Trump's Shutdown Strategy: A Look at the Numbers

The current government shutdown is showing some interesting trends. Unlike the last one, President Trump's approval ratings are not taking a hit. In fact, they're up by a point. This is quite a shift from the last shutdown when his ratings dropped by three points. What's more, fewer people are blaming Trump for the shutdown this time around. Only 48% of those polled hold him responsible. This is a big deal because Trump has been pretty clear about his plans. He wants to use the shutdown to cut down on bureaucracy and close programs that Democrats care about. His team is already working on this. Back in the day, the media would have made a big deal out of Trump's plans, calling them divisive or even blackmail. But not this time. This shows that the media's influence isn't what it used to be. Trump and his team are getting their message out directly to the people, bypassing the media. This is bad news for the Democrats. They're either old and tired or have some pretty out-there ideas. Their message is confusing and not well-defined. Meanwhile, the Republicans have a clear message. They're not going to fund healthcare for illegal aliens until the government is back open. They're also open to negotiations after that. The Democrats' struggle shows why they're so upset about changes in the media. Without a media that supports their agenda, they're left with a message that doesn't resonate with many people.