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Each good political journalist wants an excellent MAGA man of their again pocket — somebody you may 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 considered one of my favourite nicknames in media: the “Godzilla of Fact.” We met over the past 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 needs, reasonably than unpacking the consensus of the political institution.
So, Fredericks is the right particular person to go to for a pulse verify on Trump’s MAGA base. One yr into his second time period, Trump has a few 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 financial system, the Epstein information, and his deployment of ICE in Minneapolis.
Speaking to John, I needed to intestine verify the numbers we’ve been seeing for months. How actual is the alleged backlash towards Trump? And can shifting in public opinion drive a change in his agenda?
Beneath is an excerpt of our dialog, edited for size and readability. There’s way more within the full podcast, so take heed to Right this moment, Defined wherever you get podcasts, together with Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.
Let’s begin with you. When 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 nearly each promise he’s made. The financial 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 finished. That was a significant promise. That’s been finished. The one huge, stunning invoice received handed. He’s put the correct folks in place. He hasn’t had the turnover. You haven’t had wherever close to the ridiculous leaks and backbiting within the White Home that you just had in Trump 1, which hampered the entire effort, and so forth. 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 financial system and immigration earlier than the midterms — and that he should to keep away from a GOP wipeout.
What shocked you most? Did something?
Sure, his deal with international coverage. I actually didn’t see that coming. And that therein lies considered one of 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: Folks elected him not for international coverage views. They elected him for affordability, getting costs down, fixing the financial 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 yr. The positive factors we noticed within the election yr amongst Individuals of colour and amongst younger folks 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 mirror that?
The financial system has not mirrored the success that’s coming. So, folks aren’t feeling the affordability. They’re not feeling the optimism [that] I believe 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 manner out of a paper bag if their life relied on it.
Are Individuals shopping for that story although? As a result of, most Individuals will not be blaming Joe Biden for this financial state; they’re blaming Donald Trump.
It appears as if you happen to have been saying that there’s at the very least some type of concession you’ll make right here, that possibly the financial system has not circled in the way in which that Donald Trump had promised on this first yr.
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 value of automobiles go up, [and] all the pieces goes up, then Trump’s financial system has failed, regardless of whose fault it’s.
He’s there. He’s received to repair that. When you can’t purchase a house, you may’t get a mortgage; rates of interest are too excessive, you may’t pay it. Trump’s fault, appropriately — as a result of he’s now going to be accountable. He’s received a really brief time frame to show this round. I’m optimistic that he’s going to try this. However, proper now, while 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 considered one of your callers who puzzled if justice would come to the victims.
Do you suppose that Trump’s dealing with of the information has brought on him some points even amongst some conservatives?
They need to have launched all of the information on the identical day instantly. It’s the largest mistake he’s made. I actually don’t know what the hell Pam Bondi is doing in there.
We received this factor occurring in Minneapolis, and she or he’s making speeches on the Israeli American Convention. Like, get your tail to Minneapolis. Discover out what’s occurring with that fraud.
There’s a notion amongst some liberals who’ve described Trump help as cult-like — that no matter he says, of us will comply with.
I don’t suppose that that’s all the time essentially true for you, however are you able to inform me one thing that Trump has finished in his first time period, or in his first yr returning to workplace, that you just haven’t preferred?
I didn’t like what simply occurred in Minneapolis. I believe if you happen to say you’re going to ship within the troops and do the Rebel Act, you again it up. Had he finished that, and he despatched these 1,500 troops in a month in the past, each of those younger folks can be alive at present, 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 folks can be alive at present, as a result of they wouldn’t have been in a position to confront ICE brokers. They’d 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 folks thought that people can be strolling via Goal rounding up anybody who has an accent. There appears to be a niche between the expectation and the fact.
You understand, Astead, you make a fantastic level, and you actually sum this up, the disconnect that’s occurring 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 folks. Nicely, we tried to get them out. We supplied them $1,000. We supplied 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 on the subject of the midterms? Ought to there be even somewhat 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 received all the pieces working towards you proper now to save lots of Congress. And the factor is, Democrats are powerful. They win, and Trump’s getting impeached on in all probability day three, possibly 4, if they’ve one other trip day. He’s finished. So the administration’s over. They received’t be capable of do something.
What has to occur? The financial system has to get higher instantly. The main target needs to be on the home agenda instantly. Republicans need to get powerful instantly. You’ll be able to’t again down, as a result of if you happen to again down, you lose. So, you bought to face as much as these things.
Do you suppose the scenes out of Minneapolis helped or harm Republican efforts to win elections in November?
Nicely, clearly, it harm. I imply, no one likes seeing harmless folks killed, whatever the circumstance, by legislation enforcement — interval. No one likes it. So, after all it harm.
Is there time to show the narrative round, make things better? Do that in a manner that isn’t as extreme that you just’re seeing on TV? No one needs to see folks die. So, we received to discover a manner. The MAGA motion — President Trump’s received to discover a method to get the illegals out with out what the scene you’re seeing in Minneapolis. On the flip aspect of it, if you happen to let the mobs win, you’re finished. So, that’s why you need to stand as much as it. However, you may’t do it in a manner that causes harmless folks to die. And I believe we will all agree on that.
