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Each good political journalist wants a superb MAGA man of their again pocket — somebody you possibly can name when issues are wanting messy in President Donald Trump’s GOP orbit. And my MAGA man is John Fredericks.
Fredericks is a well-liked conservative radio host who goes by one among my favourite nicknames in media: the “Godzilla of Reality.” We met over the last presidential election cycle. I used to be instantly struck by how he appears to know Trump’s motion from the underside up, making sense of Trump voters and their political wishes, somewhat than unpacking the consensus of the political institution.
So, Fredericks is the proper individual to go to for a pulse verify on Trump’s MAGA base. One 12 months into his second time period, Trump has a number of the lowest recorded approval scores in polling historical past. He’s collapsed in favorability amongst independents. And there appears to be some cracks rising in his 2024 coalition as discontent rises on points just like the economic system, the Epstein information, and his deployment of ICE in Minneapolis.
Speaking to John, I wished to intestine verify the numbers we’ve been seeing for months. How actual is the alleged backlash in opposition to Trump? And can shifting in public opinion pressure a change in his agenda?
Under is an excerpt of our dialog, edited for size and readability. There’s far more within the full podcast, so take heed to Right now, Defined wherever you get podcasts, together with Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.
Let’s begin with you. In the event you might charge the Trump second time period on a scale of 1 to 10, what would you give it?
Ten; he’s delivered on just about each promise he’s made. The economic system is booming proper now. The variety of refunds you’re going to get again on to be off the charts. He closed the border. We’re not getting any extra illegals in. That has been completed. That was a serious promise. That’s been completed. The one huge, stunning invoice bought handed. He’s put the precise individuals in place. He hasn’t had the turnover. You haven’t had anyplace close to the ridiculous leaks and backbiting within the White Home that you simply had in Trump 1, which hampered the entire effort, and so on. So, 10. I can’t consider something it didn’t do.
- Trump supporters like radio host John Fredericks suppose the financial advantages of Trump’s insurance policies haven’t been felt by the general public but.
- However he additionally thinks the administration has bungled dealing with the Epstein information and the ICE deployment in Minneapolis. MAGA voters’ expectations aren’t matching actuality.
- He thinks there’s nonetheless time for Trump to course-correct on the economic system and immigration earlier than the midterms — and that he should to keep away from a GOP wipeout.
What stunned you most? Did something?
Sure, his give attention to overseas coverage. I actually didn’t see that coming. And that therein lies one among his dangers now going into the midterms: He’s spending an inordinate period of time on it. That’s nice. Cease wars.
However the danger of that is: Individuals elected him not for overseas coverage views. They elected him for affordability, getting costs down, fixing the economic system, getting housing, getting rates of interest down, doing the issues they should do to enhance their high quality of life. That hasn’t come but. And the window is closing going to the midterms.
The numbers inform us that Trump is rising extra unpopular. He’s hit a brand new low in approval scores. He’s fallen 20 factors with independents in only one 12 months. The good points we noticed within the election 12 months amongst People of colour and amongst younger individuals have appeared to reverse within the polling.
If issues are going in addition to you imagine they’re, why aren’t we seeing the numbers replicate that?
The economic system has not mirrored the success that’s coming. So, individuals aren’t feeling the affordability. They’re not feeling the optimism [that] I feel we’re going to really feel going into the spring and summer time when a few of these issues take maintain.
The messaging of the Republicans, as ordinary, sucks. They couldn’t message their method out of a paper bag if their life relied on it.
Are People shopping for that story although? As a result of, most People will not be blaming Joe Biden for this financial state; they’re blaming Donald Trump.
It appears as in the event you have been saying that there’s not less than some type of concession you’ll make right here, that perhaps the economic system has not rotated in the way in which that Donald Trump had promised on this first 12 months.
Sure, precisely. All that the voters must know so far as financial statistics is their grocery invoice. That’s all you want. If that continues to go up — as it’s for all of us — if the worth of automobiles go up, [and] the whole lot goes up, then Trump’s economic system has failed, regardless of whose fault it’s.
He’s there. He’s bought to repair that. In the event you can’t purchase a house, you possibly can’t get a mortgage; rates of interest are too excessive, you possibly can’t pay it. Trump’s fault, appropriately — as a result of he’s now going to be accountable. He’s bought a really quick time frame to show this round. I’m optimistic that he’s going to do this. However, proper now, once you go to the shop, and also you fill your cart up, you’re feeling the pinch, you’re feeling the ache, and that’s why his numbers are down.
The Epstein information have unleashed a wave of anger even amongst some Republicans. I’m fascinated with of us, like former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and one among your callers who puzzled if justice would come to the victims.
Do you suppose that Trump’s dealing with of the information has induced him some points even amongst some conservatives?
They need to have launched all of the information on the identical day instantly. It’s the most important mistake he’s made. I actually don’t know what the hell Pam Bondi is doing in there.
We bought this factor happening in Minneapolis, and he or she’s making speeches on the Israeli American Convention. Like, get your tail to Minneapolis. Discover out what’s happening with that fraud.
There’s a notion amongst some liberals who’ve described Trump assist as cult-like — that no matter he says, of us will observe.
I don’t suppose that that’s at all times essentially true for you, however are you able to inform me one thing that Trump has completed in his first time period, or in his first 12 months returning to workplace, that you simply haven’t appreciated?
I didn’t like what simply occurred in Minneapolis. I feel in the event you say you’re going to ship within the troops and do the Revolt Act, you again it up. Had he completed that, and he despatched these 1,500 troops in a month in the past, each of those younger individuals can be alive right now, as a result of the aim of sending the troops in was to have checkpoints and to separate ICE brokers from the protesters.
However had he despatched these troops in initially, each these individuals can be alive right now, as a result of they wouldn’t have been capable of confront ICE brokers. They might have been cordoned off with a checkpoint. “You guys keep there; ICE is there. ICE goes over there; you guys can come right here.”
It does really feel as if America is reacting to the dramatic scenes they see in Minneapolis and feeling as if that’s not essentially the Trump coverage they signed up for. I don’t know if individuals thought that folk can be strolling by way of Goal rounding up anybody who has an accent. There appears to be a spot between the expectation and the truth.
You recognize, Astead, you make an amazing level, and you actually sum this up, the disconnect that’s happening right here. You nailed it.
Yeah, we voted to get the illegals out. However then, after we see on TV the way in which they’re getting them out, they don’t prefer it. It’s uncomfortable to individuals. Properly, we tried to get them out. We provided them $1,000. We provided self-deportation. A few of them went — a few million, proper?
However now…you stated you have been going to get them out. They’re right here illegally. You’re not getting amnesty. You bought to get them out. And it’s uncomfortable. And it’s going to proceed to be uncomfortable. And are available November, individuals are going to need to make their thoughts up.
Why are Republicans seeming to sound the alarm about a few of this in the case of the midterms? Ought to there be even just a little extra concern?
I’m ringing the bell. I’m like Paul Revere. If we don’t get this factor going, we’re going to get worn out.
You’ve bought the whole lot working in opposition to you proper now to save lots of Congress. And the factor is, Democrats are robust. They win, and Trump’s getting impeached on most likely day three, perhaps 4, if they’ve one other trip day. He’s completed. So the administration’s over. They gained’t be capable of do something.
What has to occur? The economic system has to get higher instantly. The main target must be on the home agenda instantly. Republicans need to get robust instantly. You possibly can’t again down, as a result of in the event you again down, you lose. So, you bought to face as much as these things.
Do you suppose the scenes out of Minneapolis helped or damage Republican efforts to win elections in November?
Properly, clearly, it damage. I imply, no person likes seeing harmless individuals killed, whatever the circumstance, by regulation enforcement — interval. No one likes it. So, in fact it damage.
Is there time to show the narrative round, sort things? Do that in a method that isn’t as extreme that you simply’re seeing on TV? No one desires to see individuals die. So, we bought to discover a method. The MAGA motion — President Trump’s bought to discover a strategy to get the illegals out with out what the scene you’re seeing in Minneapolis. On the flip aspect of it, in the event you let the mobs win, you’re completed. So, that’s why you must stand as much as it. However, you possibly can’t do it in a method that causes harmless individuals to die. And I feel we will all agree on that.
