Trump’s approval rating is not suddenly 49%. That’s an outlier poll, not in line at all with the averages.
TV pundits love to drum up ratings by touting outlier polls for shock value.
The polling averages are usually proven accurate. The media usually misrepresents the polls.
TV pundits love to drum up ratings by touting outlier polls for shock value.
The polling averages are usually proven accurate. The media usually misrepresents the polls.
MSNBC and CNN pundits will tout Trump’s lowest approval rating poll number one week, then his highest number the next week, then his lowest number again the week after that. All while ignoring the polling averages, which haven’t moved at all.
This is not in any way unique to Trump coverage. Cable news networks have always done this stuff. The 24 hour news cycle sometimes forces them to create the appearance of news or movement on a given front when there isn’t any.
If you’re going to watch MSNBC or CNN all day and take it at face value, at least keep in mind that what you’re hearing on TV about the polls is nearly always being reported incorrectly. Just filter out any polling analysis as you go.
Polls are highly useful. Unfortunately, because cable news feeds you outlier polls for shock value, and those polls later prove wrong, many of you mistakenly conclude that the polls tend to be wrong. But even in 2016, final polling averages were corrrct within margin of error.
