The idea for this blog post came from listening to Background Briefing podcast April 16, 2025. 
https://www.backgroundbriefing.org/2025/04/16/
 “Joining us is Edward McCaffery, the Robert C. Packard trustee chair in law and a professor of law, economics and political science at the University of Southern California. He is the author of Fair Not Flat: How to Make the Tax System Better and Simpler and founder of the People’s Tax Page“.

In the real world, citizens of any country seem to achieve different levels of understanding for their nations politics.  The United States is just another perfect example of this.  Why is the approval rating of Donald Trump is still above 40% and not below 20%?

Some Possible Reasons That The American public Seem To Fail To Properly Understand The Direction Their Country Is Taking:  

• Living a very busy life that does not allow time to explore past and current political happenings.
• IQ level may not be adequate.
• Parental advice and encouragement for their children to understand what is taking place may not take place.
• Life experiences may play a role.
• Education institution bias sometimes has a minor play.
• Education level should be important.
• Friends and acquaintances that share their perceptions vary greatly and can swing views.
• Geographical influences such as border issues.
• Reading non fiction books can help while fiction might not. 
• Exposure to news papers, radio and TV news can qualify greatly to achieve higher level of understanding so long as the news sources are not propaganda based.

LAYER 1 (THE BOTTOM) Low Awareness:

Trump is just a low level self centered politician and citizens still fail to properly understand his real intent.

“Southerners have often liked their politicians to be colorful — and it looks like New York real estate mogul Donald Trump fits the bill.”

USA Typical Media Sources:
Typically do not take the time to be informed and educated.
Candidate Communications and Campaigns.
Friends.

LAYER 2:

USA Typical Media Sources:
Candidate Communications and Campaigns.
Friends.

Trump is just a bit ignorant and his failures to properly act in the best interests of this nation.  This appears to be a bit understandable but not the truth.

Donald Trump Really Is a Lot Dumber Than We Thought. Like, a Lot!
This view probably is held by individuals who fail to be exposed to what is happening in the world beyond their walk and talk environment.

USA Typical Media Sources:
FOX News
Candidate Communications and Campaigns.
Friends.

LAYER 3:

Trump appears to have some hidden personal reason for his actions that he gets rewarded for.  They can’t figure out if this is true or not and are stuck in the fog of not possessing some important facts.

This view really comes about just by being exposed to most every new exposure to what is happening in the United States and a lot of what is presented to them, may not be truthful or presented in not clear revealing methods such as Fox News and other right wing media.

“… the administration seems determined to squander and wreck the strong economy. Each of the individual policies they are pursuing—illegal layoffs of federal workers, mass deportations, constant threats and retractions of broad-based tariffs, and Medicaid spending cuts—would be bad for the economy. But each policy is also being pursued with maximum levels of chaos and incoordination, creating unprecedented levels of economic uncertainty. This uncertainty is itself a serious economic threat.”

LAYER 4:

Trump appears to be working for not just himself but maybe for his rich friends?  Not sure about this?
USA Typical Media Layer:
CNN
MSNBC Live
Background Briefing Podcast
WIKIPEDIA
Higher education courses

“The House budget resolution calls for cutting spending programs like Medicaid to help pay for a tax cut primarily for the rich, which would transfer income away from the bottom half of U.S. families and toward the very top. This is a terrible outcome by itself, one that would increase economic misery and inequality.”
Where Trump policies and Project 2025 proposals match up. CBS NEWS
Not sure at this time.  Let’s see how this pays out.

LAYER 5 (THE TOP LAYER):

USA Typical Media Layer:
CNN
MSNBC Live
Background Briefing Podcast
WIKIPEDIA
Gain college degree.

Trump’s apparent secret is revealed.  Trump is an agent for the billionaire class.  The billionaire class wants a government where they pay no taxes.

TRUMP’S METHODS FOR CHANGING THE UNITED STATES APPEARS TO BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ULTRA RICH FOLLOWS:
IRS Commissioner Says Wealthy Individuals Evade $150 Billion a Year in Taxes.
Project 2025 does seem to be a real factor.

TRUMP’S POSSIBLE METHODS FOR CHANGING THE UNITED STATES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ULTRA RICH:

Example: MAKE SOCIAL SECURITY SO RUINOUS THAT IS WILL NEED TO BE PRIVATIZED.

SOME IMPORTANT VIEWS:

• https://www.thirdway.org/report/10-reasons-why-trump-is-bad-for-business
• https://www.epi.org/publication/50-reasons/
• https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/not-just-a-bad-president-trump-is-a-holmesian-bad-man-act-accordingly
• https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/worst-president-ever-will-even-worse-second-term-rcna178971
• https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-donald-trump-is-ruining-the-economy-on-purpose-everyone-will-pay-more-for-everything
• https://www.cer.eu/insights/donald-trumps-return-office-ten-consequences
• https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/19/trumps-approval-rating-on-economy-drops-to-lowest-of-his-presidential-careerat-.html

Posted by Score Card April 26,2025.