Opinion Today
December 24, 2025
Donald Trump's job approval falls, reversing recent gains David Montgomery, YouGov After two weeks of rising job approval, Donald Trump's net job approval fell this week and is near the lowest approval numbers he has ever received across his two terms.
Less than half of MAGA Republicans strongly approve of Trump's handling of the Epstein investigation David Montgomery, YouGov The vast majority of Americans want the U.S. government to release all of its files from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein: 81% say it should and only 4% say it shouldn't. Donald Trump's critics overwhelmingly oppose his handling of the Epstein investigation, while Trump's supporters are more divided and give him less support than they do on other issues.
There is scant American support for military action against Venezuela David Montgomery, YouGov Majorities of Americans oppose the U.S. using military force to invade Venezuela and overthrow Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Few see the situation with Venezuela as a national emergency, and most Americans say Donald Trump should get authorization from Congress before taking military action against Venezuela.
US Consumer Confidence Fell Again in December Conference Board Confidence weakened for a fifth consecutive month as perceptions of business conditions were negative, and apprehensions about jobs and income deepened
Most Americans have never had a political argument at a holiday celebration Carl Bialik, YouGov Only one-quarter of Americans have ever had a political argument at their holiday celebrations, and younger adults are far more likely than older ones to celebrate New Year's.
What are Americans’ New Year’s resolutions for 2026? Jamie Ballard, YouGov A new YouGov survey explored Americans’ New Year’s resolutions, their thoughts on 2025, and what they’re expecting for 2026.
Howitzer, chenille, and other words that men or women are more likely to know David Montgomery, YouGov When social media users recently discovered a 2018 study about words with major differences in the shares of men and women who know them, one common response was incredulity about how anyone could not know one set of words. Or the other set. YouGov asked Americans to select words they knew the meaning of from a list including words the 2018 study identified as male- or female-skewing.
McLaughlin Poll: Trump Must Bypass Big Media to Win Midterms John McLaughlin and Jim McLaughlin, Newsmax The results of our latest national survey underscore a central reality for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms: President Donald Trump and "facts" move voters — but only if voters actually hear them. Trump Is Suddenly Looking a Lot Smaller Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic [unlocked] The president is no longer dominating his party or the country in the way he once did. The Epstein Files Only Get Worse Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic [unlocked] America is in for a confusing, troubling holiday. How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little? Emily Badger, David A. Fahrenthold, Alicia Parlapiano and Margot Sanger-Katz, New York Times [unlocked] The group’s biggest claims were largely incorrect, a New York Times analysis found. And its many smaller cuts added up to few savings.
President Trump Has Exposed the Thinness of Conservative Populism Julian Zelizer, The Long View From the start of Trump’s first term in 2017, the GOP has pushed the claim that it has more to offer working Americans than Democrats. Trump has cast himself as an FDR in reverse—attempting to destroy the social safety net. ... But Trump 2.0 has steadily exposed the limits of what today’s Republican Party can deliver to working Americans. A New K in America Paul Krugman The gap between haves and have-nots fell under Biden, but is rising under Trump Stephen Miller Cites Children of Immigrants as a Problem Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times [unlocked] As it seeks to end birthright citizenship, the Trump administration is arguing that immigrants bring problems that extend for generations. The data shows otherwise. The MAHA Pipe Dream Is Going to Hurt MAGA the Most Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times [unlocked] The Trump administration has adopted policies condemning a sizable group of its core MAGA supporters — miners, firemen, manufacturing workers — to slow deaths from diseases that cut off their ability to breathe. Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon Rebecca Ballhaus, Josh Dawsey and C. Ryan Barber, Wall Street Journal [unlocked] Lobbyists close to Trump say their going rate to advocate for a pardon is $1 million Trump Buys Tens of Millions in Corporate and Government Debt Dave Levinthal, NOTUS President Donald Trump invested tens of millions of dollars into corporate and government bonds, including those of companies and local governments his administration’s decisions could affect, according to a new financial disclosure. Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives Lawrence Hurley, NBC News More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live. Vance begins to lock down parts of MAGA coalition for 2028 Jonathan Allen, NBC News Vice President JD Vance hasn't formally announced that he will seek to succeed President Donald Trump, but a key piece of the grassroots wing of the MAGA coalition is beginning to line up behind him nearly three years ahead of the 2028 election. J. D. Vance Fails a Simple Moral Test Franklin Foer, The Atlantic [unlocked] The vice president welcomes anti-Semites into the Republican coalition. Republicans’ Health Care Problem in 8 Charts Michael Baharaeen, The Liberal Patriot Among the issues that may help propel Democrats back to power in Congress and downballot is the cost of living. An issue that once drove Trump’s return to the presidency has become an albatross for him and his party. Now, Republicans are set to pour lighter fuel on the situation. What the Democrats' autopsy should have focused on Charlie Cook, National Journal [unlocked] The seeds of defeat weren't sown in 2024, but rather in 2021, when Biden and his party grossly overread their mandate. Will We Have Free and Fair Elections in 2026? Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect Not entirely, but Democrats could still win if courts do their job. America Needs More Husband Material William A. Galston, Wall Street Journal [unlocked] Marriage, disdained by many elites, has collapsed among the working class.
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PLAYLIST
In Search of Optimism About 2026 DSR's Words Matter It’s been a disastrous year in American politics. Donald Trump is going around naming everything after himself and proclaiming everything is great while the economic realities for millions of Americans continue to sour. Is there anything to be optimistic about as we approach 2026? David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein take stock of our current situation and look forward to the new year.
Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen Grievances of the Season It's time for the annual Beyond the Polls Festivus episode! That's right, before you immerse yourself entirely into the holiday spirit, join Henry for one last rant of 2025. On his naughty list you'll find pollsters with dodgy models; an unrestrained Mr. President, who's back to tweeting and ugly truthing his way into unpopularity; and who can forget the centrist Democrats? Or, wait...how could we not forget them when they fail to deliver results? But it ain't all bad! Stay tuned to the end for credit given to this year's great feats of strength, shown both by the progressive base over their own party and DJT's TKO of MTG.
How Trump’s First Year Back Supercharged the MAHA Movement Wall Street Journal Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has emboldened states to change vaccine guidance and food labeling. As part of our video series on Trump’s second term, The Wall Street Journal’s Liz Essley Whyte examines whether it’s making children healthier in Austin.