AI Summary
5 min readIs Trump Losing His Grip on the GOP?
President Trump's approval rating has dropped to 33%, with 67% disapproving — worse than his numbers heading into the 2018 midterms when Democrats retook the House. Now, with 40 days until the 2024 midterms, something unusual is happening: Republican lawmakers are starting to publicly break with him.
The Iran War and the Economy
At least 16 Republican incumbents or candidates in critical races have called for a swift end to the war in Iran. Mike Rogers in Michigan released an ad stating plainly: "The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly. When it does, energy costs will plummet." While many Republicans say they agree with the president's reasoning for the war — preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon — they are acutely aware of the economic consequences. Record high gas and diesel prices are dominating voter concerns, and in swing states like Michigan, the president gets blamed for the economy's state, forcing Republicans to play defense.
Senate Minority Leader John Thune, who chooses his words carefully, told reporters he believes the military objectives in Iran have been achieved. That's not a full break with Trump, but it's a notable crack. As one analyst put it, "once you start complaining about one thing, there's room to start complaining about other things."
Immigration Backlash
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:30) **Episode Open & Iran Tensions** - Host Brad Mielke sets up the day's top stories: new polling alarms Republicans, an FBI data breach, and roller coaster brain injury lawsuits.
- 2 (02:36) **Republican Lawmakers Break with Trump** - Jay O'Brien reports from the Capitol on rare public cracks in GOP support for the president, driven by the economy and Iran war.
- 3 (06:55) **Immigration Discontent Among Republicans** - Additional GOP fractures emerge over immigration enforcement, with key lawmakers publicly pushing back on mass deportation policies.
- 4 (09:40) **Segment Break & Advertisements** - Brief interlude with sponsor messages for Cozy Earth bedding and Wayfair Halloween decor.
- 5 (11:30) **FBI Data Breach by Shiny Hunters** - Joseph Cox of 404 Media explains how a prolific hacking group claims to have stolen sensitive data on all FBI employees and applicants.
- 6 (16:52) **Six Flags Roller Coaster Brain Injury Lawsuits** - ABC's Kana Whitworth reports from Magic Mountain on three new lawsuits alleging the X2 roller coaster causes traumatic brain injuries.
- 7 (22:51) **One Last Thing: Sewer Scavengers in NYC** - Brad Mielke reports on a bizarre UN General Assembly sideshow: people emerging from manholes near the UN, likely Venezuelan crews scavenging for valuables.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
As new polling shows Americans’ deep skepticism of the conflict in Iran, Republican candidates are increasingly distancing themselves from President Trump. The FBI investigates a potential hack. And Six Flags faces a growing number of lawsuits over alleged brain injuries from roller coaster riders.
AP Photo/J.Scott Applewhite
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