A new The Economist/YouGov poll finds Donald Trump’s approval at 32%, while 63% disapprove.
Trump Approval
Approve 32%
Disapprove 63%
Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 195
Shake Up
Trial Balloon · Ep. 195: Shake Up
Trump Lets States Slow Walk Medicaid Work Rules
“The Trump administration will give states the option of a six-month delay in enforcement of Medicaid work requirements, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on Friday, meaning some states can choose to start the controversial policy in July rather than January of next year,” Politico reports.
“The delay is optional, however, and states that want to move forward and begin disenrolling people who don’t meet the requirement and don’t qualify for an exception may still do so.”
Bloomberg: Trump administration lets states delay new Medicaid work rules.
FAA Declares a Rare Nationwide Ground Stop
“The Federal Aviation Administration announced a rare nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, in what appeared to be a major outage affecting its air traffic control system,” the New York Times reports.
Trump Downplays Iran War Casualties
“President Donald Trump defended the U.S. war against Iran in a pair of interviews that aired Thursday evening, falsely claimed that no American troops had been killed in the past five months and said he hasn’t escalated the conflict at the request of other countries in the Middle East,” the Washington Post reports.
Kevin Hassett Expected to Depart White House
“National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is expected to depart his role at the White House in the coming weeks,” Semafor reports.
“Hassett has been inquiring about roles outside the administration since well before this month’s midterm elections… Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who could hold both jobs, and his counselor, David Zervos, are among those being eyed to replace him.”
CNBC: Hassett denies report he’s leaving White House: “Not true.”
Tear Down the Ballroom
Andrew Sullivan: “It’s a perfect symbol of what Trump has done to our democracy. He asked no one’s permission, stacked every commission with cronies and hacks, demolished the East Wing with almost no notice, and financed the boondoggle with bribes from major corporate machers, including, yes, Jensen Huang.”
“The new Trump House is about 90,000 sq ft, compared to the 55,000 of the former White House itself. The monstrousness is not fully clear yet — but as it takes shape some more, and the sheer scale of it sinks in, it will become apparent what this is really about: stamping Trump’s brand on our democracy forever. It might as well have a giant, gold TRUMP banner on it. It’s a monument to autocracy, oligarchy, and corruption.”
“That’s why I’m not just being rhetorical in arguing that it must be stopped or, if not stopped, torn down as soon as we can. It’s not just the aesthetic offense. It’s that its survival will be a permanent insinuation of Trumpism into our national character and identity.”
The Polling Dashboard Is Ready
It’s still early, but the Polling Dashboard has been updated for the next cycle.
There are early 2028 presidential match ups and it will also track the 2027 gubernatorial races in Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Quote of the Day
“I have a real peace in my heart in knowing there’s not a single additional thing I could have done to change the outcome of the Election Night.”
— Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), quoted by Bloomberg Government.
Justices to Review Legality of Trump’s Asylum Ban
“The Supreme Court announced Friday it will hear the Trump administration’s case to revive the president’s asylum restrictions at the southern border, issued on Inauguration Day and since ruled illegal by lower courts,” The Hill reports.
“The case, set to be heard this term with a decision expected by summer, will mark one of the court’s highest-profile confrontations with President Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown.”
NBC News: Supreme Court to rule on Trump’s asylum ban.
Brian Poindexter Faces Sexual Harassment Inquiry
The DCCC has begun an inquiry into a sexual harassment allegation against Rep.-elect Brian Poindexter (D-OH) made by a woman working on his campaign earlier this year, Punchbowl News reports.
When the claims were made, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and the Blue Dog PAC removed Poindexter from their endorsement pages.
Hakeem Jeffries Eases Into Committee Term-Limit Debate
“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stepped gingerly into the debate over placing term limits on Democratic committee chairs Friday, calling it ‘the right discussion’ as a fierce generational-change fight roils his caucus,” Politico reports.
Said Jeffries: “It’s the right conversation to have, and we’re going to have that discussion in December as a caucus, and I look forward to embracing it.”
“While Jeffries did not outright endorse term limits, his openness to discussing restrictions on committee leadership is noteworthy as House Democrats consider rules to govern themselves in the next Congress.”
Democrats Pick Up Win in Alaska Governor’s Race
“Former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins will win Alaska’s governor race, becoming the first Democrat elected to lead the state in two decades,” CNN reports.
Scott Bessent Lets Loose On Iran
“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent let loose on the bloodthirsty Iranian regime Friday — declaring ‘F the Iranian leadership’ after death threats forced him to abandon his $12.5 million Georgetown mansion and relocate to a military base,” the New York Post reports.
Said Bessent: “I’m not going to be cowed by the death threats they have made against me. The other cabinet members won’t be cowed either.”
Exchange of the Day
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) pulled President Biden aside during a private White House tour in May 2022, according to The Atlantic:
ROMNEY: Pump your arms.
BIDEN: Excuse me?
ROMNEY: You’re holding your hands stiffly by your side when you walk. Pump your arms and you’ll look more energetic and confident.
“Biden thought it was good advice—delivered via the long-lost art of bipartisan decency—and he tried to take it. But it also became an example of Biden’s reluctance to see his age and cognitive decline as a reason he couldn’t run for reelection, as if pumping his arms vigorously enough might cause voters to overlook his aging body and mind.”
Trump Extends Jones Act Shipping Waiver for Oil
“President Donald Trump is giving energy companies and traders more time to transport oil and other commodities around the U.S. on foreign-flagged ships, renewing a policy intended to lower fuel costs,” Bloomberg reports.
“Trump has decided to extend by 90 days a waiver of mandates under the century-old Jones Act that otherwise require cargo carried between U.S. ports to be transported on American-owned, -flagged and -operated vessels.”
Jack Smith Calls Senator’s Bar Complaint a ‘Political Stunt’
“Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted President Donald Trump, is calling a GOP senator’s bid to seek his disbarment a ‘retaliatory political stunt’ that misstates the scope of Congress’ immunity from prosecutorial scrutiny and relies on selectively leaked documents,” Politico reports.
JD Vance Still Likely to Run for President
“Vice President JD Vance isn’t out of the 2028 presidential race — at least not yet,” the Washington Post reports.
“Detractors and even some well-wishers began writing his political obituary after Republicans’ historic drubbing in the midterm elections, surmising that the vice president — tied to a president with an all-time-low approval rating — sees the 2028 election as a lost cause.”
“But Vance is still more likely to run for president than not, according to several close allies with knowledge of his thinking.”
Raskin Asks Colleagues to Support Him as Judiciary Chair
“Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is officially asking his colleagues to support his bid to lead the panel in the majority as chair,” Politico reports.
“Raskin, in the letter, lays out his vast investigative work in the minority ranging from exposing former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s conflicts of interest and work on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. He also commits to ‘restore the rule of law and legislate against the disgraceful corruption of the government once we actually have the gavels.'”
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Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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