President Obama might not be a "teflon president" like Ronald Reagan, but it's fair to say that his approval ratings have been resiliant in the face of political adversity. Despite the poor economy, the public's disgust with Washington, and his own missteps, Obama has maintained job approval ratings in the low-to-mid 40s, with only a few dips under 43 percent support. Even still, when compared to historical figures, Obama is at the low end of approval for presidents in their third year. Here is Gallup with more:
Obama is a stones' throw from Jimmy Carter territory, which doesn't bode well for his reelection campaign. With that said, we're a year away from the election, and a good deal can change over the next year. But something tells me that come November, we'll be in one of the scenarios that Nate Silver outlined last month, where economic growth is stagnant, Obama's approval is low, and the GOP is riding a wave of enthusiasm.
A second Trump administration will cement a right-wing majority on the Supreme Court for a generation, and put our collective future in the hands of someone who will be virtually unchecked by our institutions. The country has shifted rightward, and the reverberations will ensue for potentially the next few decades. In this climate, a robust independent media ecosystem will be more important than ever. We're committed to bringing you the latest news on how Trump's agenda will actually affect the American people, shining a light on the stories corporate media overlooks and keeping the public informed about how power really works in this country.
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