G. Elliot Morris: “Our historical polling averages show the president’s updated rating is worse than George W. Bush’s second-term approval rating on the eve of the 2006 midterm that cost Republicans both chambers of Congress.”
“And public mood is approaching where it was toward Richard Nixon during Watergate, in the months before he resigned in disgrace.”
A new The Inquirer, the New York Times/Siena University poll in Pennsylvania finds Josh Shapiro (D) leading Stacy Garrity (R) in the governor’s race, 58% to 38%.
A new The Inquirer and the New York Times/Siena University poll in Pennsylvania finds U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s approval at 42%, while 47% disapprove.
Jonathan Lemire: “Not long ago, President Trump could claim that he ran the world. Now he’s waiting at the bottom of a set of airline steps for the Chinese president.”
“Voter concerns about capitalism are rising amid the populist streak gripping American politics,” according to a new national NBC News survey.
“But voters remain wary of socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America, even as some DSA-aligned candidates have notched high-profile primary wins this year.”
“Positive views of capitalism have dropped since 2018. And for the first time in nearly a decade of NBC News polling, registered voters under 30 years old have more positive views of socialism than capitalism.”
“A federal judge has ordered that access to the White House be temporarily restored for reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after they were banned by President Donald Trump, but on Thursday morning some journalists from the outlets were denied entry,” the Washington Post reports.
Washington Sun: Reporter turned away from the White House hours after court order.
“When Donald Trump meets with Xi Jinping today, he’s not just rolling out a lavish White House welcome — he’s bringing wealthy guests,” Bloomberg reports.
“In the latest example of how Trump has given high-powered executives prime seats at the table (figuratively and literally), tonight’s state dinner is slated to include a who’s-who of the tech world: Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, and Michael Dell, among others.”
“Trump has almost treated them like an extension of his administration — using their presences to convey power, prestige, and his priorities.”
“President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are meeting in Washington for their second summit of the year, and expectations are low,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Both sides have played down the odds of ‘deliverables’—diplo-speak for concrete outcomes—signaling they care more about a smooth meeting than the deep differences between the world’s two largest economies.”
New York Times: As Trump hosts Xi at summit, pomp may paper over U.S.-China tensions.
New Yorker: The worlds that Donald Trump and Xi Jinping want.
Dan Pfeiffer: “It’s hard to overstate how unpopular Trump is. His approval rating is at an all-time low, and his disapproval is at an all-time high.”
“On top of losing the public, Trump is unlikely to have the turnout machine he’s relied on in the past. On Election Day in 2018, 2020, and 2024, Trump’s strong approval among Republicans was near 70%. Today, it’s under 50%.”
“Trump’s approval rating with independents is also putrid. In 2018, it was in the low-to-mid forties. In the most recent NYT poll, only 27% of independents approve of Trump.”
“Put another way, an NBC poll found that only 30% of voters say a Trump endorsement would make them more likely to vote for a candidate; 52% said it would make them less likely.”
“Washington and Beijing extended a trade truce and Chinese leader Xi Jinping talked up cooperation ahead of a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump today, boosting hopes relations between the superpowers will remain stable despite simmering tensions,” Semafor reports.
Gallup: “Forty-three percent of Americans now have a positive view of socialism, marking the first time this figure has exceeded 39% in Gallup’s trend since 2010.”
“Socialism still trails capitalism and free enterprise in public favorability but now ranks ahead of big business. Small business remains the clear leader among the five economic concepts tested, with 95% viewing it positively.”
A new Los Angeles Times/UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll in California finds Xavier Becerra (D) leading Steve Hilton (R) in the governor’s race, 58% to 33%.
Detroit News: “With fewer than six weeks until Election Day in his closely watched race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, Rogers is starting to break publicly with the unpopular president. He called on Sept. 21 for an end to the war Trump started in Iran that voters now connect to record-high diesel fuel prices that get baked into the cost of groceries.”
Said Rogers: “The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly. When it does, energy costs will plummet.”
“Rogers’ effort to distance himself from Trump after months of promoting the president’s agenda is the latest chapter in the evolution of a career politician who has morphed from establishment Republican and Trump critic to MAGA acolyte in his bid to return to elected office.”
“I really want to go out after the midterms are over, and depending upon what the results turn out to be, engage in a conversation with American voters about where we go from here. And for my own party: are we tired of losing yet?”
— Former Gov. Chris Christie (R), quoted by Politico, hinting he might run for president again in 2028.
“President Donald Trump said he does not expect any moves to put guardrails around artificial intelligence during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping,” Bloomberg reports.
Said Trump: “A big day with President Xi of China. Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also.”
“A small group of White House officials is exploring whether to cut back President Donald Trump’s decision to increase foreign beef imports, as GOP panic rises ahead of the midterms,” Politico reports.
“He’s had an incredible grip on the Republican Party, unlike any other president. What we are seeing now, when there is distance, it’s intentional, and it’s incredibly noteworthy.”
— Former Mike Pence chief of staff Marc Short, quoted by Politico, on Republicans starting to distance themselves from President Trump.
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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