POLL: Heartland Voters Embrace Trump’s Early Actions
On a wide range of issues, voters in the consummate battleground state of Wisconsin report wide approval of Trump’s aggressive policy agenda, just weeks into his presidency.
This America First support stands in stark contrast to the continued heartland rejection of Democratic policies generally, and Biden specifically.
On overall job approval, independent voters give Trump very strong marks, with 53% approving and 35% disapproving. Looking at the overall voter universe, Wisconsin voters approve of Trump by a +3% margin, 48-45%. Those numbers represent big improvements over Trump’s pre-election margins in the Badger State.
That Wisconsin pro-Trump bump finds validation in the national surveys as well, with Trump hitting personal all-time highs in the RealClear Politics averages for both favorability and job approval. By contrast, Joe Biden leaves office with dismal ratings that tanked into the last months of his White House tenure. Wisconsin voters give him a -15% approval rating, underwater 40-55%. Among younger voters aged 35—60, Biden is underwater -25%, with only 35% approval and a whopping 60% disapprove.
This survey can be found here, and questioned over 1000 registered voters in Wisconsin, reaching a sample universe that split Trump 50% vs. Kamala Harris 49% in their ballot choice for last November, right in line with actual vote results. The survey was conducted by TIPP Insights for my populist right advocacy firm, the League of American Workers.
Wisconsin stands as a particularly useful state to poll, because it was the tightest of the swing states, with Trump prevailing by just 29,000 votes out of over 3.3 million cast there. That razor-thin margin has become the historic norm for Wisconsin, with the last 3 presidential elections there being decided by fewer than 30,000 votes.
Digging into the poll crosstabs, here are the three most important policy issues where Trump earns widespread heartland support:
- Immigration – by a wide +23% margin, Wisconsin voters support mass deportation, 59-36%. Very notably, Hispanic citizens also support this crackdown on illegal immigration, and by a nearly identical margin – 59-38% – approve of Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda. Segmenting the poll into income groups, the strongest support for deportations is found among workers with modest incomes, under $50,000 annually.
- DOGE – despite the howls of permanent Washington and constant anti-DOGE propaganda from the biased legacy media, voters strongly back the aggressive reforms of the Department of Government Efficiency. Overall approval for DOGE is 57-35% in Wisconsin, and an even better 63-28% among young voters aged 25-44 years old. Incredibly, even 27% of Kamala Harris voters back the efforts of Elon Musk and his team.
- Economy – like voters all over America, Wisconsinites report widespread anxiety about the material financial harms inflicted upon them by Joe Biden, but also concurrently embrace a cautious newfound optimism about the future under Donald Trump and JD Vance. When asked about Bidenomics, a staggering 60% said it “hurt their family” and only 29% said it “helped.” But now, by a +3% margin, voters say they are more confident about the economy since the election. Among the youngest voters, age 18-24 years old, economic confidence vaults higher since Trump’s win, by a wide 56-29% spread.
In addition to those national issues, Wisconsin voters will decide an incredibly competitive state supreme court race on April 1, one that has profound national implications. Right now, conservative candidate (the race is officially non-partisan) Brad Schimel leads liberal candidate Susan Crawford 45-43% among voters likely to cast a ballot on April 1. Reflecting national trends, Schimel does very well among minorities, with a commanding +9% lead among registered black and Hispanic voters.
In the recent past, Susan Crawford has called voter identification rules “draconian.” The sensible citizens of Wisconsin firmly disagree. This poll shows overwhelming support for voter ID requirements, 87-9%.
Since a voter ID referendum is also on the ballot for April 1, and many Democrat activists look for the Supreme Court to invalidate any voter ID requirements, this issue could matter materially not just for Wisconsin, but for the whole country, given its national importance. In addition, Democratic activists in Wisconsin, backed by out-of-state billionaire Reid Hoffman, have made it crystal clear that they believe electing Crawford to the court can result in The Democrats picking up “two additional US House seats.”
The logical inference there is that an activist, partisan Wisconsin supreme court could redraw contested districts, just as that court already did for the state legislature. As such, with a razor-thin GOP majority in the US House, such radical overreach in Wisconsin from liberal justices could prove decisive for control of the House in Washington.
So, this survey should serve to embolden President Trump and his supporters to continue with his aggressive reform agenda. The heartland loves it, even if the Beltway Brahmins do not. It should also motivate patriots in Wisconsin, and across America, to take strong action in the key April 1 election there.
Steve Cortes was former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, former commentator for Fox News and CNN, and president of the League of American Workers, a populist right pro-laborer advocacy group.
This article was published by American Greatness.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Israel Looks To Extend Phase One Of Gaza Truce As Long-Term Deal Proves Elusive - Al Arabiya
Israel is considering an extension of the 42-day truce in Gaza as it seeks to bring home the remaining 63 hostages while putting off agreement on the future of the enclave for now, Israeli officials said.
The initial phase of the ceasefire deal is due to end on Saturday, and it remains unclear what will follow. If no agreement is reached by Friday, officials expect either a return to fighting or a freeze in the current situation where the truce would continue but hostages would not return. Israel may block the entry of aid into Gaza.
2. Israeli Warplanes Strike South Of Damascus, Security Sources And TV Say - Al Arabiya
Israeli planes struck the town of Kisweh, a Syrian security source and Syria TV said. The security source said a military site was targeted, without providing further details.
The Israeli military said in a statement later that it attacked military targets in southern Syria, including headquarters and sites, which it said contained weapons.
3. U.S., Ukraine Agree To Terms Of Critical Minerals Deal - TIPP Insights
The U.S. and Ukraine have agreed on a major minerals deal central to Kyiv’s push to win Washington’s support as President Donald Trump seeks to end the war with Russia.
4. Russia Offers Own Rare-Minerals Deal To U.S., Including Deposits In Occupied Ukraine - UPI
Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to undercut U.S.-Ukraine negotiations over a critical minerals-sharing agreement, offering an alternate supply deal for valuable elements, including material from occupied parts of Ukraine.
Putin told state media that Russia is ready to work with partners, including the Americans, to exploit its vast untapped deposits of rare-earth metals. Putin called Russia's "new territories," referring to regions of eastern Ukraine that Russia began to occupy in 2014 and thought to contain the bulk of Ukraine's reserves of critical minerals.
5. Trump Says Zelenskyy Set To Visit U.S. For 'Very Big Deal' - D.W.
President Donald Trump said he expected Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Washington on Friday to sign a "very big deal."
It comes as sources confirmed to several news agencies that Ukraine and the United States have agreed on a draft broad minerals deal, which may ease recent tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy.
6. Russia 'Reactivates' Secret Soviet-Era Submarine Base In Occupied Ukraine - RFE/RL
In a video posted on Telegram in early February, two floating barriers are shown at the entrance to the natural harbor at Balaklava in Russian-held Crimea.
Pro-Ukrainian activists claim the barriers, which can close the harbor to marine drones, are the latest evidence that a long-mothballed submarine base, once known as Object 825 GTS, is being returned to service. Balaklava harbor was demilitarized by Ukraine in 2008, then had extensive marina facilities for pleasure craft built beginning in 2016 while under Russian control.
7. UK, Allies Sanction North Korean Officials Linked To Russia Troop Deployment - RFA
The British foreign office announced sanctions against five North Korean defense officials to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The U.K. added that it was also sanctioning producers and suppliers of machine tools, electronics, and dual-use goods, including microprocessors used in weapons systems. Britain’s Commonwealth allies, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, joined in imposing sanctions on Russia and people and entities promoting military cooperation between it and North Korea.
8. China Says Taiwan Seeks To Give Away Chip Industry To U.S. - Reuters
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said, without offering evidence, that people in Taiwan were concerned TSMC could become "United States Semiconductor Manufacturing Co."
U.S. media have said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier to companies such as Apple and Nvidia, has been in talks for a stake in Intel.
9. Taiwan Detains China-Linked Cargo Ship Over Severed Undersea Cable - RFA
Taiwan’s coast guard detained a cargo ship and its Chinese crew after an undersea cable in the Taiwan Strait was damaged on Tuesday, saying it cannot rule out the possibility it was a deliberate “gray zone” act.
Gray zone activities are covert, ambiguous, and low-intensity tactics used to achieve strategic goals without provoking open warfare, something Taiwan has frequently said China was employing around the self-ruled island.
10. China Needs $3 Trillion Local Debt Solution, Top Economist Says - Bloomberg
The central government should take on at least 20 trillion yuan ($2.8 trillion) worth of local sovereign debt, David Li Daokui, an economics professor at Tsinghua University and a regular adviser on policy to Beijing, said in an interview.
He said the debt relief measures policymakers rolled out late last year aren’t strong enough. Li estimates regional authorities owe 10 trillion yuan in arrears to contractors and civil servants, equivalent to 7% of China’s gross domestic product last year.
11. Hope And Fear In Iran As Russia's Lavrov Visits Tehran - RFE/RL
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, said Tehran would not bow to U.S. pressure a day after Washington imposed new sanctions on Iran's oil industry.
Analysts said the meeting in Tehran could be the Kremlin checking in to ensure Iran's stance on key issues is in line with Moscow's—especially regarding relations with Washington—or that Lavrov could be delivering a message from the Saudi Arabian talks.
12. Iran Rules Out ‘Direct Talks’ With U.S. On Nuclear Issue - Al Arabiya
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the possibility of direct negotiations with the United States on his country’s nuclear program.
His remarks came a day after Washington announced fresh sanctions on Tehran targeting more than 30 vessels and people, including the head of the national oil company, accused of involvement in brokering the sale and shipment of Iranian oil.
13. Britain To Boost Defense Spending Amid Russia Threat - TIPP Insights
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will increase annual defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level last seen just after the Cold War.
14. Search Renews For Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 - UPI
British maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity has renewed its efforts to locate the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 more than 10 years after it disappeared from radar screens with 239 aboard.
Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the media that Ocean Infinity has already deployed autonomous submersibles to search an area about 1,200 miles northwest of Perth, Australia. The current search contract is for 18 months, and if the aircraft is located, Ocean Infinity would be paid $70 million.
15. Nvidia Q4 Earnings Report Set For Wednesday As Tariff, Export Control Threats Loom - Yahoo Finance
Analysts and investors will be focused on how much revenue the company generated via its powerful Blackwell line of chips.
They would also be looking for insights into how the AI giant is navigating the looming threat of tariffs and the potential for further export controls on shipments of its processors to China.
According to consensus estimates via Bloomberg, Wall Street is anticipating quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $0.84 on revenue of $38.2 billion. That would represent a 63% increase in EPS and a 73% jump in revenue versus the same period last year. While any other company would gladly take that kind of growth, investors may see it as a letdown.
16. U.S. Bitcoin ETFs See Record Daily Outflow Of Over $930M As Carry Trades Lose Shine To The 10-Year Treasury Note - CoinDesk
According to data tracked by SoSoValue, the 11 spot ETFs registered a cumulative net outflow of $937.78 million on Tuesday, the most significant single-day redemption since the funds began trading in January 2024.
The weakening appetite for these ETFs could be attributed to the decline in the premium in the CME-listed bitcoin futures, which has dented the appeal of the cash and carry arbitrage. Moreover, these BTC and ETH carry trades now offer barely more than the U.S. 10-year Treasury note, which offered a yield of 4.32% at press time.
17. Texas Measles Outbreak Grows To 124 Cases - UPI Health
A Texas measles outbreak has doubled in the last week to 124 cases, state health officials said.
State health officials say the virus can survive in the air for up to two hours. Because symptoms can begin seven to 21 days after exposure, they were sharing the information so unvaccinated people who also visited those locations could monitor their conditions.