As the author of a newsletter that focuses primarily on politics and current affairs, I sometimes struggle to come up with a strong topic for a post. But at other times, like today, the topic falls unbidden into my lap, feeling obvious. Donald Trump's aggregate approval ratings continue to languish. He's now settling in at a new floor in the 41 to 42 percent range, with his disapproval hovering just above 55 percent. This is largely because of economic discontents. Prices for food and housing remain elevated, due in part to the president's trade policies. Interest rates are also higher than consumers prefer and grew accustomed to over recent years. Millions of Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act have seen their premiums skyrocket over the past couple of months'something Republicans in Congress bragged about during the recent record-setting government shutdown, which the president just so happened to decide was an ideal time to tear down a wing of...
learn more
