Story perspectives

Trump Approval Hits -20.4, Lowest Since Truman, Democrats Lead Ballot

8/12/2026

Summary

Trump ApprovalSlide

U.S. President Donald Trump’s net approval fell to –20.4, the lowest for a sitting president since Harry Truman, after the Iran war resumed.
Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot by 6.7 points in Nate Silver’s aggregate, giving them a 57% Senate and 86% House win chance.
July jobs data showed a 23,000-job loss, a 103,000-job revision and 4.1% unemployment, prompting the S&P 500 to rise 5.6% since July 29.

Summary

Trump Signs Vaccine

President Donald Trump signed an executive order spacing childhood vaccine doses instead of a single-day schedule.
The White House issued 48 executive orders in 2026 covering birth-tourism, customs enforcement, military families, minerals and vaccine policy.
Trump appeared at the Patriot Games Finale in Geneva, Ohio, delivering policy messages before the midterms.
A poll by Economist/YouGov found 61% say Trump uses his office for gain and 55% say he weaponizes the DOJ.

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Trump ApprovalSlide

U.S. President Donald Trump’s net approval fell to –20.4, the lowest for a sitting president since Harry Truman, after the Iran war resumed.
Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot by 6.7 points in Nate Silver’s aggregate, giving them a 57% Senate and 86% House win chance.
July jobs data showed a 23,000-job loss, a 103,000-job revision and 4.1% unemployment, prompting the S&P 500 to rise 5.6% since July 29.

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