A humorous moment took place Sunday during ABC’s This Week when co-moderator Jonathan Karl struggled to report a poll by state-affiliated media outlet National Public Radio which showed former President Donald Trump’s favorable ratings increasing among Republicans since his indictment. Trump went from 68 percent favorable prior to the indictment to 76 percent. It’s unclear whether Karl was actually confused about the numbers or he literally couldn’t bring himself to admit Trump is becoming more popular with the GOP base. Either way, it goes to show that Karl is not a serious journalist.
“Let's take a look at a poll taken entirely after the indictment was announced and unsealed from NPR,” Karl said before completely botching the poll results: “It showed that Trump's favorable ratings actually went from 70—76 percent. I'm sorry. His favorable 76 to 60–you got me. I'm mixed up here. Let me start all over.”
After not accomplishing anything except confusing viewers, former Maryland liberal Republican governor, and panelist Larry Hogan jumped in to accurately state the Trump polling bump.
“The bottom line is his favorable ratings actually increased and his unfavorable ratings went down among Republican voters and independents who lean Republican,” Karl said. “So in other words, his standing among Republicans actually has improved since this indictment was announced.”
Later on in the show, Karl turned to ABC News contributor and disgraced former DNC chair Donna Brazile and acted astonished that Trump is within the margin of error of Biden in a Quinnipiac poll.
“A possible Biden/Trump matchup puts Biden at 48 percent, Trump at 44 percent. This is a poll again taken largely after the indictment,” Karl marveled. “I mean, that's gotta make you a little—that's within the margin of error. That is a statistical tie.”
Brazile explained that “the race was close before the indictment. The race is gonna be close no matter what happens between then and now.”
Karl jumped back in and asked “what does that say about Biden if he’s barely beating or in some polls actually losing?”
“It says that the country is very divided. It says that the country is really looking to get beyond 2020,” Brazile speculated.
What the two are overlooking is that many Americans accurately believe the country is worse off in every possible metric since Biden took office. Trump being indicted has no impact on their lives. Record high inflation and a worsening economy do.
While the left-wing media hyperventilate over Trump’s legal woes, Americans struggle to afford food and other necessities.
This segment was made possible by CarFax. Their information is linked.
To read the transcript click “expand”:
ABC’s This Week
6/18/2023
9:24:44 a.m. EasternJONATHAN KARL: So Rick, I want to get to you about the political impact of that indictment. Let's take a look at a poll taken entirely after the indictment was announced and unsealed from NPR. It showed that Trump's favorable ratings actually went from 70—76 percent. I'm sorry. His favorable 76 to 60–you got me. I'm mixed up here. Let me start all over.
LARRY HOGAN: 68 to 76.
KARL: The bottom line is his favorable ratings actually increased and his unfavorable ratings went down among Republican voters and independents who lean Republican. So in other words, his standing among Republicans actually has improved since this indictment was announced.
[...]
9:33:29 a.m. Eastern
KARL: Let me try to put oxygen back in the room. I want to try to do another poll and I'll try to do this a little cleaner this time, but a poll from Quinnipiac on a possible Biden/Trump matchup puts Biden at 48 percent, Trump at 44 percent. This is a poll again taken largely after the indictment. I mean, that's gotta make you a little—that's within the margin of error. That is a statistical tie.
DONNA BRAZILE: The race was close before the indictment. The race is gonna be close no matter what happens between then and now.
KARL: What does that say about Biden if he’s barely beating or in some polls actually losing?
BRAZILE: It says that the country is very divided. It says that the country is really looking to get beyond 2020. It says a lot about where we are as a nation, not where we are in terms of who’s personally popular at this time.
