "fallen through" what was previously considered his "floor" of support.

Comparison to Previous Terms and Biden (1:12-2:13):

Trump's current approval rating is worse than his first term (1:23) (then -17 points) and worse than Joe Biden's at the same point in his first term (1:44) (then -13 points).

The hosts draw a parallel to Biden's situation, where low approval led to his party losing the House and his not being re-elected.

Reasons for the Decline (2:14-8:06):

The primary reason cited is the economy, which Americans consistently rank as their top issue (2:23).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revised the official count of payroll jobs at the end of 2025 downward by over 1 million (2:38-3:49), and the estimated net jobs added in 2025 were slashed by over 50%.

Job growth is slowing, with the US adding only 15,000 jobs per month on average in 2025, largely concentrated in the healthcare sector due to an aging population (3:50-5:23).

The hosts also point to the Epstein files issue (6:57) as breaking trust with Trump's voters, making them more receptive to economic realities like rising prices and failed tariffs.

Call for True Leadership (8:08-10:51):

The hosts conclude by emphasizing that Americans are desperate for leadership that truly represents and cares for them, rather than prioritizing wars or donor interests (8:10).

Ana Kasparian expresses concern that if Democrats fail to address these issues, the country could face a "scary" future, with the rise of figures like JD Vance, whom she describes as a "post-liberal Republican" who doesn't believe in democracy (9:11).

She links this to Silicon Valley's obsession with beating China in AI and the potential erosion of privacy rights (10:05) in that pursuit.

Saturday, February 7, 2026

'Failure': Enten on Trump's economy, immigration polling

In this segment, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten discusses recent polling numbers regarding the Trump administration's economic policies (0:00) and public priorities, particularly concerning immigration (1:11).

Key points include:

Economic Outlook: (0:17-1:04) Enten highlights that 55% of Americans believe the economy is worsening, a significant increase from 42% after Trump's re-election in 2024. He emphasizes that historically, such numbers indicate "failure" for an administration, especially since Trump was elected on a promise to fix the economy.
Public Priorities vs. Administration Focus: (1:06-2:37) The public's top priority is lowering prices (54%), while the administration has been focusing on controlling immigration (22%) and reducing crime (10%). Enten argues that this misalignment is a formula for "failure" in the upcoming midterm elections.
Affordability and Party Trust: (2:48-3:27) Democrats hold a 14-point lead in being trusted more on affordability overall, extending to a 39-point lead among independents. This suggests a significant advantage for Democrats if affordability remains a top public concern.
Healthcare Costs: (3:33-5:39) A new KFF poll reveals that healthcare costs, including insurance and prescription drugs, are the public's top economic worry, surpassing concerns about groceries, rent, or gas. The discussion touches on Republican efforts to address healthcare, particularly Trump's interest in making drugs more affordable (4:20) and potentially rebranding healthcare initiatives as "Trump care" (4:39). However, Republicans are hesitant to make healthcare a central focus in the midterms due to Democratic dominance on the issue.
"Strong Floor, No Ceiling" Proposal: (5:40-10:09) Oliver Libby, a venture capitalist and Democratic donor, introduces his book's slogan, "strong floor, no ceiling," which embodies a hopeful message for America.
- Strong Floor: (6:52) Represents fundamental needs like affordability, healthcare, education, housing, good-paying jobs, and safe homes.
- No Ceiling: (7:04) Signifies the belief that hard work should lead to a good life, middle-class status, and the opportunity for economic growth.
- Libby's healthcare proposal within this framework includes a universal single-payer health insurance plan (8:27) and a tax credit for annual doctor visits (9:04) to promote preventative medicine and reduce overall costs. Recent polling in battleground states like Michigan and Georgia indicates strong public support for the "strong floor, no ceiling" concept (9:17).