On the Media The Story Behind Trump’s Terrible Approval Rating
45 snips
Aug 7, 2026 
G. Elliott Morris, data journalist who analyzes polling and forecasts; Nancy Scola, reporter on tech, policy, and regulatory politics; Nahid Siamdoust, scholar of Iranian media and the diaspora. They discuss Trump’s historic low approval and who’s defecting. They trace Brendan Carr’s rise and FCC tactics. They explore Iran International’s polarizing role in exiled and domestic media.
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Trump's Approval Is Historically Low
- Trump’s approval is historically low, sitting between George W. Bush (2006) and Nixon pre-resignation.
- G. Elliott Morris compares Trump’s 36% approval to Nixon’s 25% the week before resigning, signaling unusually deep unpopularity.
Immigration Is Plunging Trump In Key States
- Trump's net approval is deeply negative across many states, including being nine points underwater in Texas.
- Morris notes immigration policy drives even worse ratings in border states, reaching around minus 20 on immigration.
Public Rejects Broad Deportations
- Most Americans oppose deporting long-term, noncriminal undocumented immigrants and favor paths to citizenship.
- Morris reports about 75–80% support for exceptions, while roughly 80% only back deporting convicted criminal undocumented immigrants.
