Are there any programs in Trump’s administration that helps citizens?
Daily American News from the Economist.
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Donald Trump’s net approval rating is now lower than at any other point in either of his terms, at -19%, according to The Economist’s tracker. Some 57% of Americans disapprove of Mr Trump, while 38% approve and 4% are not sure. Americans are particularly dissatisfied with his handling of inflation and the economy, two issues which were crucial to his re-election.
Mr Trump said “some kind of an extension” to Affordable Care Act subsidies for health-insurance premiums may be necessary to allow talks over longer-term health-care measures to continue. The subsidies expire at the end of the year. Republicans and Democrats disagree over whether to renew them. The White House had reportedly prepared to unveil a proposed two-year extension this week, but a backlash among Republicans scuttled the plan.
A group of Democratic lawmakers said that the FBI had launched an investigation into their actions after they released a video calling on American troops to disobey illegal orders. The president called the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH”. The Pentagon already announced an investigation into one member of the group, Mark Kelly, a senator from Arizona who is a former navy pilot. Several Republican senators publicly criticised that probe.
International visitors to many of America’s national parks will soon pay three times more than residents. From next year, an annual pass will cost $80 for residents and $250 for foreign visitors; non-residents without such a pass will be required to pay a surcharge of $100 to enter 11 of the most popular parks. Mr Trump “always puts American families first”, said Doug Burgum, secretary of the interior, who oversees the parks.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic congressman from California, sued Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, for alleged privacy and First Amendment violations. Mr Swalwell, a critic of Mr Trump, accused Mr Pulte of “scouring” databases for his private mortgage records, then using them to “concoct” criminal allegations against him. Mr Pulte has been behind several cases of purported mortgage fraud brought against the president’s enemies.
Muriel Bowser, the Democratic mayor of Washington, DC, said she would not seek a fourth term in 2026. During more than a decade in office, she has steered the city through many crises, put its finances on a surer footing and cut homelessness. This year has been especially tumultuous: thousands of federal workers were laid off and Mr Trump, after declaring a crime emergency, deployed the National Guard to the capital.
A coalition of 20 states and Washington, DC sued the Trump administration over changes in funding for homeless people. Current policy gives some beneficiaries permanent housing without preconditions. The administration wants to place further restrictions on who can benefit. The lawsuit calls the changes illegal and politically motivated. The states warn that the move could cause more than 170,000 people to lose their housing.
The dismal science
Since returning to power, Donald Trump has set off a spree of economic experiments. Tariff rates are now at levels last seen in the 1930s. The independence of the Federal Reserve is under threat. Annual immigration has been yanked down from several million to near zero. In the World Ahead 2026, our annual future-gazing supplement, our US economics editor explainsthat the results of these experiments will start to come in thick and fast next year.
A view from elsewhere
“To the casual observer” the Democratic Party is “well-placed to capitalise on widespread discontent towards Donald Trump and sweep next year’s midterms,” wrote Jack Sheehan in the Irish Times, an Irish newspaper. Yet the party is “unpopular and divided” and values “seniority over success”. Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City’s mayor, however, could help reshape its fortunes.
Figure of the day
47, the number of people America will have executed by the end of December. That is nearly double last year’s tally and the highest in nearly two decades. Read our story examining how the Supreme Court ushered in a surge of executions.
What our readers think
Our readers felt Donald Trump’s volte-face on releasing the Epstein files would probably fail to quell disquiet in the Republican Party. Harry Katz said the release of documents might “placate die hard MAGA Republicans”, but exemptions included in the Epstein bill meant officials would probably hold back any material damaging to the president. David Court said the impact of any release depended on factors including the speed with which material appears, to what extent information is redacted and whether documents related to Mr Trump are published in full, in part or not at all. Meanwhile John Guderian wrote: “both sides will cherry-pick whatever suits their narrative, producing plenty of sound and fury but little light.”
We want to hear from you
How far do you think the Trump administration will take its threats against Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela, and what will the political consequences be in America? Write to us at usib@economist.comand we will publish some of your views on Wednesday. And we welcome your feedback on this newsletter.
Editor’s picks
A selection of must-read articles
A high gold price is luring prospectors to California’s mountains
John Bolton thinks America is past “peak Trump”
Donald Trump’s former national security adviser speaks to The Economist
What Congress has actually voted to make public
Daily quiz
This week’s quiz is about presidents and Thanksgiving. We’ll ask questions from Monday to Wednesday.
Wednesday
Which president signed into law that the federal Thanksgiving holiday should take place on the fourth Thursday of November?
Tuesday
Which president refused to make an official proclamation of a Thanksgiving holiday while in office?
See how to take part in the quiz at the bottom of this page.
If you enjoyed this week’s questions, play Dateline, The Economist’s history game.
Heard from Scout HQ 
We are surprised and deeply saddened by this news.
—Scouting America responds to reports that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of war, wants America’s armed forces to sever ties with the organisation. According to NPR, Mr Hegseth criticised the group’s diversity policies and said it is now designed to “attack boy-friendly spaces”.
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