The Rick Smith Show 10-5-2026

New AP NORC poll confirms what we all already know.

The economy, not great, and the guy responsible for it, sitting in the White House.

This is a mind-blowing mo- moment because only 17% of people polled approve of Trump's handling of, of cost, of the cost of living.

Only 26% approve of his management of the economy, with 65% saying that his policies are responsible for the high prices, uh, m- more than anything else.

And look, uh, um, that's not a messaging problem.

That's a kitchen table crisis.

And you have Trump talking like the, about the economy like it's, like everything's great.

It's the greatest, hottest economy on the planet, evidently, according to him.

Um, I've yet to find the person in, in real life who thinks this is a good economy.

And understand, for, for most of us, the economy's as good as how far our paycheck takes us till the next payday.

And as rents continue to increase and as healthcare costs are just getting crazier and crazier, if your car breaks down, good luck on that.

Uh, every, every part of life is getting more expensive.

And understand, um, Trump was responsible for a lot of this, all of it actually.

His tariffs, look, I'm a tariff guy, but it's a strategic tool.

It's not a bludgeon.

So you can't pretend like foreign nations are gonna pay the tariff.

That's not how it works.

But if you remember, and now I go back, just throwing this out there...

Oh, by the way, uh, 64% said, uh, Trump's tariffs have gone too far.

68% disapprove of his trade negotiations.

Tho- those are huge numbers.

Those are important numbers.

But you go back to, you know, the, the 2024 campaign.

He was gonna end inflation on day one.

August 2024, he said, "Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down the prices for all goods." That has not happened.

New AP NORC poll confirms what we all already know.

The economy, not great, and the guy responsible for it, sitting in the White House.

This is a mind-blowing mo- moment because only 17% of people polled approve of Trump's handling of, of cost, of the cost of living.

Only 26% approve of his management of the economy, with 65% saying that his policies are responsible for the high prices, uh, m- more than anything else.

And look, uh, um, that's not a messaging problem.

That's a kitchen table crisis.

And you have Trump talking like the, about the economy like it's, like everything's great.

It's the greatest, hottest economy on the planet, evidently, according to him.

Um, I've yet to find the person in, in real life who thinks this is a good economy.

And understand, for, for most of us, the economy's as good as how far our paycheck takes us till the next payday.

And as rents continue to increase and as healthcare costs are just getting crazier and crazier, if your car breaks down, good luck on that.

Uh, every, every part of life is getting more expensive.

And understand, um, Trump was responsible for a lot of this, all of it actually.

His tariffs, look, I'm a tariff guy, but it's a strategic tool.

It's not a bludgeon.

So you can't pretend like foreign nations are gonna pay the tariff.

That's not how it works.

But if you remember, and now I go back, just throwing this out there...

Oh, by the way, uh, 64% said, uh, Trump's tariffs have gone too far.

68% disapprove of his trade negotiations.

Tho- those are huge numbers.

Those are important numbers.

But you go back to, you know, the, the 2024 campaign.

He was gonna end inflation on day one.

August 2024, he said, "Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down the prices for all goods." That has not happened.