May 4, 2026
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Michael's Daily Notes
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When you vote on the daily poll question, there's a prompt to suggest a question of your own for future consideration. Recently, Norman Grant from Vero Beach, Florida, suggested that I ask whether President Trump is being judged more on account of his policies or his personality. Good one. I'd been holding that suggestion for a week or two. Then this weekend, two major polls dropped that caused me to use it today, slightly reworded.
The numbers for Trump are brutal in both. ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos puts his approval at 37% — the lowest of his current term. Pew Research has it even lower, at 34%. Record disapproval. Across the board.
But here's the question I keep coming back to: why? Is it what he's doing — or who he is?
Before the conflict with Iran escalated, I'd have argued that his poor poll numbers were largely being driven by his personal behavior and personality. I've often said that I agree with some of his objectives — tighten the border, secure Iran's enriched uranium — but not his methods. And… glad Robert Mueller is dead? Callous about Rob Reiner’s murder? C’mon!
Now, though, he's suffering on both fronts — his policies and his character.
Look at the policy numbers and the case writes itself. Majorities disapprove of Trump on every issue tested in the ABC poll — the economy, inflation, immigration, Iran, relations with allies. Even on immigration, historically his strongest suit, 59% disapprove. Pew finds that confidence in Trump to make good decisions on immigration has dropped from 53% right after his reelection to 41% today. On using military force wisely? Down from 46% to 38%.
But then look at the character numbers — they're just as damning. Seven in ten Americans say Trump is not honest and trustworthy. Two-thirds say he doesn't carefully consider important decisions. Pew finds that the share who say Trump "keeps his promises" has collapsed from 51% right after his election to 38% today. Meanwhile, 56% say the overall level of ethics and honesty in government has fallen on his watch.
With Donald Trump, policy and personality may be impossible to separate. His style is his substance. The question is which one you're reacting to — and whether you even know.
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DAILY POLL
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Are people's opinions of Donald Trump today driven more by his policies or his personality?
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TOP STORY
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The U.S. military denied Iranian claims that it struck a Navy vessel, as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz with Washington offering to guide commercial ships through the volatile waterway amid Tehran’s ongoing blockade.
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TODAY'S YOUTUBE
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SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
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IN OTHER NEWS
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey is based on nearly a year of collected evidence—not just his controversial seashell Instagram post allegedly threatening President Donald Trump.
Federal prosecutors, including U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, say forensic evidence shows the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attack “definitively” shot a Secret Service agent with a shotgun, as investigators continue building a case alleging he intended to target President Donald Trump.
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and a former adviser to President Donald Trump, has been hospitalized in critical but stable condition, with his spokesman providing no details on the cause or duration of the 81-year-old's illness.
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Alan Dershowitz argues that segments of the media opposing U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran are morally misguided, prioritizing political opposition over confronting what he characterizes as a dangerous regime.
A new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll finds two-thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, as economic concerns and the Iran conflict drive President Trump’s approval rating down to a term-low 37% with broad disapproval across major issues.
A new Pew Research Center survey finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 34%—the lowest of his second term—amid declining public confidence in his personal traits, leadership on key issues, and the overall ethics of government under his administration.
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MORE NEWS
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A recording reveals a claim that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro privately supported a Republican candidate in 2024 after facing criticism from a fellow Democrat, though both he and an ally later denied the account.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” stunned at the box office with a $77 million domestic debut and $233 million globally, far surpassing expectations and proving the enduring appeal of its iconic cast and fashion-world nostalgia.
NBA's Joel Embiid is urging Philadelphia 76ers fans not to sell playoff tickets to New York Knicks supporters, stressing home-court advantage as the teams prepare for a heated second-round rematch.
For the Left
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States is escalating an “economic blockade” on Iran to choke off funding to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as naval restrictions and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz raise concerns about global energy markets.
For the Right
NEC Dir. Kevin Hassett downplayed the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—widely considered an act of war under international law—questioning whether it qualifies as “war” given the absence of active fighting and ongoing negotiations, even as tensions with Iran grow.
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