A new The Economist/YouGov poll finds Donald Trump’s approval at 34%, while 62% disapprove.
Trump Approval — U.S. Adult Citizens
Approve 34%
Disapprove 62%
Daily Archives
October 15, 2026
86 posts · Thursday
Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 191
Blue Wave Update
Trial Balloon · Ep. 191: Blue Wave Update
2028 Hopefuls Are Already Swarming Nevada
Nevada Independent: “You may be focused on the midterms, but some presidential hopefuls are already looking to 2028.”
“Since we introduced our 2028 candidate visit tracker in April, 13 potential presidential candidates have made 21 trips to Nevada, and more will be here soon.”
Washington Sun: Nevada Democrats are suddenly 2028 kingmakers.
Gaetz Accused of Supplying Women with Drugs for Sex
“Two women have filed a federal civil lawsuit accusing former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and two others of participating in an alleged sex trafficking scheme involving young women, drugs and traveling across state lines,” the Miami Herald reports.
“The allegations are the latest chapter in Gaetz’s high-profile sex scandal that ultimately derailed his nomination by President Trump as U.S. Attorney General and also led him to resign from Congress in 2024. His departure came as a bi-partisian House Ethics Committee was in the final stages of an investigation into his alleged misconduct.”
Bernie Moreno Says GOP Needs to Prep for ‘Last Supper’
“Sen. Bernie Moreno said Thursday he expects the Senate to move a party-line legislative package after the midterm elections — especially if Democrats flip one or both chambers,” Politico reports.
Said Moreno: “We will do a reconciliation bill — one way or the other we will. Obviously, if we lose control of Congress, it’ll be the Last Supper.”
Suspicious Letters Sent to Capitol Hill Offices
“Authorities are investigating letters containing ‘suspicious substances’ sent to multiple Capitol Hill offices,” Politico reports.
Trump Asserts Executive Privilege in Kennedy Center Fight
“President Trump has formally invoked executive privilege to shield certain records from Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio as part of her ongoing legal challenge to the president’s effort to temporarily shutter the Kennedy Center for renovations,” CBS News reports.
Americans at Their Wits’ End as the Midterms Approach
“A quartet of polls out this week carries a stark message: Americans feel disgruntled, dizzy and down on the man in the White House,” Axios reports.
“The vibes going into the midterms are bleak, with a large majority of voters wanting significant change. But the question remains whether those sentiments will drive them to the polls.”
Greg Abbott Keeps Renewing Border Emergency Order
“Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott repeated a claim he’s made for the past five years. He stated that the number of people crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally ‘posed an ongoing and imminent threat’ across the state. In doing so, he renewed a border security disaster proclamation that has greatly expanded his powers without going through the state Legislature,” Texas Tribune reports.
“Abbott’s declaration stands in sharp contrast to the numbers reported by the Trump administration, which says the drop in the flow of migrants crossing the border has been unprecedented and has reached historic lows since it took over in January 2025.”
“Yet, since Abbott first declared an emergency at the border during the Biden administration in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times — 21 of those during Trump’s tenure.”
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Republicans Aren’t Buying Their Own Spin
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Josh Shapiro Thinks He Can Win a Trifecta
“Gov. Josh Shapiro and legislative leaders have clashed to the point of bitter monthslong budget impasses, or in some cases, left several critical issues — including second-degree murder sentencing rules and skill games regulation — completely unaddressed,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
“Before that, Republicans for years controlled both chambers, with a Democrat in the governor’s mansion.”
“But as the political tides turn, Democrats are hoping next month for a blue wave in the Pennsylvania State Capitol. With President Donald Trump’s 37% approval rating in Pennsylvania and Shapiro, a popular incumbent governor at the top of the ticket, Democrats are entering the Nov. 3 midterm election with a lot in their favor — and for the first time in decades imagining what Harrisburg would be like with a trifecta of power.”
Investigating Trump Won’t Be Easy for Democrats
“As polls indicate Democrats could take back the U.S. House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, lawmakers are gearing up to investigate the Trump administration. But that may prove to be a difficult task, even with a majority in both chambers of Congress,” Wired reports.
Zelensky Defies Trump’s Ban On Russian Oil Strikes
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Ukraine will defy President Trump and resume strikes on Russian oil refineries after Moscow repeatedly broke the U.S.-backed energy cease-fire,” the New York Post reports.
Said Zelensky: “The block is out. We’re done.”
CNBC: Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, shattering hopes of an “energy ceasefire.”
Trump Cancels Plans to Livestream Execution
“President Trump said the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, a former officer who admitted to killing 13 people in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood Army base in Texas, won’t be livestreamed, reversing a decision by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Bloomberg: Trump rejects Hegseth’s bid to livestream firing squad execution.
Don Bolduc Endorses Democrat Chris Pappas
“In a surprising development, Don Bolduc (R), the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, is leading a group of GOP figures and prominent independents backing Democratic Senate candidate Chris Pappas (D),” the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Most Democratic Voters Resist a Leftward Shift
Wall Street Journal: “Democrats themselves say they are a party of liberals. Some 56% of Democrats in last month’s Wall Street Journal poll called themselves liberal, a substantial increase from 40% in 2010.”
“But ask whether the party should become more liberal, and it isn’t clear that it wants to follow the Democratic socialists’ leftward drift.”
“Only 37% of Democrats say their party should become more liberal, while a majority, some 52%, say the party should either become more moderate or stay the same.”
Kamala Harris Hasn’t Decided On Presidential Bid
“Former Vice President Kamala Harris told actress Keke Palmer she has not yet decided on a presidential run in 2028 amid mounting speculation surrounding whether the Democrat will launch a third campaign,” NewsNation reports.
Said Harris: “I haven’t decided. I haven’t decided yet. I will, I promise.”
Georgia Early Voting Sets Record On First Day
“Over 180,000 Georgians cast their ballots on the first day of early voting on Tuesday, setting a record for midterm elections,” Fox News reports.
“Tuesday’s total eclipsed the first day of early voting in 2022 by more than 55,000 votes, state election officials say. Georgia’s early voting schedule runs through Oct. 30.”
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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