Weekly political update – Where news & perceptions meet reality
Bottom Line: This is your weekly reality check. What's really going on with public opinion of the president and our view of the direction of the country? Here it is...
- Trump's lowest rating: 37% approval (8/4/17)
- Trump highest approval rating: 47% approval (12/6/19)
- Trump's current rating: 44% approval
A week after posting his highest average approval rating of his administration, we have a three point drop this week that places us back around his average of the previous month. As usual that really doesn’t tell the story. Consider this... President Trump’s average approval rating is exactly where President Obama’s was at the same point in his presidency. Right now, on the brink of impeachment. Think about the media treatment of President Obama. Think about the media treatment of President Trump. Think about impeachment. Same approval rating. Don’t expect to hear that one in your godless, soulless and slanderous news media.
The story as we’re on the brink of impeachment is the disconnect between the level of engagement of people across the country. As usual, the more informed and engaged people are, the more likely they are to approve of President Trump. That shows significantly this week. It’s noteworthy that every national pollster who polled on impeachment over the past week shows it underwater with Americans. Meaning, on the brink of impeachment, not even one current poll demonstrates a majority of Americans wanting it to occur. That’s telling. Here’s this week’s scorecard of President Trump’s approval:
- Adult only samples: N/A
- Registered voters: 43%
- Likely voters:49%
What you never hear reported are the ratings of the Democratic leaders opposing him. Here’s the latest...
- Pelosi: 38%
- Schumer: 27%
It’s telling that as the House of Representatives is ready to impeach President Trump, the Speaker of the House who called for this impeachment, Nancy Pelosi is far less approved of than President Trump. And Schumer remains as likeable as ever clearly. These numbers also tell a story that’s never told (aside from me).
Looking at the direction of the country this week...
Where we stood on Inauguration Day:
- Right Direction: 30%
Today:
- Right Direction: 36%
Overall, even in the mist of impeachment palooza 2019, we’re 6% collectively more optimistic than we were during the Obama administration.