Ep. 2753 Where Did Trump's Poll Numbers Go?

In this episode of The Tom Woods Show, host Tom Woods interviews Rich Barris, chair of the National Association of Independent Pollsters and co-author of the forthcoming book *Burn It Down*, to dissect the sudden decline in Donald Trump's poll numbers despite continued support for his foreign policy goals. Barris argues that many mainstream polls are misleading due to partisan sponsorship and flawed methodologies, citing examples like a CBS News poll claiming 98% MAGA support for the Iran war while simultaneously showing Trump's popularity plummeting among white working-class independents. He emphasizes that true independent pollsters are defined not by ideology but by financial independence from political entities, and warns that internal campaign polls often serve agendas rather than truth. The episode explores how Trump’s pivot from domestic-focused promises to a foreign war—particularly in Iran—has alienated his base, who voted for him to end endless Middle Eastern conflicts. Barris attributes the drop in Trump’s numbers not to the war itself being unpopular, but to the betrayal of a core promise, with voters expressing deep disappointment rather than anger. He also discusses the generational divide in political engagement, noting that younger voters are more ideologically driven but less likely to turn out, while older voters consistently vote in high numbers. The conversation culminates in a call to action: Republicans must confront the reality that their current coalition is fracturing and that without addressing systemic failures and reconnecting with disillusioned voters, they risk losing both the House and Senate in the upcoming midterms. The episode closes with a strong endorsement of Barris’s book, which argues that voters are demanding a complete overhaul of the political and economic system—hence the title *Burn It Down*.