Summary
Overview
The Pod Save America hosts discuss Trump's historically low approval ratings, the New York Times poll showing Democrats up 11 points in midterms, Trump's corruption including a $2 billion slush fund and 3,700 stock trades, his revenge tour against Republican dissenters, tensions with Iran and Cuba, and debate whether Democrats should focus more on Trump's age and cognitive decline.
Trump's Record Low Approval and Democratic Midterm Lead
The hosts break down a new gold standard New York Times poll showing Trump's approval at a record low of 37% and Democrats leading Republicans by 11 points (50-39%) on the generic ballot. The numbers get even better when filtered to likely voters, reaching D+14. Trump's biggest liability remains his handling of the cost of living, with 76% rating economic conditions as only fair or poor, and 44% saying Trump has personally made their economic circumstances worse.
- Trump's approval rating hits 37% - a record low for him across both terms in all NYT-Siena polls
- Democrats lead Republicans 50-39% on the generic ballot, expanding to D+14 among likely voters
- 76% rate economic conditions as only fair or poor
- 44% say Trump has personally made their economic circumstances worse, up 8 points
- Opposition to military and economic support for Israel has risen from 38% to 57% over the last three years
" Outside of maybe a cure itself, it's the biggest thing to happen to health care and everything having to do with medical in any way, shape, or form. There's never been anything like this. "
" No president's approval rating has been under 38 percent for more than a few days in the last 17 years. Now we've got Donald Trump. "
Trump's $2 Billion Slush Fund and Brazen Corruption
Trump's Justice Department is settling his lawsuit against the IRS for $1.776 billion in taxpayer money that will go into a slush fund with virtually no guardrails to compensate Trump supporters. The settlement appears designed to avoid the appearance of Trump directly pocketing taxpayer dollars, but the fund will be controlled by five Trump appointees who can distribute money to anyone they claim was politically prosecuted. The hosts argue this represents a new level of brazen corruption as Trump and his administration engage in what they describe as a political smash and grab operation.
- Trump's DOJ is settling his IRS lawsuit for $1.776 billion from taxpayers to create a slush fund for Trump supporters
- The fund has no real guardrails - Trump appoints the five-person board that distributes money
- People who committed violence on January 6th would be eligible to receive money from the fund
- The administration did an end run around a judge who wanted to examine whether Trump and DOJ were actually adversaries
" Trump's second term is a political smash and grab job where he and his family and the people around him, people who do his bidding, just take what they want and get rewarded. "
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