Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen Back on the Track with Steve Kornacki
May 8, 2025
In this insightful conversation, Steve Kornacki, the national political correspondent for NBC News renowned for his data-driven analysis, dives into the shifting political landscape. He examines Trump's fluctuating approval ratings and the challenges Republicans face in retaining young and diverse voters. Kornacki also discusses Gen Z's political divide, emphasizing how gender gaps impact their perceptions of Trump. With engaging anecdotes from the sports world, he creatively connects voting behavior to personal experiences, all while sharing predictions for the upcoming Preakness.
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Trump's Stable Approval Ratings
- Donald Trump's current approval ratings are roughly in the middle of where they've been for the last decade.\n- His political position is stable, not collapsing nor surging beyond his established base.
Shifting Voter Support Dynamics
- Trump's approval is slipping among young and non-white voters who previously supported him.\n- Converting these voters into consistent Republican voters remains a major challenge.
Voters Choosing Trump Over Democrats
- Voters who dislike both major party candidates tend to favor Trump over Democrats by about 20 points.\n- This voting pattern remained consistent in 2016 and 2024 despite varying candidates.