Words for Our Time: Lincoln's Lyceum Address
But there are other reasons, matters pertinent to today's politics and culture, that Americans should take a look at Lincoln's Lyceum address.
Starting With Gratitude
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Newsweek
25 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Disapproval Rating Hits New 2025 High
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Donald Trump's disapproval rating has climbed to its highest level of the year, according to newly released polling data. The latest ActiVote poll, conducted between July 1 and 31 among 454 respondents, put Trump's disapproval rating at 52.1 percent, up from 51.5 percent last month. Meanwhile, his approval rating has remained at 44.5 percent. Why It Matters Voters have in particular raised concerns about the administration's handling of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's case, as well as Trump's tariffs policies and his impact on the economy more broadly. File photo: Donald Trump gestures as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House., Friday, August 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C. File photo: Donald Trump gestures as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House., Friday, August 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Jacquelyn Martin/AP What To Know The latest data marks a stark reversal from earlier in the year, when Trump held a net positive approval rating. In January, 52 percent of Americans approved of his performance, while 46 percent disapproved—a net approval of +6. But that lead evaporated by March, and his numbers have since trended steadily downward. By April, Trump's disapproval rating had begun to consistently outpace approval, with 45 percent approving and 51 percent disapproving. After a brief improvement in May, his net approval dropped to -7 in both June and July. Despite the decline, July's numbers remain higher than Trump's average approval rating during his first term (41 percent), and also above President Biden's full-term average (41 percent) and his final-year rating (40 percent). Trump also maintains a net positive rating among rural voters, men, older Americans (50-plus), Republicans, white voters, and those with lower incomes, all of whom were crucial to his victory in 2024. Meanwhile, the politically crucial centrist group shifted back into net positive territory for Trump in July, giving him a +4 approval rating, up from -6 last month. However, approval within his own base has slipped: support among the moderate right and right dropped to 82 percent, down 4 points from June. Epstein Scandal Rekindles Public Scrutiny The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to cast a shadow over Trump and his administration. Polls have shown that a bipartisan majority of voters, including MAGA supporters, now believe that the government should release all files related to Epstein, with many suspecting a cover-up. Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. There is no evidence that Trump was involved in Epstein's crimes. Trump has acknowledged knowing the man in the 1990s and early 2000s but maintains that he cut ties with him well before Epstein's 2006 arrest. A recent Wall Street Journal report uncovered a 2003 birthday card Trump allegedly sent to Epstein. The card included a drawing of a naked woman and the message: "We have certain things in common … may every day be another wonderful secret." The discontent intensified when a Justice Department memo last month confirmed Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that the government does not possess a "client list"—directly contradicting conspiracy theories promoted by some Trump-aligned figures. Trump reportedly lashed out at his own supporters, calling them "weaklings" for being "duped" by what he called a "hoax" pushed by Democrats. He later walked back the comments and directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of unsealing grand jury materials related to Epstein. Economic Worries Add To Pressure Economic concerns are also causing a headache for the Trump administration, with multiple recent polls showing a downward trend in the president's approval rating on his handling of the economy and inflation. Inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June, and job growth slowed sharply in July, with just 73,000 new jobs added—down from 147,000 the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2 percent, though it remains near historic lows. Amid those concerns, other polls have also shown Trump's approval rating sliding to lows. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that Trump's approval rating had dropped to 40 percent, with 56 percent disapproving, giving him a net approval rating of -16 points. The latest YouGov/Economist poll also showed Trump's approval rating at its lowest level yet, with 40 percent approving and 55 percent disapproving. And a new Zogby Strategies poll also showed Trump's overall approval rating had slipped to an all-time low, with just 43 percent of voters approving of his performance, while 54 percent disapproved, marking a net approval rating of -11 points. That is down from -8 net approval in June and -1 in May. Poll Date Approve Disapprove ActiVote July 1-31 45 52 RMG Research July 23-31 50 48 John Zogby Strategies July 28-29 43 54 YouGov/Economist July 25-28 40 55 Ipsos/Reuters July 25-27 40 56 Morning Consult July 25-27 47 50 McLaughlin and Associates July 21-24 47 54 Quantus Insights July 21-23 47 50 Emerson College July 21-22 46 47 Trafalgar Group/Insider Advantage July 22-23 50 48 But other polls show slight improvements: Morning Consult has Trump at 47 percent approval, with net approval rising to -3 from -7. Newsweek's poll tracker shows a similar uptick, with his net approval at -5 (46 percent approve; 51 percent disapprove), up from -7 yesterday and -10 last week. What Happens Next Trump's approval rating will continue to fluctuate throughout his term in office as he implements his policy agenda. Whether it falls enough to impact the Republican Party in the November 2026 midterms remains to be seen.
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad controversy, explained
There's been A LOT made out of a series of American Eagle ads starring Sydney Sweeney, the actress in films like Anyone But You and the upcoming Christy Martin biopic, along with TV series like Euphoria and The White Lotus. And you might be confused or you want to catch up on the news about all of this. That's what we're here for: To fill you in on this whole thing that's blown up all over the internet and has led to so many people in culture and politics commenting. So let's dive in and answer all the questions you might have about Sweeney and the American Eagle ads that have caused such a stir: What is the deal with Sydney Sweeney? She's starring in some American Eagle ads that people are buzzing about. What are the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ads everyone is talking about? The ads are based around the concept that "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans." Check out an example: What's the controversy with the Sydney Sweeney ad? Some folks have taken that concept and criticized it for sounding like a veiled attempt to promote eugenics, as in "Sydney Sweeney has good GENES." But it seems like the anger is more aimed at American Eagle and not necessarily at the actress. What has American Eagle said in response to the Sydney Sweeney ads? You can see it below, but: "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone. Did Donald Trump say anything about the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle controversy? No, but White House communications director Steven Cheung posted this on X (formerly Twitter): "Cancel culture run amok. This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They're tired of this [expletive]." Has Sydney Sweeney said anything about the American Eagle ads? Not yet as of publishing this.
American Military News
an hour ago
- American Military News
Video/Pic: Trump demands drug companies lower prices
President Donald Trump sent 17 pharmaceutical companies letters on Thursday and demanded that the companies lower prices for Americans. The president warned that the 'unacceptable burden' of prescription drug prices will 'end' with his administration. During a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, 'The president signed an executive order earlier this year to solve the problem of exorbitant pharmaceutical pricing.' 'According to recent data, the prices that Americans have been paying for brand-name drugs are more than three times the price other similarly developed nations pay,' Leavitt added. 'The president is determined to solve this problem and took further action today. He has signed 17 letters to pharmaceutical companies' CEOs.' .@PressSec reads one of the letters sent by @POTUS today to the CEOs of pharmaceutical companies: "Moving forward, the only thing I will accept from drug manufacturers is a commitment that provides American families immediate relief from the vastly inflated drug prices…" — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 31, 2025 Leavitt also shared the letter Trump wrote to the CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. In the letter, Trump warned Eli Lilly and 16 other pharmaceutical companies that the 'unacceptable burden' of brand-name drugs costing 'up to three times higher on average' for Americans than for citizens of other countries 'ends with my administration.' Trump told the pharmaceutical companies, 'Most proposals the Trump administration has received to resolve this critical issue promised more of the same shifting blame and requesting policy changes that would result in billions of dollars in handouts to industry.' The president added, 'Moving forward, the only thing I will accept from drug manufacturers is a commitment that provides American families immediate relief from the vastly inflated drug prices and an end to the free ride of American innovation by European and other developed nations.' READ MORE: Video: Trump order against 'Big Pharma' aims to reduce drug prices While Trump explained that a collaborative effort to reach 'global pricing parity' would be most effective for pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. government, and U.S. patients, he warned that his administration will 'deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families' if pharmaceutical companies refuse to take action. In addition to the letter sent to Eli Lilly and Company, Trump sent letters to AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Johnson and Johnson, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Sanofi. In the letters, Trump gave the companies 60 days to extend 'Most-Favored-Nation' pricing to Medicaid and provide 'full portfolios' of drugs for Medicaid patients, guarantee Most-Favored-Nation pricing for new drugs, negotiate with 'foreign freeloading nations' and return 'increased revenues abroad' to patients in the United States, and allow Americans to directly purchase drugs at Most-Favored-Nation prices. Today, @POTUS sent letters to 17 drug manufacturers outlining steps they must take to bring down prescription drug prices. If they refuse to step up, the Administration will use every tool to protect Americans from continued abusive drug pricing practices. Letter to Eli Lilly: — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 31, 2025
