February 16, 2021 • 13 mins
Former President Trump has been acquitted by the Senate, approval ratings of the Biden Administration are all over the place, and the Biden White House is taking shape and we are getting some insights.
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Episode Transcript
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Unknown (00:00):
Former President Trump has been acquitted by the Senate
approval ratings of the Bidenadministration are all over the
place and the Biden White Houseis taking shape and we're
getting some insights. I'm JoeMaronski. And you're listening
to the political informit. Yourplace for facts first politics.
(00:28):
In a 57 to 43 vote with sevenRepublicans voting to convict
the former president, the Senatehas acquitted former President
Trump of his charge ofincitement of insurrection. The
trial happening exactly onemonth after the House voted to
convict Trump lasted five days,most of which were filled with
the democratic house managerspresenting their case. Right
(00:52):
from the start of the trial, wesaw that things would be
contentious there was a vote todeclare the trial
unconstitutional, which did notpass. Now this was a 56 to 44
vote with six Republicans votingthat the trial was
constitutional. These weresenators susan collins of Maine,
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, LisaMurkowski of Alaska Mitt Romney
(01:14):
of Utah, Ben sasse of Nebraskaand Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday and Thursday alone,house manager spoke for just
over nine and a half hours,which is a lot of time, they
presented timelines videosgraphic showed dots that
represented different people toshow the proximity. They
(01:34):
reminded us of just how close ofa call it was on January 6, n
tried to hammer home thatwriters quoted Trump during the
interaction and tried to draw acorrelation between his words
and the actions. No, that wasthe thing that they really
needed to do. without drawingthe connection of his words and
the actions of these writers.
They really had no case. Theentire case was based upon the
(01:57):
fact that President Trump'swords directly resulted in the
actions of these writers. Now,they showed a lot of clips from
people talking to reporters andquoting him, but it obviously
did not go over too well withthe senate as he was acquitted.
his defense attorney spoke fornot nearly as long as the house
(02:18):
managers and they presentedtheir case on the fourth day.
They said it was just words theyquoted where he said quote,
patriotic and peaceful in histop the steel speech, and they
showed a video of Democratssaying the word fight. They
claim the impeachment was justfor politics and a show. But it
was definitely interesting tohear their take of things. Now
(02:41):
the team representing the formerpresident, we're not impeachment
lawyers, most of them wereprosecutors or civil attorneys.
So it was definitely interestingto hear from people who don't
necessarily work in this field,but we're putting together a
case. We did have one moment ofunity throughout this entire
trial. Thankfully,some of you may remember seeing
(03:04):
officer Eugene Goodman. He isthe Capitol Police officer that
led protesters up the stairs andaway from the Senate chamber.
They voted unanimously to awardhim with a Congressional Medal
of Freedom, a definite deservedhonor. He led the riders right
away from the Senate chamberinto a line of waiting officers.
(03:24):
House managers did show a videoof him warning senator Mitt
Romney to take cover and theyshowed just how close it was. He
led the writers away whilesenators were still in the
chamber, and Vice PresidentPence was next to it. In the
Vice President's office, hesaved the two groups from
meeting by mere seconds.
(03:47):
It really is one of thosemoments where you sit back and
realize just how close of a callit was. But it's also one of
those moments where you sit backand realize that there's people
who put their lives on the lineevery day. Our first responders
are law enforcement, our healthcare workers are firefighters,
and we really should be gratefulfor them. Mississippi Democratic
(04:08):
Representative Bernie Thompsonhas filed a lawsuit in federal
court against Trump and Giulianiclaiming that they conspired
with with far right groups, likethe proud boys to incite the
violence at the Capitol. BernieThompson is the chairman of the
House Homeland SecurityCommittee. But he did file this
in his personal capacity andthis represents the first civil
(04:30):
lawsuit against the formerpresident. He used a post Civil
War federal statute that wasactually designed to combat the
KKK. It allowed kkk members tobe sued personally for using
quote force intimidation orthreat to prevent people from
performing their duties. It'sdefinitely an interesting route
to take. And something that Idon't think many people were
(04:51):
expecting. But how do we moveahead. President Biden has
remained relatively quiet aboutthe trial, but he says he wants
to move on.
Democrats keep attacking theformer president. for things
that happened on January 6, andbeyond. This has become
something that's not just aboutthe actions and events of
January 6, but a way forDemocrats to get back at
(05:13):
President Trump. This is aboutchange, we need to move forward.
We need to see representativesworking together, not fighting
each other. We need to seepeople taking action against the
things affecting Americans, notthe things that are in the past.
It's time for us to moveforward. We cannot create change
(05:34):
in a world where we only lookback. Yes, we need to use these
past lessons. To learn to grow.
It's just like we always hear,if you don't learn from history,
you're bound to repeat it. Butat this point in time, we are
learning and the best way tolearn is to move forward.
(05:59):
The nation is more polarizedthan ever. In recent years, new
polls are being released andshowing how divided we really
are as a nation, from whether ornot we'll get a vaccine to our
approval of the President.
Everything seems to be dividingpeople. So I want to talk about
a couple polls and discuss howwe even use polls to learn, grow
and make predictions about whatmay happen. So Gallup just
(06:22):
released a poll that showsAmericans are more divided over
President Biden than by anyother president in recent
history. At the start of theirfirst terms, these are the
approval ratings of formerpresidents. Trump had a 45%
approval rating, Obama had a 68%approval rating. Bush had a 57%
(06:43):
Clinton with a 58%. HW Bush had51%. Reagan had a 51%. Carter
had a 66%. Nixon had a 59%.
Kennedy had a 72% and Eisenhowerhad a 68% approval rating.
(07:04):
President Biden started with a57% approval rating, which is
not terrible. It is higher thanthe approval rating of former
President Trump. However, theAmerican public is more
polarized over Biden, only about10% of Republicans approve of
President Biden, whereas about15% of Democrats approved of
(07:25):
President Trump. So what doesthis mean? Well, quite frankly,
President Biden's plan ofunification is off to a rough
start America's polarized and hehas to find unique ways to unite
people. Joe Biden might be thepresident that unites America,
but as of right now, it doesn'tlook that way at all. For more
(07:46):
information on the Gallup poll,feel free to head over to Joseph
Maronski dotnet forward slashthe political informant. You
know, sometimes the most tellingstates are swing states, even
not during an election. So let'stake a look at North Carolina.
North Carolina did vote forPresident Trump in the 2020
(08:07):
election, but they elected ademocratic governor. So
definitely a unique state. TheHigh Point University Survey
Research Center recentlypublished a poll, and it showed
that just 51% of North Carolinaresidents approve of President
Trump with 32%, disapproving and17% not knowing or refusing to
answer. This was published onFebruary 9, so relatively
(08:30):
recently, but it also was beforethe conclusion of the
impeachment trial. So I amcurious what the effects of that
would be, but we'll have to staytuned for that. They also asked
residents of North Carolina whatway they think the country is
going and only 27% of NorthCarolina residents think that
(08:51):
the country is going in a rightdirection. Now, that's a little
bit interesting to hear 51% ofresidents approve of President
Biden but only 27% think thecountry is going in the right
direction. 60% think the countryis on the wrong track, and 13%
did not know or refuse toanswer. But what does this mean?
Well, first of all, it trulyshows the divisions in our
(09:12):
nation. People are confused, andthey realize that things may be
going wrong, yet they approve ofBiden, is this because they
think President Biden will bethe change that we need, or is
this because they thinkPresident Biden is not doing
enough, but we'll do more? We'llhave to wait and see on that.
But I do I want to talk aboutpolls as a whole. Are they
(09:33):
effective? Yes. Are they alwaysright? Not at all. These are
meant to be indicators, not thetruth. Nowadays, they're used as
talking points and taken as thetruth when they should not be
that's not what they're for. Andthat's not what they are
research where polls come fromresearch who was polled and make
sure it's accurate. If you pollonly Republicans. Yeah, you're
(09:56):
going to have skewed results.
But quite frankly, thoseThe polls we're seeing on a lot
of these major networks, it'seasy to set up a poll center,
you pay some people, you getsome phones and you're set. But
to do a poll correctly, fairly,ethically, and truthfully, you
need to do the right thing. Andthat's what we're missing.
(10:23):
With the Biden's administrationalmost in office for a month now
the dust is starting to settleand we're getting some more
insight as to what the day today looks like there. From a
fire in the Oval Office to amorning cup of Joe. No pun
intended, President Biden isfinding his new normal. However,
normal means COVID safe, andthat's where some new changes
(10:44):
come in. The West Wing is prettyquiet. Right now, a lot of staff
members are working from homedue to the pandemic. There's a
TV monitor in President Biden'soffice that he uses for virtual
meetings. And most recently, hehad a virtual meeting with
Secretary of Transportation PeteBuda, Judge, one of Secretary
Buddha judges, security guardstested positive for COVID-19.
(11:05):
And he is now in isolation.
Also, nearly a quarter of allsenators have already been to a
meeting in the Oval Office withhim to discuss the COVID-19
relief package. He's receivingthe President's daily briefing
every day, which is a changefrom the Trump presidency as
President Trump was notreceiving the briefing according
to some reports, whereas othersay he did receive the briefing.
(11:28):
He's been seen taking materialsfrom the Oval Office back to the
residence to review and thisincludes letters from Americans,
which is something reallyinteresting, and I think very
important for any good electedofficial, you were elected by
the American people, you shouldlisten to the American people.
You can't rule for yourself. Ifwe look back throughout history,
(11:51):
philosophers and history dictatethat it's not good when you get
somebody who's ruling forthemselves in office. And I do
think it is a good sign thatPresident Biden is taking those
letters back. And at leasthearing what the American people
have to say and not just takingit at face value and hearing
what his aides have to say. Healso does start every single
(12:13):
morning with a cup of coffeewith the First Lady Joe Biden.
And that's something that's verysweet, but also important to any
good leader to still maintainvalues.
Things are moving quickly anddivides are growing. As
Americans we must begin to cometo the table together. both
(12:37):
sides of the aisle must meet inthe middle because change
happens through compromise. I'mJoe Maronski. And you've been
listening to the politicalinformant your place for facts
first politics
Former President Trump has been acquitted by the Senate
approval ratings of the Bidenadministration are all over the
place and the Biden White Houseis taking shape and we're
getting some insights. I'm JoeMaronski. And you're listening
to the political informit. Yourplace for facts first politics.
(00:28):
In a 57 to 43 vote with sevenRepublicans voting to convict
the former president, the Senatehas acquitted former President
Trump of his charge ofincitement of insurrection. The
trial happening exactly onemonth after the House voted to
convict Trump lasted five days,most of which were filled with
the democratic house managerspresenting their case. Right
(00:52):
from the start of the trial, wesaw that things would be
contentious there was a vote todeclare the trial
unconstitutional, which did notpass. Now this was a 56 to 44
vote with six Republicans votingthat the trial was
constitutional. These weresenators susan collins of Maine,
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, LisaMurkowski of Alaska Mitt Romney
(01:14):
of Utah, Ben sasse of Nebraskaand Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday and Thursday alone,house manager spoke for just
over nine and a half hours,which is a lot of time, they
presented timelines videosgraphic showed dots that
represented different people toshow the proximity. They
(01:34):
reminded us of just how close ofa call it was on January 6, n
tried to hammer home thatwriters quoted Trump during the
interaction and tried to draw acorrelation between his words
and the actions. No, that wasthe thing that they really
needed to do. without drawingthe connection of his words and
the actions of these writers.
They really had no case. Theentire case was based upon the
(01:57):
fact that President Trump'swords directly resulted in the
actions of these writers. Now,they showed a lot of clips from
people talking to reporters andquoting him, but it obviously
did not go over too well withthe senate as he was acquitted.
his defense attorney spoke fornot nearly as long as the house
(02:18):
managers and they presentedtheir case on the fourth day.
They said it was just words theyquoted where he said quote,
patriotic and peaceful in histop the steel speech, and they
showed a video of Democratssaying the word fight. They
claim the impeachment was justfor politics and a show. But it
was definitely interesting tohear their take of things. Now
(02:41):
the team representing the formerpresident, we're not impeachment
lawyers, most of them wereprosecutors or civil attorneys.
So it was definitely interestingto hear from people who don't
necessarily work in this field,but we're putting together a
case. We did have one moment ofunity throughout this entire
trial. Thankfully,some of you may remember seeing
(03:04):
officer Eugene Goodman. He isthe Capitol Police officer that
led protesters up the stairs andaway from the Senate chamber.
They voted unanimously to awardhim with a Congressional Medal
of Freedom, a definite deservedhonor. He led the riders right
away from the Senate chamberinto a line of waiting officers.
(03:24):
House managers did show a videoof him warning senator Mitt
Romney to take cover and theyshowed just how close it was. He
led the writers away whilesenators were still in the
chamber, and Vice PresidentPence was next to it. In the
Vice President's office, hesaved the two groups from
meeting by mere seconds.
(03:47):
It really is one of thosemoments where you sit back and
realize just how close of a callit was. But it's also one of
those moments where you sit backand realize that there's people
who put their lives on the lineevery day. Our first responders
are law enforcement, our healthcare workers are firefighters,
and we really should be gratefulfor them. Mississippi Democratic
(04:08):
Representative Bernie Thompsonhas filed a lawsuit in federal
court against Trump and Giulianiclaiming that they conspired
with with far right groups, likethe proud boys to incite the
violence at the Capitol. BernieThompson is the chairman of the
House Homeland SecurityCommittee. But he did file this
in his personal capacity andthis represents the first civil
(04:30):
lawsuit against the formerpresident. He used a post Civil
War federal statute that wasactually designed to combat the
KKK. It allowed kkk members tobe sued personally for using
quote force intimidation orthreat to prevent people from
performing their duties. It'sdefinitely an interesting route
to take. And something that Idon't think many people were
(04:51):
expecting. But how do we moveahead. President Biden has
remained relatively quiet aboutthe trial, but he says he wants
to move on.
Democrats keep attacking theformer president. for things
that happened on January 6, andbeyond. This has become
something that's not just aboutthe actions and events of
January 6, but a way forDemocrats to get back at
(05:13):
President Trump. This is aboutchange, we need to move forward.
We need to see representativesworking together, not fighting
each other. We need to seepeople taking action against the
things affecting Americans, notthe things that are in the past.
It's time for us to moveforward. We cannot create change
(05:34):
in a world where we only lookback. Yes, we need to use these
past lessons. To learn to grow.
It's just like we always hear,if you don't learn from history,
you're bound to repeat it. Butat this point in time, we are
learning and the best way tolearn is to move forward.
(05:59):
The nation is more polarizedthan ever. In recent years, new
polls are being released andshowing how divided we really
are as a nation, from whether ornot we'll get a vaccine to our
approval of the President.
Everything seems to be dividingpeople. So I want to talk about
a couple polls and discuss howwe even use polls to learn, grow
and make predictions about whatmay happen. So Gallup just
(06:22):
released a poll that showsAmericans are more divided over
President Biden than by anyother president in recent
history. At the start of theirfirst terms, these are the
approval ratings of formerpresidents. Trump had a 45%
approval rating, Obama had a 68%approval rating. Bush had a 57%
(06:43):
Clinton with a 58%. HW Bush had51%. Reagan had a 51%. Carter
had a 66%. Nixon had a 59%.
Kennedy had a 72% and Eisenhowerhad a 68% approval rating.
(07:04):
President Biden started with a57% approval rating, which is
not terrible. It is higher thanthe approval rating of former
President Trump. However, theAmerican public is more
polarized over Biden, only about10% of Republicans approve of
President Biden, whereas about15% of Democrats approved of
(07:25):
President Trump. So what doesthis mean? Well, quite frankly,
President Biden's plan ofunification is off to a rough
start America's polarized and hehas to find unique ways to unite
people. Joe Biden might be thepresident that unites America,
but as of right now, it doesn'tlook that way at all. For more
(07:46):
information on the Gallup poll,feel free to head over to Joseph
Maronski dotnet forward slashthe political informant. You
know, sometimes the most tellingstates are swing states, even
not during an election. So let'stake a look at North Carolina.
North Carolina did vote forPresident Trump in the 2020
(08:07):
election, but they elected ademocratic governor. So
definitely a unique state. TheHigh Point University Survey
Research Center recentlypublished a poll, and it showed
that just 51% of North Carolinaresidents approve of President
Trump with 32%, disapproving and17% not knowing or refusing to
answer. This was published onFebruary 9, so relatively
(08:30):
recently, but it also was beforethe conclusion of the
impeachment trial. So I amcurious what the effects of that
would be, but we'll have to staytuned for that. They also asked
residents of North Carolina whatway they think the country is
going and only 27% of NorthCarolina residents think that
(08:51):
the country is going in a rightdirection. Now, that's a little
bit interesting to hear 51% ofresidents approve of President
Biden but only 27% think thecountry is going in the right
direction. 60% think the countryis on the wrong track, and 13%
did not know or refuse toanswer. But what does this mean?
Well, first of all, it trulyshows the divisions in our
(09:12):
nation. People are confused, andthey realize that things may be
going wrong, yet they approve ofBiden, is this because they
think President Biden will bethe change that we need, or is
this because they thinkPresident Biden is not doing
enough, but we'll do more? We'llhave to wait and see on that.
But I do I want to talk aboutpolls as a whole. Are they
(09:33):
effective? Yes. Are they alwaysright? Not at all. These are
meant to be indicators, not thetruth. Nowadays, they're used as
talking points and taken as thetruth when they should not be
that's not what they're for. Andthat's not what they are
research where polls come fromresearch who was polled and make
sure it's accurate. If you pollonly Republicans. Yeah, you're
(09:56):
going to have skewed results.
But quite frankly, thoseThe polls we're seeing on a lot
of these major networks, it'seasy to set up a poll center,
you pay some people, you getsome phones and you're set. But
to do a poll correctly, fairly,ethically, and truthfully, you
need to do the right thing. Andthat's what we're missing.
(10:23):
With the Biden's administrationalmost in office for a month now
the dust is starting to settleand we're getting some more
insight as to what the day today looks like there. From a
fire in the Oval Office to amorning cup of Joe. No pun
intended, President Biden isfinding his new normal. However,
normal means COVID safe, andthat's where some new changes
(10:44):
come in. The West Wing is prettyquiet. Right now, a lot of staff
members are working from homedue to the pandemic. There's a
TV monitor in President Biden'soffice that he uses for virtual
meetings. And most recently, hehad a virtual meeting with
Secretary of Transportation PeteBuda, Judge, one of Secretary
Buddha judges, security guardstested positive for COVID-19.
(11:05):
And he is now in isolation.
Also, nearly a quarter of allsenators have already been to a
meeting in the Oval Office withhim to discuss the COVID-19
relief package. He's receivingthe President's daily briefing
every day, which is a changefrom the Trump presidency as
President Trump was notreceiving the briefing according
to some reports, whereas othersay he did receive the briefing.
(11:28):
He's been seen taking materialsfrom the Oval Office back to the
residence to review and thisincludes letters from Americans,
which is something reallyinteresting, and I think very
important for any good electedofficial, you were elected by
the American people, you shouldlisten to the American people.
You can't rule for yourself. Ifwe look back throughout history,
(11:51):
philosophers and history dictatethat it's not good when you get
somebody who's ruling forthemselves in office. And I do
think it is a good sign thatPresident Biden is taking those
letters back. And at leasthearing what the American people
have to say and not just takingit at face value and hearing
what his aides have to say. Healso does start every single
(12:13):
morning with a cup of coffeewith the First Lady Joe Biden.
And that's something that's verysweet, but also important to any
good leader to still maintainvalues.
Things are moving quickly anddivides are growing. As
Americans we must begin to cometo the table together. both
(12:37):
sides of the aisle must meet inthe middle because change
happens through compromise. I'mJoe Maronski. And you've been
listening to the politicalinformant your place for facts
first politics
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