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This Could Be the Worst News for Democrats About the Shutdown
PJ Media ^ | 10/20/2025 | Matt Margolis

Posted on 10/20/2025 8:17:29 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Make no mistake about it, when the Democrats shutdown the government, they figured it would be an easy public relations victory for them. In all fairness, that’s usually how it goes, because they have the entire mainstream media pushing their talking points. But the latest numbers from CNN’s chief polling analyst, Harry Enten, tell a far different, and deeply unsettling, story for Democrats. Enten highlighted what most in the media are loath to admit: Americans simply aren’t blaming President Donald Trump the way they once did.

Harry Enten opened his analysis by stating, “Turns out shutdowns are different the second time around when it comes to Donald Trump.” He explained that in the 2018–2019 shutdown during Trump’s first term, the president’s approval took a clear hit. “The shutdown was eating into his popular support,” Enten said, noting that Trump’s rating had dropped three points just 20 days in. “It was very much on the decline.”

But this year’s story is entirely different. “This shutdown hasn’t eaten into Donald Trump’s support at all,” he said. “His net approval rating is actually up a point in terms of his popular support.” The takeaway, Enten concluded, is striking: “The first shutdown during Trump’s first term, 2018/2019, was hurting Donald Trump. This one is not hurting him at all.”

That point alone would send chills through Democratic operatives who have built much of their current messaging on the idea that the shutdown would politically damage Trump. Instead, Enten’s analysis shows that Democrats aren’t just failing to pin the blame—they’re losing ground.

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blame; democrats; republicans; shutdown
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When co-anchor John Berman asked about the “question of blame,” Enten didn’t hesitate. “In 2018/2019, 61%, more than three in five Americans, blamed Trump a great deal for that particular shutdown,” he said. This time, however, “48% of Americans blamed Trump a great deal for this particular shutdown — it’s a different world.” That’s a 13-point drop, a statistical freefall in public blame assignment.

“It’s no real wonder that Donald Trump, at this point, looking at the shutdown, says, ‘You know what? It’s not actually harming me politically,’” Enten explained. “In large part because he’s getting less of the blame.”

1 posted on 10/20/2025 8:17:29 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m sure the MSM will step up and try to do something about that.

Of course, it’s not 1994 anymore, and their influence probably isn’t what they’re hoping for.


2 posted on 10/20/2025 8:29:30 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: SeekAndFind

The democommies are like car dealers trying to convince you that the extra cost undercoat is something you really need. And paint sealant. But you’re happier with the clean bill or sale without those.


3 posted on 10/20/2025 8:55:23 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? On hold! Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🚫💉! 🇮🇱🙏! Winning currently!)
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To: rktman

4 posted on 10/20/2025 9:17:42 PM PDT by TigersEye (Terrorism has been institutionalized by the left. Ask no quarter. Give no quarter.)
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To: rktman


5 posted on 10/20/2025 9:23:42 PM PDT by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: Steely Tom

I’m sure the MSM will step up and try to do something about that.

Of course, it’s not 1994 anymore, and their influence probably isn’t what they’re hoping for.>>> They will but Trump pulls out something crazy every time just to dominate the media conversation. I don’t like all the crazy but i think it works. For example. He’ll do some tariff crazy. watch.


6 posted on 10/20/2025 9:48:51 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2
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To: SeekAndFind

Time to attack. The Dims look weak and ineffective. The Republicans need to point out that the Dims are hurting the military, and soon will be hurting the poor when WIC, SNAP, etc, run out.


7 posted on 10/20/2025 9:54:26 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.”)
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To: SeekAndFind

Republicans are the party of less government.
A shutdown does not hurt us with our constituency


8 posted on 10/20/2025 9:54:49 PM PDT by NoLibZone
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To: SeekAndFind

The new loader only has FM radio so as I was scanning dial looking for something to listen to that is not progressive country, pablum rock, AFRN etc. I stumbled upon the nearest pubic radio station. Had not listened to their take on the world in ages. The bias was always there but it is wildly blatant now. To hear them tell there are no democraps involved in what congress does.

I just told my wife this morning that I think this is having a much greater negative impact on the dims than Trump and company.

If anybody knows how to reset a radio to erase the bluegum access code please weigh in. Don’t know the brand and the operator manual says nothing about it.


9 posted on 10/20/2025 10:15:32 PM PDT by Sequoyah101
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To: SeekAndFind

I only watch snippets of news on YouTube and it seems that the media will still have Chuckie spewing his lies about the Republicans shutting down the government. Every rat is repeating the lie that the Republicans shut down the government. If they get near a microphone that is what is coming out of their mouth. They repeat the lie so much that they believe their own lies. The brain dead public believes their lies as well.


10 posted on 10/21/2025 3:12:58 AM PDT by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals crazy!)
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To: NoLibZone
A shutdown does not hurt us with our constituency

I don't think that is true. There are many constituencies and those who want the government to shut down are a minority.

However, this shutdown is the fault of the Democrats. The Republicans in the House and Senate offered another clean short term bill to fund the government and the Democrats, out of nowhere but malice, decided funding Obamacare subsidies, including for illegal immigrants, was worth shutting down the government permanently until the next elections. This is the hill they want to die on.
11 posted on 10/21/2025 3:31:20 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: af_vet_1981

Obamacare messed up the entire healtcare system and is not affordable or sustainable. Let’s just go back to the old way with a couple tweaks.


12 posted on 10/21/2025 4:03:01 AM PDT by Boardwalk
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To: SeekAndFind

That’s because Americans know who’s really to blame for the shut down and all the leftist spin in the world is not changing that.


13 posted on 10/21/2025 4:50:13 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: SeekAndFind

I think more and more people are tiring of the Left’s permanent temper tantrum.


14 posted on 10/21/2025 4:50:34 AM PDT by motor_racer ("We're gonna reward our friends and we're gonna punish our enemies" - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: SeekAndFind

Perhaps the “shutdown” as a liberal tool to use against Republicans is no more?


15 posted on 10/21/2025 5:21:57 AM PDT by weezel
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To: SeekAndFind
“It’s no real wonder that Donald Trump, at this point, looking at the shutdown, says, ‘You know what? It’s not actually harming me politically,’” Enten explained. “In large part because he’s getting less of the blame.”

Well Mr. Enten, did he actually say that or did you make it up ?

16 posted on 10/21/2025 6:14:03 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Sailing the Sea of Ignorance on a Ship named Free Republic)
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To: af_vet_1981
out of nowhere but malice,

As Tucker Carlson said, "this is them doing evil, for evil's sake".

Tucker Carlson "Always trust your gut. If you feel like they're lying to you, they are."

17 posted on 10/21/2025 6:54:34 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Sailing the Sea of Ignorance on a Ship named Free Republic)
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To: SeekAndFind

People aren’t stupid, only one party can withhold votes to shut down the government. This time it’s the Dems, plain and simple.


18 posted on 10/21/2025 6:57:31 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Steely Tom

A big difference is Trump. Unlike the other GOP Presidents he does not sit back and let them run the narrative.


19 posted on 10/21/2025 6:58:38 AM PDT by iamgalt
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To: Steely Tom

Many Americans are turning off the network news and no longer subscribing to the major newspapers, and the viewership and sales numbers reflect this change.

For a growing number of Americans the alternative media is providing more objective news reporting than the leftist propaganda spewing MSM.


20 posted on 10/21/2025 8:12:44 AM PDT by dowcaet
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