Trump Is Now Deeply Unpopular | Secret Podcast Preview
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Trump holds a -16% net disapproval rating, with 56% actively disapproving.
- ❖His approval on the economy is -18%, but on the 'cost of living' specifically, it drops to -29% (34% approval, 64% disapproval).
- ❖Approval for ICE enforcement is 36%, with 63% disapproval, indicating significant public opposition.
- ❖The hosts criticize mainstream media for 'sanewashing' Trump's extreme statements by treating his occasional 'normal' remarks as binding while downplaying his consistent lies.
- ❖Trump's 'Greenland backout' was framed by the media as a 'deal' while ignoring the damage to global trust.
- ❖DHS deployment to Maine is seen as a political move to pressure Senator Susan Collins, forcing her to choose between Trump and her state.
- ❖Trump has tools to artificially lower gas prices (strategic reserve, Middle East allies) and interest rates (Fed picks) before an election.
- ❖Issuing direct checks to voters is another potential pre-election economic manipulation Trump could employ.
Insights
1Trump's Deep Unpopularity Across Key Issues
Recent polling from New York Times/Sienna, CNN, Wall Street Journal, and Yuggov consistently shows Trump with a net disapproval of -16% (40% approval, 56% disapproval). His numbers are particularly low on issues directly impacting daily life: -18% on the general economy and a stark -29% on the cost of living (34% approval, 64% disapproval). Public disapproval for ICE enforcement also stands at -27% (36% approval, 63% disapproval).
Sarah Longwell details specific numbers from multiple polls, emphasizing the consistency across different sources and highlighting the 'cost of living' metric as particularly damaging.
2Media's 'Sanewashing' of Trump's Extreme Rhetoric
The hosts argue that mainstream media often 'sanewashes' Trump's outlandish statements and actions. They focus on his occasional 'normal' remarks (e.g., 'I won't invade Greenland') as definitive policy shifts, while downplaying or ignoring his consistent promotion of false narratives (e.g., 'the election was stolen,' 'I deserve a third/fourth term') and the erosion of international trust caused by his behavior.
JVL and Sarah discuss the media's coverage of the Greenland incident and Trump's Davos speech, where the focus was on him 'not invading Greenland' rather than his claims of a stolen election or an illegitimate government.
3Trump's Potential for Artificial Economic Manipulation
Ahead of an election, Trump possesses levers to artificially influence economic perception. He can lower gas prices by tapping the strategic petroleum reserve or by persuading Middle Eastern allies to increase oil supply. He can also influence interest rates by appointing Federal Reserve governors with a litmus test for aggressive rate cuts. Additionally, issuing direct checks to citizens (framed as 'tariff dividends') could temporarily boost consumer sentiment.
The hosts discuss Trump's focus on gas prices and interest rates, noting his power to 'monkey with prices' and his stated intent to appoint Fed members who would slash rates. They also mention the possibility of 'tariff dividends' or direct checks.
Bottom Line
The DHS deployment to Maine is a calculated political maneuver designed to put pressure on Senator Susan Collins, forcing her to publicly confront Trump or alienate her constituents.
This tactic aims to create a political dilemma for moderate Republicans, potentially weakening their position by forcing a choice between party loyalty and local public sentiment.
Democrats can leverage such federal interventions to highlight Republican internal divisions and rally local opposition against perceived federal overreach, especially in states with independent-minded electorates.
The American public's desensitization to Trump's extreme statements and the media's 'sanewashing' approach create a significant disconnect between domestic perception and international reality regarding U.S. credibility.
While Americans might view Trump's actions as 'just another crisis,' European allies perceive a 'permanent rupture,' leading them to make alternate arrangements and eroding long-term global trust in the U.S.
Opponents of Trump can emphasize the long-term geopolitical consequences and the erosion of international alliances, framing it as a national security issue rather than just domestic political theater.
Local officials facing federal interventions like ICE deployments are confronted with a difficult escalation/de-escalation dilemma, where even protective measures can be seen as escalatory.
This dilemma can lead to cautious, 'blathering' responses from governors (like Maine's Governor Mills) who fear exacerbating tensions, potentially undermining their perceived authority.
A governor who 'butches up' and uses state power to actively protect citizens from federal overreach (e.g., by having local law enforcement enforce state laws against federal agents) could significantly boost community bonds and political standing, offering a model for resistance.
Lessons
- Critically evaluate media coverage of political figures, especially when extreme statements are downplayed or normalized by focusing on seemingly 'normal' counter-statements.
- Be aware of potential artificial economic interventions (e.g., gas price drops, interest rate cuts, direct checks) that may occur before elections, understanding their temporary nature and underlying motivations.
- Recognize that federal actions, such as DHS deployments, can be calculated political strategies designed to pressure specific elected officials or influence local political dynamics.
Understanding Media Framing of Controversial Political Figures
Identify instances where a politician's extreme or false statements are downplayed or ignored in favor of a single, more 'normal' statement.
Look for framing that treats inconsistent remarks as binding policy shifts, rather than tactical maneuvers or outright falsehoods.
Seek out reporting that provides full context, including previous contradictory statements and the long-term implications of actions, rather than just the latest soundbite.
Be skeptical of narratives that suggest a politician's controversial actions are 'just a joke' or 'triggering the libs,' especially when they have real-world consequences.
Notable Moments
Discussion of Trump's 'Greenland backout' as an 'art of the deal' move that made 'fools out of all the people who go along with him,' particularly normie Republicans who had just started defending the idea.
This highlights Trump's pattern of using unpredictable actions to expose the political opportunism of his allies and control the media narrative, even if it damages international relations.
The hosts' analysis of DHS poised to enter Maine, and Governor Mills' 'blathering' statement, contrasting it with the potential for a governor to 'butch up' and use state power to confront federal agents.
This moment explores the strategic dilemma for state leaders facing federal overreach and the political implications of choosing between de-escalation and active resistance, especially in the context of local community bonds with law enforcement.
Quotes
"It is unfortunate that he did the art of the deal like 48 hours after a bunch of other normie Republicans finally were like, 'Yeah, no, I guess we do have to invade Greenland.'"
"It's one of his redeeming qualities, honestly, is that he makes fools out of all the people who go along with him."
"The thing that we gave away to get Trump's random deal that nobody wanted in the first place was the entire globe's trust in who we are."
"We are incredibly desensitized to like we were focused on the new information because I was watching the coverage of the Davos speech and everybody was like the news coming out of this speech is that we are not going to invade Greenland and I'm like can you guys listen to yourselves for a second?"
"They've told themselves that by being hair on fire about Trump's lies, that they alienated viewers and that they lost credibility. And so this idea that they have now is they're like, 'Well, it didn't work when we, you know, screamed and yelled and said it was a threat to democracy.'"
"If one of the things you care about is increasing the community bonds between local law enforcement and the people, sending local law enforcement out to [expletive] with ICE is like the single best thing you could ever do."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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