CNN host Abby Phillip delivered a swift reality check to conservative commentator Scott Jennings during an on-air discussion about President Donald Trump’s approval ratings on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, prompting laughter from fellow panelists when Jennings attempted to tout Trump’s supposed rising popularity.
During the NewsNight segment, Phillip and Jennings discussed polling trends ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Phillip cited fresh data from CNN data analyst Harry Enten showing Democrats holding a narrow national advantage in the generic ballot. She noted that in the first part of 2025, the generic ballot between Democrats and Republicans was essentially tied, but Democrats had since gained an advantage.
According to the latest Gallup numbers, 48 percent of Americans now identify as Democrats, compared to 41 percent who identify as Republicans. That shift marks a reversal from the previous election period, when GOP identification briefly led.
Phillip then turned to Trump’s overall approval rating, noting that it had moved only slightly despite the political turbulence surrounding his administration. She began to reference Enten’s report from that week, saying Trump’s job approval had actually gone up, before Jennings interjected to complete the thought in unison with her: “By one point.”
Phillip laughed as she pointed out the minimal increase, along with another panelist, one-time presidential candidate Cornel West. Phillip quickly added that despite the marginal uptick, Trump remained deeply underwater with voters. She referenced a Reuters poll released earlier that week showing that, while Trump’s approval had ticked up slightly, a majority of Americans still disapprove of his performance, with 56 percent disapproval and 42 percent approval.
Jennings acknowledged the numbers but attempted to shift the conversation to Trump’s offer to negotiate with Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown. The federal government had been partially closed since October 1, 2025, after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to extend funding past September 30.
The conservative commentator suggested that the president would be happy to meet with Democrats if they stopped holding the government hostage, and he believed that negotiations on various issues would lead to an agreement. He maintained that the president did not want to negotiate under duress.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, leaving them seven votes short of the 60 needed to advance a funding bill. Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have pushed to include an extension of Covid-era healthcare premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have refused, citing spending concerns.
The exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions between Phillip and Jennings on the program. Jennings, a former staffer for President George W. Bush who has embraced MAGA politics in recent years, frequently appears on the show to represent conservative viewpoints. In a subsequent interview on the Pivot podcast in August 2025, Phillip acknowledged that some viewers dislike Jennings for his views but defended his presence on her show, noting that he represents perspectives widely shared, even if many find them unfounded.
Phillip explained in that interview that she sometimes steps in when Jennings or others appear to be playing to social media users instead of engaging in meaningful debate. She stated that if she detects someone trying to create a viral moment by misrepresenting what is being said, she will stop that behavior. Phillip noted that Jennings is often involved in those moments when she intervenes.
The October 21 exchange regarding Trump’s approval ratings exemplified this dynamic, with Phillip refusing to allow Jennings to overstate the significance of a single-point increase in polling. The moment resonated with viewers, who appreciated seeing real-time fact-checking during political discourse, particularly on a topic where partisan spin often obscures objective data.
New polling released in late October underscores the mounting headwinds facing the president’s second term. A Reuters-Ipsos survey conducted on October 28 found Donald Trump’s approval rating had fallen to just 40 percent — tying the lowest level of his presidency — while disapproval rose to 57 percent as voters expressed mounting frustration over the cost of living, with 63 percent saying his handling of household expenses was poor. Additionally, another Reuters/Ipsos poll published October 23 revealed that over half of Americans believe Trump is using federal law-enforcement powers to target political opponents, and 67 percent said U.S. political divisions are a “great deal” of concern, amid the ongoing shutdown and partisan stalemate.
