Inside the Beltway: Warmer still: Trump favorability at 48%

NEWS AND OPINION:

President Trump’s tenacity in the political and policy arena appears to be paying off. A new American Barometer survey from The Hill released Wednesday finds that 48 percent of American voters now approve of Mr. Trump. The approval is highest among rural voters: 66 percent give the president a cordial nod. Also among the higher numbers: 53 percent of men and Midwestern voters approve, along with 51 percent of baby boomers and 50 percent of Gen X-ers, those over 65 and those who are 35 to 49 years old, respectively.

There are predictable divides: 55 percent of white voters and 26 percent of black voters approve of Mr. Trump, the poll found. He gets a solid 81 percent among Republicans and 83 percent among “strong” conservatives, but 17 percent among Democrats and 18 percent among “strong” liberals.

According to GOP strategist Conor Maguire, the promising numbers reflect American satisfaction with the economy under his administration, despite the Republicans’ loss of the House during the midterms.

“Those are some of the best approval numbers we’ve seen,” Mr. Maguire told Hill analyst Jamal Simmons.

And as long as we’re knee-deep in poll numbers, consider that a recent Zogby Analytics survey revealed a pervasive but unflattering facet of the news media. It found that 73 percent of all U.S. voters agree that the press plays a role in dividing Americans by political persuasion, gender and race: 94 percent of Republicans and even 51 percent of Democrats agreed with that idea.

“Not surprisingly, the groups who are ardent Trump supporters, and who are among unique swing voter groups that the Zogby poll tracks-frequent Amazon shoppers (79 percent agree), frequent Walmart shoppers (79 percent agree) and NASCAR fans (77 percent agree) were some of the groups who felt strongest about the media’s role spreading hate and misunderstanding,” the Zogby poll analysis noted.

“It must also be noted that majorities of voters in many of the same groups that felt the mainstream media spreads hate and misunderstanding, also felt that President Trump is responsible for the spread of hate and misunderstanding, but more voters overall, and in most sub-groups, blame the media slightly more!” the analysis said.

THE PUCK FACTOR

Student security on American college campuses has come into sharp focus in recent years. It is also getting, uh, innovative.

“How do you stop a bad guy with a gun when there’s no good guy with a gun around? Maybe throw a hockey puck at him. A university in suburban Detroit is distributing hockey pucks as a form of self-defense against potential active shooters,” writes Fox News reporter Amy Lieu.

Oakland University has a no-weapons policy, prompting university police Chief Mark Gordon to suggest using a hockey puck to distract a shooter.

“The first thing that came to my mind was a hockey puck. I was a hockey coach for my kids growing up. I remember getting hit in the head with a hockey puck once and it hurt,” the chief told Detroit’s Fox 2, noting that pucks can be conveniently carried in briefcases or backpacks.

Tom Discenna, president of the faculty union, authorized the purchase of 2,500 hockey pucks for union members and students, which are now being distributed with the reminder that “You’re not powerless and you’re not helpless in the classroom.”

RARITY: A CIVIL DEBATE

A round of applause please: Two publications that are diametrically opposed will stage a debate between two teams of journalists who also are diametrically opposed — and it’s all for charity. The American Conservative and The Nation have organized an event Thursday in the nation’s capital, moderated by PBS NewsHour’s Judy Woodruff.

The “Podius Debate” features James Antle, editor of The American Conservative and former politics editor at the Washington Examiner, managing editor of The Daily Caller and associate editor of The American Spectator. He will be joined by scholar and research analyst Helen Andrews, a former editor at The National Review.

Debating on behalf of The Nation is author Sasha Abramsky, a Nation contributor who wrote “Inside Obama’s Brain,” among other books. He will be joined by Michelle Chen, contributing writer for The Nation, contributing editor at Dissent magazine and In These Times, and a Pacifica radio producer.

The two sides will debate immigration.

“In a time when so much of the rhetoric surrounding immigration — from both sides — is characterized by hyperbole and sensationalism, this will be a spirited yet civil debate over one of the most contentious issue driving our politics,” advise the organizers, who also note that the winners will receive a $5,000 award to donate to the charity of their choice. C-SPAN will cover this event; the debate is set to begin at 7:45 p.m. ET

FOXIFIED

Fox News Channel won the ratings race for the month of November, according to Nielsen Media Research. Fox News now marks 29 consecutive months as the most-watched cable network, ahead of non-news competition like Hallmark, ESPN and USA. As it has done for almost 17 years, Fox is also ahead of its news rivals, drawing 2.4 million viewers compared to 1.8 million at MSNBC and 1 million at CNN.

Fox also aired 10 of the top 15 cable news programs in November. “Hannity,” which draws in average 3 million viewers each night, is the most-watched cable news program for the eighth consecutive month.

Fox Business Network, meanwhile, has notched its 18th consecutive month as the leader in business news, according to Nielsen, with a 15 percent ratings advantage over closest competitor CNBC. Fox Business aired the top four business programs in November: “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” “Varney & Co,” “Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman” and “After the Bell.” The network will debut a new series Friday: “WSJ at Large with Gerry Baker,” featuring former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and a discussion of international trade, overseas manufacturing and the U.S. economy.

POLL DU JOUR

• 52 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court; 67 percent of Republicans and 49 percent of Democrats agree.

• 43 percent have a favorable opinion of the federal district and appellate courts below the Supreme Court; 38 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of Democrats agree.

• 36 percent have a favorable opinion Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.; 38 percent of Republicans and 43 percent of Democrats agree.

• 39 percent have a favorable opinion of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; 17 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Democrats agree.

• 34 percent have a favorable opinion of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh; 78 percent of Republicans and 6 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 25-27.

• Kindly follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin