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Voters Sour On Trump Ahead Of Tomorrow's Election; Trump Approval Falls To 37 Percent, Lowest Of Second Term; Trump Hosts Grand Gatsby-Themed Party As SNAP Benefits Expire; CNN Poll: Democratic Favorability More Than 25 Points Underwater; Trump Admin Will Provide Partial November Food Stamp Benefits. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired November 03, 2025 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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DANA BASH, CNN HOST, INSIDE POLITICS: Today on Inside Politics, and election eve warning. We have brand new CNN polling, showing President Trump's approval plunging really, really low. It is a sign of what's to come when polls close tomorrow in marquee races. That's the question. Is it a sign? And does it mean anything for the Democrats and Republicans on the ballot.

Plus, one party, two paths. Democrats are trying to get out the vote for both a moderate blue dog and a Democratic socialist. We have new reporting on how these two races could swing the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party. And you don't want to miss what President Trump is saying about the crypto tycoon he just pardoned. We're going to break down how this now free man helps boost a key Trump family business.

I'm Dana Bash. Let's go behind the headlines at Inside Politics.

Tomorrow is Election Day, and President Trump may not technically be on the ballot in Virginia, New Jersey or California, but like every election for the past decade, it's still about him. What voters think of his presidency? What they think of him? What they think of how Democrats are fighting him?

And CNN's new poll out this morning shows clearly voters are not happy with his performance. He's hovering around his lowest approval rating ever, and majorly underwater on core issues like the economy, cost of living, and immigration.

David Chalian is at the wall to explain it. So, David, let's start with the big number, the approval.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yeah. You know, this isn't going to be welcome news, obviously at the White House. As you noted that, 37 percent approval in our brand new poll by SSRS, it's his low water mark in this term, and that 63 percent disapproval Dana, that's the highest his disapproval number has been across both of his terms.

In fact, let's look at term one versus term two. Obviously, a lot more data points in term one. It has all four years here. And you can see what the line on his approval rating did over time. He ended that term in the aftermath of January 6, at his all time low at 34 percent approval. This is where we are this year so far, in the second.

You see here, he started even higher than he was in the first term, and it's just been a steady decline in his approval rating throughout the year. Why some of that maybe happening? Well, some of it is some key components of his coalition from just a year ago, when he won the presidential election again.

He's now only at 28 percent approval with independent voters, young voters. He's at 29 percent approval, 18 to 34 year olds, people of color, where he made inroads, especially with males of color in the last election. He's only at 22 percent approval and non-college voters. This is all non-college. He's at 40 percent approval.

But even just among white non-college, which is a key part of his base, he's at just a bare majority, 52 percent approval. So, these are some key groups where he was looking to hope to extend his advances, and now he sees the work he has to do.

BASH: And in 2024, President Trump campaigned heavily on affordability, grocery prices, inflation. What do voters think about his performance on the economy now?

CHALIAN: Well, first of all, it is the top issue, far and away for voters. 47 percent in our polls say that the economy, cost of living, top issue, then democracy, immigration, crime and healthcare you see there. And here's the reality. 61 percent of Americans say that Trump's policies have worsened economic conditions. Only a quarter of Americans say Trump's policies improve conditions. So, he's getting a failing grade on what is clearly the top issue for

voters.

BASH: And you know, this all, you would presume is good news for Democrats, but it's no secret. They've been struggling to get back on their footing since last year's election. What do voters think of the way they're doing?

CHALIAN: Yeah. We're a year out from the midterms, obviously. So, we took our first look at that generic congressional ballot. You see here, Democrats have a five-point advantage. 47 percent to 42 percent in terms of which party would you vote for, for your member of Congress if the election were today. That's a D plus five advantage.

But I would just note that, at this point in Trump's first term, November 2017, Democrats were at an 11-point advantage on that question. A year before they had that sweeping democratic wave in the 2018 midterms. They still have work to do. As you noted, their favorability number, the Democratic Party with the American people, that's down at 29 percent in this poll.

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BASH: That is really interesting. David, we'll see you over here at the table, while he makes his way over. Let's start our discussion with the terrific group of reporters, and we have a special guest today, our own, Abby Phillip, who has written this tremendous biography of Jesse Jackson, which we'll talk about later in the show. But what's your takeaway of the poll?

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSNIGHT & AUTHOR, "A DREAM DEFERRED": You know, this is what happens when you have a president who's basically termed out and is operating as if this moment when he has control of the House, the Senate and the White House is ultimately the last shot to get everything that he wants.

So, there's a lot of executive power being used right now, without a whole lot of thought for what that means for the party going down the line. And some of that is because this -- this is about Trump and what he can get done for his -- what he wants his legacy to be. And there's much less thought for how this is going to affect Republicans later.

And I think we -- that's one of the things that we're going to see tomorrow, is just what those numbers are showing reflects real discontent with what's happening in Washington. And that may not matter much for Trump right now, but it will matter for people in battleground states, in New Jersey and in Virginia and across the country as we go into 2026.

BASH: And let's break down a little further what David showed on the economy, which, as he said, is far and away the top issue, understandably for voters, just once again, the overall numbers Trump's effect on the economy worsened conditions 61 percent. So, we're talking about six in 10 people are saying that he made it worse.

But look at that. This is broken down by key demographics, independents 67 -- so two thirds of independents think that Trump has made the economy worse. Those younger voters that David talked about, almost two thirds as well, people of color, almost three quarters, non-college voters, which is, you know, key part of his -- of his coalition, very high also, and same with it, when it looks -- when you look at people making less than $50,000 a year.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Look, it seems we've finally come upon something that most Americans agree upon, and that is a central theme of Trump's winning message a year ago, I will bring costs down. Just simply has not happened. And when you add to the rest of just the chaotic year, voters do not see that the president's policies and actions, although there are many of them affecting their lives in a positive way.

As I've been talking to voters in New Jersey and Virginia over the past few weeks. I mean, it's the independent voters who really come alive here, and it's not that hard to find voters who voted for the president they really wanted to see some change and now they are not pleased with this. Now, look, we have to put a million caveats here because a lot will happen between and now and next year.

But I am told by White House officials that the president is obsessed with the midterms. You can just hear him talking about it already. He talks about it so often. So, Virginia and New Jersey tomorrow are going to offer a window into what the country is thinking. As out poll did, of course, but it is not going to be the end of the conversation, of course, but going into this race tomorrow, it's why Republicans are very nervous.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's also why Democrats are nationalizing this race. They see those numbers about Donald Trump, why Barack Obama was on the campaign trail, making this all about Donald Trump when he was in Virginia, when he was in New Jersey. Those numbers too also show you the dilemma that Republicans are going to be in as we get closer to the midterms, assuming these numbers stay bad, if they get worse for the president.

You often see in midterms, candidates of the same president in the same party distance themselves from the president, wanting to not appear with the president. Of course, we know Trump demands loyalty at all costs. How can they distance themselves from him without enduring his wrath?

That is going to put them in a bind as we get closer to the elections, but no good question about those numbers, particularly on the economy and the fact that he's at his highest disapproval rating since January 2021, after January 20 -- January 6, is pretty remarkable.

PHILLIP: It's not just how people feel. It's also the reality. I mean, the unemployment rate for black workers has gone up, for Hispanic workers has gone up under Trump. I mean, at one point, he used to tout that it was the low. He used to say it was the lowest ever, even though it wasn't in his first term.

And so that has -- that has been a radical change for so many Americans year-over-year, between where they were a year ago and where they are now. The inflation rate is ticking up. Small businesses are feeling the crunch from tariffs. There are some real practical reasons why Americans feel this way. It's not just their gut. It's actually their reality.

And Trump is, I'm sure, obsessed with the midterms, but that's also why Republicans are trying to collect as many seats as they can with these mid-year redistricting because they know that just the gravity of politics is going to make next year a tough year, but on top of that, those kinds of numbers are going to make it worse.

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BASH: You know, it's such a good point, it's the reality versus how people feel. And in this case, they are the same in terms of the numbers and how people feel.

CHALIAN: Unlike last year.

BASH: Right, exactly. But like last year, you have a president, telling people effectively that they're wrong. I want you to listen to this exchange between Norah O'Donnell on 60 Minutes and the president when she was pushing him on grocery prices being higher.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NORAH O'DONNELL, CBS NEWS, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: They've seen their grocery prices go up, inflation.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: No, you're wrong. They went up under Biden. Right now, they're going down. Other than beef, which we're working on, which we can sell very quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: She's not wrong, David. Norah was right. Meat, he was right about, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, dairy. One thing that has gone down is eggs, which is a good thing. But according to his own government data, things are going up. And again, we don't need the data. We all -- anybody who goes to the grocery store, we all feel it.

CHALIAN: Yeah, there's no doubt about it. And obviously, as you and I have talked about a lot here, to me the economy, it's the ball game here, because it's where so many voters are in terms of their priority, obviously their daily lived experience. But it's also where he has leaned in to policy with the tariffs and China in such an unprecedented and really aggressive way that doesn't seem to be capturing and working for people, they don't see that as a real success yet.

I know this is going to go before the Supreme Court this week, but to me, the combination of yes, these are the economic factors at play, but he's taken very specific policies here that are not catching on with the American people.

BASH: And as we go to break. I just want to show one thing because imagery is so important in politics and in society and culture, it's particularly important to this president. He gets it. It's part of why he's in the White House at all. And what you're looking at is a Great Gatsby party. This was a Halloween party, you know, great fun.

But just the notion that he had a Great Gatsby party on Halloween night just before the SNAP benefits went away for 40 million Americans, and that people are suffering. Again, he argues that it's the Democrats' fault that there's a shutdown, and there is, you know, a legit argument that it's pox on all their houses. But this imagery was noteworthy, and we'll leave it there.

Coming up. You'll hear what two top Democratic candidates just said in their final hours on the campaign trail. They're in the same party, but their visions are worlds apart.

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ZOHRAN MAMDANI, (D) NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE: The first day that I will spend in City Hall will be very much like the last day I will spend in City Hall. It will be focused on the cost of living crisis. It will be focused on delivering for New Yorkers. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, (D) VIRGINIA GOV. CANDIDATE: We're excited about the fact that Virginians tomorrow will make clear that we want a governor. Please focus on lowering costs, strengthening our community, strengthening our public schools, and growing our economy, despite all of the challenges that we see coming out of D.C.

MIKIE SHERRILL, (D) NEW JERSEY GOV. CANDIDATE: Look, I am fighting for you. I'm fighting for affordability. I'm fighting to get your costs down. I'm declaring a state of emergency on day one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Voters will decide tomorrow if Democrats should have governorships in Virginia and New Jersey. A four-year lease on the -- on Gracie Mansion rather in New York and the opportunity to partially counter the GOP biggest mid-decade gerrymander in the modern era. Voters could tell Democrats where their party needs to go next, or leave an uncertain party divided into the crucial midterms just one year from today.

My smart reporters are back at the table. Jeff, as you mentioned in the last segment, you've really been out on the trail. You've been talking to a lot of voters in New Jersey and in Virginia.

ZELENY: Look, I mean one thing that is so clear, looking at Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. They are talking about President Trump, but it's in a far different way than Democrats were a year ago because they're talking about his specific policies. They are localizing his policies. One example, the gateway tunnel project, the big infrastructure project that President Trump said he's going to terminate. Well, that is bad for New Jersey jobs, and in Virginia, the government shutdown.

So, these are just sort of a different approach that Democrats are taking to the president. There are - but I'm also struck by these two women themselves. As we've talked about before on this program, just their biographies. I mean, they are national security candidates. Spanberger from the CIA. Sherrill was a Navy pilot. And in 2018 they were part of this blue democratic wave, as you chronicled very well at the time.

And once they came back to Washington, and you covered them on Capitol Hill. So that is what they're bringing into this. And voters don't necessarily remember that they were part of this blue wave, but the party operatives do, and you can just sort of see that in their upbringing. So, I was at a rally last night with Spanberger, and she said, we don't need to just win. We need a decisive win.

So that is what they're going after, at least in Virginia, a double- digit win. We'll see if that happens. But Donald Trump just infuses everything that is about those campaigns, even though they don't talk about him all that much. He's on the mind of voters.

BASH: That's definitely the uniting force. I mean, that's clear. What is not uniting is what their policies are. How they actually approach governing differently within the Democratic Party. And Isaac Dovere has just the latest of his consistent, great pieces on cnn.com this morning. And he wrote the following.

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This is a quote from Abigail Spanberger. People do want us to be aspirational and dream big. They also don't want us to lie to them. When you have a party that makes promise after promise and then say, oh, we passed it in the House, it's not our fault. Vulnerable people believed you. Maybe he is going to, he meaning, Mamdani, is going to get Albany on board with totally refinancing public transportation. But there's a lot of people who believe him.

RAJU: Yeah. That's quite a quote, and it also governing is hard. Look, you can campaigning as you make lofty promises, but actually implementing is a totally different thing. It actually reminds me a lot of the 2008 Obama campaign, where they promised the sun and the moon to their voters and the stars, and voter.

I remember hearing Democratic voters saying, we want x, we want y, l and everything. And even though they came in with a commanding majority in the Senate -- super majority in the Senate, they did accomplish a lot. They didn't. They fell short of what they were able to what Obama was able to prop -- what he promised on the campaign trail, simply because of the realities of governing.

And Mamdani is going to find that. There's no question about it. Everything that he has promised on the campaign trail. There'll be a true test of governing, assuming he can win. It'll also be interesting on the kind of, you know, one thing though, is when you're -- you see the break down the polls. You look at Mamdani versus Mikie Sherrill. Mamdani supporters are far more enthusiastic about voting for him versus Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. And that is really something we're going to have to watch tomorrow.

BASH: And just look big picture at where the Democrats are the snapshot in time going into the election tomorrow. And David, you know, you showed us the poll. Just one more piece of data, the favorability for the Democratic Party 29 percent, unfavorable is 55 percent. Now it's not that much worse than the Republicans but given the fact that it is Donald Trump and the Republican Party effectively on the ballot. It's not clear how the party on the other side is the beneficiary. They're not the beneficiary of goodwill.

CHALIAN: Right. Just because Donald Trump is not popular and not doing well right now, does not mean that Democrats are wearing well with the public as the alternative. Now I will say that 29 percent is largely driven by Democrats, hating on Democrats, like they are not -- they don't feel great about their party leaders the way they have approached Trump.

So, I think we have to watch that space to see if that changes. If the Democrats sweep all of these races tomorrow night, if Donald Trump's numbers do continue to go down. Does that give the party a shot in the arm, and do Democrats start feeling better about their own partisans? It's just something to watch.

But to me, it shows this work. As Jeff said earlier, like, this is not going to be solved tomorrow. It hasn't been solved in the last year of soul searching, and it's not going to be solved by the mid-terms. This is going to be hammered out and solved inside the Democratic Party through its presidential nomination process years away, still in '27 and '28. And how they make their pitch to the country for the next White House?

PHILLIP: I do think that each of these candidates has to run their own races. And what Abigail Spanberger and what Mikie Sherrill have to do is very different from what Zohran Mamdani has to do. But we can't forget that there is this undercurrent of deep frustration with a sort of establishment approach to politics in the Trump era. Trump took politics and said, oh, all of these things that you said, I couldn't do, tariffs, you know, executive orders, so on and so forth. I'm just going to do it myself and not even talk to Congress.

I think Democratic voters look at their own party and they say, well, he just did it. And you guys keep talking about going back to the system. And we don't even really like the system all that much. And it would be a mistake for Democrats to not understand that that is part of what is driving this dissatisfaction, is that they see Trump just bulldozing through walls literally.

BASH: Literally.

PHILLIP: Literally. And then they hear their party saying, well, we need to go by the rules. And they don't necessarily think that that is the right approach in this era.

BASH: We mentioned the SNAP benefits, and as of Saturday, 40 million people have lost their benefits because of the shutdown. Coming up. We have breaking news that could impact those people. Stay with us.

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BASH: And the breaking news is that the Trump administration will partially fund SNAP benefits for November. This after a federal judge ordered the White House to use emergency funds to pay for food stamps for millions of Americans.

CNN's Gabe Cohen is following the breaking news. So, Gabe, the Trump administration, the House Speaker, said they couldn't use this fund to help people with buying food, but now they are at least partially.

GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Dana, that's right. That's based on some court documents that were filed just a little while ago that we're still sifting through. But what it looks like is that the Trump administration is going to dip into that SNAP contingency fund, just about $4.5 billion set aside that would only cover though, about 50 percent of the SNAP benefits for November.

USDA saying in those court documents that what that means is that they're going to be obligating to basically cover about 50 percent of the eligible households' current allotments. So, does that mean that some of those 42 million individuals and households that qualify and receive SNAP benefits are only going to be getting, you know, half of those benefits.

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