Nate Cohn

I think it does matter. And I think that although the president may not care about the result of a poll, and I actually think he kind of does care about the results of polls personally, Michael, it's just my interpretation. I think that it does affect things he does care about. All right. Well, let's discuss that when we come back.

I think it does matter. And I think that although the president may not care about the result of a poll, and I actually think he kind of does care about the results of polls personally, Michael, it's just my interpretation. I think that it does affect things he does care about. All right. Well, let's discuss that when we come back.

So I think that before I offer the reasons why I think this does matter and in particular could matter more later, I think it is worth acknowledging that the president to this point is probably pretty insulated from these results. A 42 percent approval rating isn't great, but it's not a political catastrophe. His base is still mostly on his side.

So I think that before I offer the reasons why I think this does matter and in particular could matter more later, I think it is worth acknowledging that the president to this point is probably pretty insulated from these results. A 42 percent approval rating isn't great, but it's not a political catastrophe. His base is still mostly on his side.

As you alluded to, congressional Republicans aren't going to break away from him based simply on the result of this poll. But I think that the biggest reason why this number would be concerning to the White House is because this isn't necessarily the end of his fall.

As you alluded to, congressional Republicans aren't going to break away from him based simply on the result of this poll. But I think that the biggest reason why this number would be concerning to the White House is because this isn't necessarily the end of his fall.

There's a lot of reason to think that the president's approval ratings have been in sort of steady decline over the last month or two. None of the factors that are driving down the president's approval rating are in the rearview mirror yet. They're still happening. They're still potentially exerting. a downward pull on his numbers.

There's a lot of reason to think that the president's approval ratings have been in sort of steady decline over the last month or two. None of the factors that are driving down the president's approval rating are in the rearview mirror yet. They're still happening. They're still potentially exerting. a downward pull on his numbers.

And the president also can continue to take additional measures that could continue to drag his approval ratings down further.

And the president also can continue to take additional measures that could continue to drag his approval ratings down further.

We haven't yet had a full-on confrontation with the judiciary, even though one may be brewing. The president has talked about deporting citizens to El Salvador. I'm not saying he's going to do that, but if he does, then he's at risk of losing even more support. The point is, is that the actions that the president has taken at this point have already done discernible political damage.

We haven't yet had a full-on confrontation with the judiciary, even though one may be brewing. The president has talked about deporting citizens to El Salvador. I'm not saying he's going to do that, but if he does, then he's at risk of losing even more support. The point is, is that the actions that the president has taken at this point have already done discernible political damage.

And if he continues with this pattern of conduct, he risks additional damage. And it's worth noting that we're talking about Trump's core strengths here, the economy and immigration. So he's risking the foundation of his appeal for large segments of the electorate.

And if he continues with this pattern of conduct, he risks additional damage. And it's worth noting that we're talking about Trump's core strengths here, the economy and immigration. So he's risking the foundation of his appeal for large segments of the electorate.

And although it's true that today the president isn't at much risk to lose support from Republicans or something, I think it's worth noting just how quickly he could get into trouble, because the majority that the Republicans have in Congress is so thin, because he depends so much on maintaining an aura of dominance, and because...

And although it's true that today the president isn't at much risk to lose support from Republicans or something, I think it's worth noting just how quickly he could get into trouble, because the majority that the Republicans have in Congress is so thin, because he depends so much on maintaining an aura of dominance, and because...

Large elements of our society at this point have stayed on the sideline. They haven't really forcefully spoken out against the president. And as it becomes clear that a large share of the public disapproves of the president, people feel more emboldened to come out against him.

Large elements of our society at this point have stayed on the sideline. They haven't really forcefully spoken out against the president. And as it becomes clear that a large share of the public disapproves of the president, people feel more emboldened to come out against him.

Yeah, I mean, we live in a democracy that values public opinion in some deep way. No one likes polling, but everyone really cares about whether a majority of the country is on your side. And there is a moral weight to having a majority of the country on your side. There was moral weight to Trump winning the popular vote, for instance, that he didn't possess in 2016.

Yeah, I mean, we live in a democracy that values public opinion in some deep way. No one likes polling, but everyone really cares about whether a majority of the country is on your side. And there is a moral weight to having a majority of the country on your side. There was moral weight to Trump winning the popular vote, for instance, that he didn't possess in 2016.