Podcast Summary: "Wheels Falling Off the Trump Train Before His First 100 Days, Polls Show"
The Rachel Maddow Show, Hosted by Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
Release Date: April 25, 2025

Introduction: Trump's Troubling First 100 Days

In the April 25, 2025 episode of The Rachel Maddow Show, host Rachel Maddow delves into the deteriorating state of former President Donald Trump's administration as he approaches his first 100 days in office. Drawing on extensive polling data, legal setbacks, and widespread public dissent, the show paints a grim picture of Trump's declining popularity and the mounting challenges his policies face.

1. Polling Data Reflecting Trump's Plummeting Approval

Anchor Chris Hayes spearheads the discussion, highlighting a series of alarming poll results that indicate Trump's approval ratings have hit historic lows:

• Pew Research Center Poll (00:59):

  • Overall Approval: Trump is at -19, signaling double-digit negative approval.

• Economist YouGov Poll (12:15):

  • Approval Rating: Down by 13 points.

• Reuters Ipsos Poll (20:45):

  • General Approval: Dropping to -11, marking another significant decline.

• Fox News Poll (31:02):

  • Competence in Managing Government: "No" by a nine-point margin.
  • Approval of Trump's Job as President: "No" by an eleven-point margin.

Hayes emphasizes, "Trump was already more unpopular at this point in his presidency than any modern president not named Donald Trump. He's now flirting with falling below where he was even at this point in his historically unpopular first term." (Timestamp: 00:59)

2. Unpopularity of Trump's Key Policies

The show breaks down the disapproval of Trump's major policy initiatives, revealing a consistent pattern of negative public opinion:

• Economy and Tariffs:

  • Handling of the Economy: Disapproved by 18% margin.
  • Impact of Trump’s Policies on Economy: Negative by 22% (YouGov Poll).
  • Imposing Tariffs: Opposed by 23% margin.

• Immigration and Deportations:

  • Handling of Immigration: Disapproved by 13% margin.
  • Deporting Student Visa Holders: Strong rejection by nearly two-to-one proportion.

• Judicial Relations:

  • Defiance of Supreme Court Rulings: 79% believe Trump must comply, while only 9% support defiance.

Hayes summarizes, "Polling suggests Americans strongly reject the Trump administration, sending hundreds of men to brutal prisons without due process, as well as Trump's efforts to deport student visa holders." (Timestamp: 10:45)

3. Judicial Pushback and Legal Challenges

Trump's policies have repeatedly been blocked by the judiciary, underscoring the administration's legal vulnerabilities:

• Alien Enemies Act:

  • Colorado and New York Courts: Prohibited Trump from using outdated laws to deport individuals without due process.

• Transgender Military Ban and Passport Denials:

  • Courts ruled against Trump's attempts, highlighting systemic resistance.

• Voice of America Shutdown and Election Interference:

  • Election Takeover: Trump's attempt to hand over voter rolls to Elon Musk was blocked.

Hayes remarks, "Multiple courts have asserted themselves and the public is taking an increasingly dim view of what he is doing." (Timestamp: 15:30)

4. Public Protests and Political Pushback

Public frustration with Trump's policies has manifested in widespread protests and political actions:

• Social Security Protests:

  • Locations: Pittsfield, Lakewood, Saginaw, Flint, and more across 23 states.
  • Demands: Preservation of Social Security offices and services.

• Congressional Actions:

  • Frederica Wilson and Troy Carter: Activists and members of Congress have led delegations to immigration prisons, ensuring oversight.

Hayes visualizes the grassroots movements, stating, "People all around the country came out specifically to their local Social Security offices to defend them from Donald Trump." (Timestamp: 35:38)

5. Trump's Controversial Initiatives and Fundraising Tactics

Amidst declining approval, Trump has introduced controversial methods to maintain influence and fundraise:

• "Strump" Meme Coin:
  • Concept: A cryptocurrency allowing buyers to potentially dine with Trump.
  • Mechanism: Top 220 holders gain exclusive dinner invitations, with the top 25 receiving VIP White House tours.
  • Issues: Transparency concerns and foreign investment suspicions, notably from a China-based crypto exchange.

Hayes critiques, "Anyone anywhere in the world can just buy themselves dinner with the President by goosing the value of Donald Trump's meme coin." (Timestamp: 28:30)

• Executive Order Targeting ActBlue:
  • Objective: Investigate and potentially cripple ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising platform.
  • Implications: Accusations of targeting political opposition without evidence.

6. Response from Democratic Leaders and ActBlue

The Trump administration's attack on ActBlue has elicited strong responses from Democratic figures:

• Congressman Jamie Raskin (32:04):

  • Statement: "Today's presidential decree targeting the campaign infrastructure of the Democratic Party with precisely zero evidence of wrongdoing is the kind of edict you would expect from a power-mad dictator."

• Regina Wallace Jones, CEO of ActBlue (33:17):

  • Response: "We are here to fight for you and with you to continue to preserve an institution that we have all grown to love, appreciate and respect."
  • Defense: Highlighted ActBlue's transparency and effectiveness, asserting no wrongdoing.

Hayes further engages, "You mentioned 28 million donors. That's a huge proportion of the American public that has made a donation of one kind or another through ActBlue." (Timestamp: 35:00)

7. Preservation of Social Security Offices

Trump's administration initially planned to close numerous Social Security field offices, sparking significant backlash:

• Case Study: Saginaw, Michigan (41:23):

  • Impact: Over 200,000 constituents rely on Social Security benefits; proposed closures threatened access.
  • Action: Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivett led protests and press conferences demanding the preservation of the office.

• Outcome:

  • White House Response: "There are no plans to permanently close the Saginaw, Michigan field office."
  • Impact Statement: McDonald Rivett emphasized the critical role of Social Security in her district, stating, "This is going to devastate our community, and it's going to hurt people like me." (Timestamp: 43:17)

8. Conclusion: The Downward Spiral of Trump's Administration

The episode culminates in a stark assessment of Trump's fraught tenure:

• Approval and Policy Disapproval:

  • Pew Poll Summary: "Trump's job rating drops by 19 points as key policies draw majority disapproval nearing 100 days." (Timestamp: 19:05)

• Public and Judicial Resistance:

  • Courts increasingly block Trump's actions, and public protests reflect broad dissatisfaction.

• Financial Struggles:

  • Reuter Ipsos & CNBC Surveys: Indicate Trump's administration suffers from the lowest economic approval ratings of his career.

Hayes concludes, "Things are falling apart for Donald Trump on every front. The American people are pushing very hard to ensure it." (Timestamp: 38:43)

Notable Quotes Highlighted

• Chris Hayes (00:59):
  "Trump was already more unpopular at this point in his presidency than any modern president not named Donald Trump."

• Congressman Jamie Raskin (32:04):
  "Today's presidential decree targeting the campaign infrastructure of the Democratic Party with precisely zero evidence of wrongdoing is the kind of edict you would expect from a power-mad dictator."

• Regina Wallace Jones, ActBlue CEO (33:22):
  "We are undeterred, unbothered, and we will continue to do the work that we are doing to raise for Democratic wins."

• Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivett (41:23):
  "This is going to devastate our community, and it's going to hurt people like me."

Final Thoughts

The episode of The Rachel Maddow Show presents a compelling narrative supported by robust polling data, legal challenges, and grassroots activism, all converging to depict an increasingly beleaguered Trump administration. From widespread disapproval of policies to significant judicial setbacks and public protests, the evidence suggests that Trump's first 100 days have been marred by substantial obstacles and diminishing support, setting a concerning precedent for his potential second term.