Tuberville's Residency Questions Unanswered

 

Widely seen as the most ignorant MAGAt in the Senate (and that's saying a lot), jug-eared Tommy Tuberville is one of the most rabid supporters of the Malignant Fascist, staking out positions that are faithful to his cult leader's. Recently, the former Auburn football coach announced that he was leaving the Senate to run for Governor of Alabama, but there appears to be a hitch in his plans for failing upward: he may not be an official resident of the state. Kyle Whitmire writes on AL.com:

"Last week, I challenged Sen. Tommy Tuberville to clear his residency questions once and for all by doing something that most Alabamians would be able to do without any problem — by showing whether he paid state income taxes for each of the last seven years.

To run for the U.S. Senate, he had to live in Alabama only for a day before the 2020 election, but to run for governor in Alabama, residency requirements say a candidate has to live in the state for seven years.

If he truly was an Alabama resident, his income taxes should show it. It’s a chance to lay his cards face up on the table and take the whole pot.

But so far he hasn’t." (our emphasis)

The clueless coach may have been paying state taxes in Florida, where he has a home in Santa Rosa, Florida, and where he voted in 2018, but he won't show his Alabama or Florida taxes to settle the residency question. His wife has a home in Auburn, AL (but he's not on the deed) and he's been using that as "evidence" of his Alabama residency. In any event, since Tuberville hasn't released any tax information so far, his MAGA opponents in their primary elections will be happy to pry it out of him one way or another. Then, perhaps after being disqualified on the residency requirements, Coach Clown can live openly in Florida.

(photo: Contemplating his chances to be Governor / NBC News)

 

Trump Says Country Is "Finished"

In the wee hours this morning, the deranged Malignant Fascist, angry that his illegal and unconstitutional Executive Orders are being knocked down by Federal courts, ranted on his ridiculous "Truth Social" platform that judicial opposition to his kidnapping and deportation of undocumented immigrants will result in a "crime filled LIFE," and that if it continues "our country, as we know it, is finished." Last Thursday, Federal District Judge Fernando Rodriguez, who was appointed by the MF himself, issued a permanent injunction against the MF's regime from deporting Venezuelans under the old Alien Enemies Act. The MF's fondness for ignoring due process underlies many of his Executive Orders, which he imagines in his ignorance to be royal proclamations with the force of law. 

Sadly for America, due process -- and justice hobbled by a timid and feckless Attorney General -- is what saved the felonious MF from prison for attempting a coup and stealing classified documents, among other crimes. He should be its greatest defender.

 

Trump: Trashy Man Or Pope Material?

 

Would a petty, vengeful, narcissistic psychopath hold a grudge for 20 or 30 years?  Is it possible the Malignant Fascist's animus toward PBS (and NPR) stems from some "Sesame Street" parodies from when he was a despised real estate mogul/ slumlord in New York City?   We purport, you decide:

 

On the other hand, the deranged megalomaniac Malignant Fascist has a much different opinion of himself, as seen in his "Truth" Social post from late last night:

Ah, the sacred and the profane captured in one image!  But will the Catholics in his cult see this as blasphemous, or as a dream come true?  How about his anti-Catholic evangelicals?  We wish we cared!

As for us, if he left the Presidency for the Papacy, we wouldn't mind.  Pope Trashy I!

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Kevin Kallaugher, The Economist, London)

(John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune, PA)

(Ruben Bolling, gocomics.com)

(Joel Pett, Tribune Content Agency)

(Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC)

(Nick Anderson, Raw Story)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Phil Hands, Wisconsin State Journal)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun)

(Banx, Financial Times, London)

 

QOTD: "Designed To Intimidate"

 

"Across the nation, judges are facing increased threats of not only physical violence, but also professional retaliation just for doing our jobs. The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity. The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.” -- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, speaking last week at a conference of judges and lawyers in Puerto Rico.

Since the lawless felon Malignant Fascist regained the White House, his unconstitutional Executive Orders, which he views as royal proclamation and the law of the land, have been challenged dozens of times and have been rejected by Federal judges up to the Supreme Court. As a result, judges have received threats of impeachment from such unhinged sociopaths as South Afrikaner Elon Musk and the MF's deputy chief of staff and robotic fascist lickspittle Steven Miller. Those threats in turn have prompted MAGA cultists to issue their own threats against judges ruling against their cult leader.

 

Skeets Of The Day

 

Convicted felon commits more crimes --

 

The importance of a Trump-appointed judge ruling his use of Alien Enemies Act illegal can't be overstated. It's a direct rebuke to his project of declaring that he can label anyone subject to rendition by fiat. On the pod, @leahlitman.bsky.social is so good on this: newrepublic.com/article/1947...

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— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM

 

Which federal crime did the President commit with this statement? Was it 26 usc 7217, which prohibits the President or his aides from directing any tax enforcement action? Or was it 26 usc 6103, which prohibits any government official from disclosing an ongoing tax proceeding? Maybe both!

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— Brian Galle (@bdgesq.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM

 

... and more to come --

 

One reason Americans don't pay as much attention to Trump's corruption as they should is that they don't think it affects them. But it does. In ways both cultural and legal, Trump is making it exponentially easier for fraudsters to take your money. www.salon.com/2025/05/02/c...

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— Amanda Marcotte (@amandamarcotte.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM

One of many demented sociopaths running our government --

 

This man is clearly a demented sociopath. That he is one of the central architects of Trumpism is testimony to its malevolence and to the profound defects of the man who elevated him and has kept him close for years, Trump himself.

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— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 5:34 AM

No cult no cult!  Squirrel! --

 

It’s not a cult.

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— David Corn (@davidcorn.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 9:21 AM

 

New in PN: Trump's brain is gone "Trump’s competence has always left a lot to be desired, but recent interviews show a president who’s no longer capable of even the veneer of mental acuity. Meanwhile, his party behaves like courtiers to a mad king."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) May 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM

Gilding a turd --

 

How many cans of gold spray paint went into this oval office decor?

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— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 8:31 AM

Trump's Tariffs --

 

Of course Xbox prices are going up, Trump has installed ridiculous tariffs on everything what did you think would happen... www.ign.com/articles/mic...

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— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule.bsky.social) May 1, 2025 at 11:25 PM

Bending the knee only makes you smaller --

 

NPR did a 30-minute interview with Steve Bannon in his podcast studio that aired just yesterday. PBS had on Chris Rufo tonight. Cozying up to these fucks won’t save you.

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— Marisa Kabas (@marisakabas.bsky.social) May 1, 2025 at 11:44 PM

Trump's German doppelgängers declared a right-wing extremist organization --

 

⚡️ Germany classifies AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist organization Until now, only AfD's regional branches in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt held that status, while the national party had been under observation as a suspected extremist group.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) May 2, 2025 at 7:18 AM

May Day Strong --

 

The only strategy known to work against a fascist power grab is widespread and diverse pro-democracy organizing. We win by showing up for each other and with each other.

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— Indivisible (@indivisible.org) May 2, 2025 at 8:13 AM

Truth in labeling (Happy Friday!) --

 

Guys, in case you were wondering… That’s a rock.

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— Hoarse Whisperer (@therealhoarse.bsky.social) April 27, 2025 at 10:53 PM

 

 

Weekend Music

 

On this day back in 1972, an unknown musician got his big break.  He auditioned for the legendary Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond.  Hammond was so impressed with the short set that was played that he arranged for the musician to play later at the Gaslight Club in New York City for several other Columbia executives. They liked what they heard, and a few weeks later Columbia head Clive Davis signed Bruce Springsteen to the label, where he's been ever since, and for which we're forever grateful.

Here's The Boss on his home turf, the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, in 2009, with "The Promised Land."

The Malignant Fascist's Long-Desired Parade

 

After being impressed in his first regime by the 2017 Bastille Day parade in Paris, the delusional Malignant Fascist is finally having a parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, which happens to be the 250th anniversary of the Army, but more importantly for him his 79th birthday. The draft dodging MF will see a parade of soldiers and military equipment to appease his megalomania and bottomless need for praise. From the Associated Press:

"Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trump’s birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians, The Associated Press has learned.

The planning documents, obtained by the AP, are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been publicly released. They represent the Army’s most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element — a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed. [snip]

While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. [ed.: hey DOGEbags, get on this stat] Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members."

Spare no expense for the MF, who infamously referred to fallen soldiers as "losers" and "suckers" and who plans to cut 80,000 jobs from the Veterans Administration, with twenty-five percent of their employees being veterans. His regime will almost certainly spin the parade to the press primarily as a tribute to the Army, rather than the transparent suck up to the MF's need for adulation. Nonetheless, the MF will see it as bowing to his power over our military forces. 

(image: A suggested outfit for the MF to wear on his birthday)

 

Trump Goes After PBS And NPR

 

In his latest illegal action-by-executive-order, the Malignant Fascist is trying to end federal funding for the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio:

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for America’s two biggest public broadcasters, which have faced a series of attacks from the White House and Republican lawmakers accusing them of biased reporting.

The order instructs the CPB’s board to terminate direct funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service to the “maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding.” It also orders the board to take steps to “minimize or eliminate” indirect funding to NPR and PBS.

The executive order also directs Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to investigate NPR and PBS for possible employment discrimination, and it instructs the heads of all other federal agencies to “identify and terminate” any direct or indirect funding of the media organizations, as allowed by the law.

The order follows previous attacks on the public broadcasters by the Trump administration and prominent Republicans.

Each year, the CPB disperses $535 million in taxpayer funds to public radio and TV stations nationwide, stations provide free and universal access to educational shows, emergency alerts and a wide array of news and cultural content.

This includes stations with PBS and NPR, as well as some lesser-known public media outlets. The White House has said it will soon ask Congress to claw back the money already allocated for CPB over the next two years.

Without the federal funding, some local stations could be forced off the air, especially in rural areas that are Republican strongholds. In many cases “these are the last locally owned broadcasters in these communities,” Ed Ulman, the CEO of Alaska Public Media, told CNN last month.

Earlier this week, the CPB filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after three of its five board members were terminated by email. The three board members who received the emails — Laura G. Ross, Thomas E. Rothman and Diane Kaplan — were appointed by then-President Joe Biden in 2022 (Ross was originally appointed by Trump in 2018 and then reappointed by Biden).

Congress specifically set up the corporation as a private entity “to afford maximum protection from extraneous interference and control,” according to a law passed in 1967. The legislation expressly forbids the government from exercising “any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting.” (our emphasis)

Crushing independent public media fits nicely into the MF regime's autocratic playbook, along with ignoring court orders and the rule of law, empowering a fascist paramilitary ICE to arbitrarily deport and deprive people of due process, intimidating and threatening any company or institution that stands up to the fascism, attacking the main funding source for your political opposition, and much more --  the obvious end purpose being to make the convicted felon Malignant Fascist into the American Dictator.  

If the sane, patriotic community isn't fighting back every day with all we have, we're going to lose our country to the bastards.

BONUS:  CPB fights back --

 

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting weighs in on President Trump's EO: "CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority."

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— Ben Mullin (@benmullin.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 8:49 AM

(Photo illustration:  Getty Images)

 

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Christopher Weyant, caglecartoons.com)

(Rob Rogers, Tinyview.com)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Kevin Siers, politicalcartoons.com)

(Kevin Kallaugher, Baltimore Sun)

(Joe Heller, hellertoon.com)

(Dave Whamond, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Walt Handelsman, The Times-Picayune, New Orleans)

(Marian Kamensky, caglecartoons.com, Austria)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Jesse Duquette, @misterjesseduquette)

(Hartley Lin, The New Yorker)

Trump's Circus Loses Another Clown (UPDATED)

 

Former Republican Congresscritter, SignalGate buffoon, and National "Security" Advisor Michael "Slow" Waltz is going to be spending more time with his family:

National security adviser Mike Waltz is expected to depart from the Trump administration in the coming days, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, the first major staff shakeup since the president took office in January.

Waltz’s job has been in limbo after it was made clear to him earlier this week that his time leading the National Security Council had come to an end, according to a source familiar with the matter. Alex Wong, the deputy national security adviser, and other national security advisers are also expected to depart, per multiple sources familiar with conversations, though timing is unclear.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer and friend of President Donald Trump, is under consideration to replace Waltz as national security adviser, that person said, though no decision has been made. Witkoff has led discussions with Russia and Iran as Trump looks for international deals. [Ed.:  Witkoff is another incompetent tyro, so nothing new here.]

Waltz had been on shaky ground – having lost most of his influence in the West Wing – after he inadvertently added a journalist to a messaging app group chat about highly sensitive military strikes.

Trump had considered firing him after the incident, but declined to do so because he didn’t want to provide his enemies a perceived victory, and he hoped to avoid the type of chaos that colored his first administration... [Ed.:  too late!]

By any measure, the incompetent DUI hire Secretary of Defense "Pancake Pete" Hegseth should have been gone long before now, too, but it's a regime whose leader is the world-class ignorant, moronic, incompetent Malignant Fascist, and blind loyalty is the only qualification for employment.

UPDATE:  To soften the landing and keep him away from his family a little longer, the MF plans to nominate "Slow Waltz" as UN Ambassador.

(Photo:  three stooges, with "Slow" Waltz on the right / via CNN)

Skeets Of The Day

 

Waltz canned (more soon).  Now, fire "Pancake Pete" Hegseth --

National security adviser Mike Waltz is expected to depart from the Trump administration in the coming days, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. cnn.it/3Ysm3U5

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— CNN (@cnn.com) May 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM

Yes, we need millions of workers in mind-numbing jobs, with high suicide rates --

“Why do we *let* other countries build the iPhone? Why don’t we have Americans working sweatshop jobs at long hours in dangerous conditions?”

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— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) April 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM

The tears of a clown. Go talk to your cult leader, Ronjohn -- 

Too bad, so sad

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— Bradley P. Moss (@bradmossesq.bsky.social) April 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM

Tariff charge shown on receipt for a shirt.  More of this please -- 

So a $90 button down shirt from Spier & Mackay will now bang you $276.39 after Trump’s tariffs…so much winning!

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— WuTangIsForTheChildren (@wutangforchildren.bsky.social) May 1, 2025 at 9:38 AM

Donny 2 Dolls' Tariff War on Children --

 

Donny 2 Dolls His Sopranos character name

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— Lawrence O'Donnell (@lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com) May 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM

The dangerous actions of worm brained RFK, Jr., part infinity --  

RFK Jr. ordered the NIH’s Integrated Research Facility in Frederick to stop all research on serious infectious diseases yesterday at 5:00 PM. They study pathogens like Ebola there. You may be familiar with it from The Hot Zone. www.wired.com/story/hhs-ni...

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— Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD (@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social) April 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM

 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. intends to shift the way vaccines are tested, a move that medical experts fear could limit access to vaccines and undermine the public’s trust in immunization depending on its implementation.

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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) April 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Anti-Trump protest in Michigan vs. his rally with empty seats behind him -- 

 

Big anti-Trump protest in Warren, Michigan. Seemed like more people than we saw in line for the Trump rally.

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— The Good Liars (@thegoodliars.bsky.social) April 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM

 

How embarrassing. Scores of empty seats at Trump’s tiny “100 day rally” in Michigan, and they’re right behind him.

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— Mike Sington (@mikesington.bsky.social) April 29, 2025 at 6:55 PM

 

This sounded better in the original German -- 

Stephen Miller: "Children will be taught to love America. Children will be taught to be patriots. Children will be taught civic values for schools that want federal taxpayer funding ... we're gonna make sure these funds are not being used to promote communist ideology."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) May 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM

But Russia holds all the cards, right?  Slava Ukraini! -- 

 

Russian Troops Rolled Into Battle In A Yellow School Bus

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— David Axe (@davidaxe.bsky.social) April 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM

Who doesn't need a smile? --

If you need a smile.. 😊

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— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden.bsky.social) April 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM

QOTD -- "Fight Like Our Democracy Depends On It"

 

"The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have done more damage to American democracy than anything else since the demise of Reconstruction. Mr. Trump is attempting to create a presidency unconstrained by Congress or the courts, in which he and his appointees can override written law when they want to. It is precisely the autocratic approach that this nation’s founders sought to prevent when writing the Constitution. [snip]

"The past 100 days have wounded this country, and there is no guarantee that we will fully recover. But nobody should give up. American democracy retreated before, during the post-Reconstruction era, Jim Crow, the Red Scare, Watergate and other times. It recovered from those periods not because its survival was inevitable but because Americans — including many who disagreed with one another on other subjects — fought bravely and smartly for this country’s ideals. That is our duty today." -- the first and last paragraphs of the editorial board of the New York Times' "Fight Like Our Democracy Depends on It" (gift link), book- ending an uncharacteristically direct and detailed indictment of the Malignant Loser's first 100 days of his second term, and their prescriptions for fighting back.  Those prescriptions, though at times gauzy and broad, will likely need re-calibration as the delusional Malignant Fascist continues to undercut our democracy regardless of tanking poll numbers and with a supine Republican Party/ cult unable to break ranks with him.

"He Ran Into His Own Chainsaw"

 

Financial advisor and investor Steve Rattner this morning on MSNBC, speaking about why it's not a good idea to bring in a megalomaniac businessman into Government to "fix things" (the same could be said for the Malignant Fascist):

"[Elon Musk] is another example of a businessman who's never set foot in Washington going to Washington and thinking they can fix things and finding out that this is not –– the federal government does not run like a private company. And he ran into his own chainsaw, in effect, and it's just another example of that on steroids, of course, because we've never seen anything quite like it."

Exactly what did the arrogant South Afrikaner fascist achieve with his so-called "DOGE" group, besides ruining thousands of careers both in and outside Government and derailing programs important to Americans and the world community? He promised $2 trillion in cuts, dialed that back to $1 trillion, and is now claiming $160 billion, which will be offset in part by the cost of closing down agencies, firing and rehiring Federal employees, disbursing paid leave and a loss of productivity, as noted by the Partnership for Public Service.

Meanwhile, the ketamine-abusing man child's car business is fading, as consumers are repelled by the chainsaw waving sociopath. Tesla's first quarter profits plunged 71%, as Tesla was forced to deny a report that the Tesla board of directors was searching for a CEO to replace Musk. 

 

Losing Faith

 

The 50th edition of the Harvard Youth Poll is out with some eye- opening findings:

• More than 4 in 10 young Americans under 30 say they're "barely getting by" financially, while just 16% report doing well or very well;
• Fewer than half feel a sense of community, with only 17% reporting deep social connection;
• Just 15% believe the country is heading in the right direction, and fewer than one-third approve of President Trump or either party in Congress;
• Traditional life goals are shifting, with only 48% of young Americans saying having children is important;
• Young people who became socially isolated during COVID report higher rates of depression, especially those who were entering high school or college during the pandemic;
• Support for U.S. involvement abroad remains low—and sharply divided by party;
• Only 19% trust the federal government to do the right thing most or all the time.

The poll has more details on 10 key findings, but we thought this shocking finding merited special attention by the establishment of the Democratic Party (click to enlarge):

"... When asked to compare the current state of America under President Trump to the Biden administration, just one in four (25%) 18- to 29-year-olds say the country is better off now. In contrast, 41% believe America was better off under President Biden. The rest are divided between those who see no difference (14%) and those who aren't sure (17%). 

"President Trump's job approval among young Americans stands at 31%—virtually unchanged from the 32% reported in Spring 2017 and the 29% recorded in Fall 2020. 

"While Trump's overall approval has remained stable, support for Democrats has eroded. The share of young Americans who approve of Congressional Democrats has dropped nineteen points since Spring 2017—from 42% to just 23%. In that same period, approval of Congressional Republicans has held steady, inching up slightly from 28% to 29%..." (our emphasis)

 

We'd venture an educated guess that the plummeting number for Congressional Democrats is due to their "leadership" turtling and "sending strongly worded letters" in the face of the Malignant Fascist's assault on America.

Two project leaders had this to say (our emphasis):

"This is a generation that's weathered pandemic isolation during formative years, entered an unstable economy, and faced skyrocketing housing and education costs—all while being told they're not resilient enough," said John Della Volpe, Director of Polling at the Institute of Politics. "What Gen Z needs isn't another lecture, but genuine recognition of their struggles and leaders willing to listen before they speak."

"Amid financial hardship and a devastating crisis of community, young Americans are increasingly disillusioned with the world as they struggle to find their place in it," said Jordan Schwartz, Student Chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project. "This generation doesn't expect politics to solve their problems, but as young Americans continue to lose faith in government institutions, the need for politicians to listen to and learn from young people has never been greater."

Do you hear that, Democratic Party establishment?  These and other findings in the poll point to the failure of the Democratic Party above all to understand (listen to) and respond to the deep social, financial, and emotional concerns of a group that is, literally, our future as a country.  We have the next generation of leaders rising in communities, in local government, in State legislatures and in national office who are of this generation.  We need them at the table and in the forefront now more than ever.