Jan. 21, 2026
Permission to republish original opeds and cartoons granted.
Americans Say Anti-ICE Protests Have Gone Too Far And Trust Trump And Republicans On Economy And Immigration
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A strong majority of Americans say the anti-ICE protests led by extremist groups have gone too far according to the Economist/YouGov data. 42 percent of Americans say the protests have gone too far, while 29 percent say the protests have not gone far enough and 29 percent say the protests have been about right. Moderates, independents, and even college-graduates — who tend to lean against President Trump’s policies — all agree the anti-ICE protests have gone too far. Moderates say by six points, 33 percent to 27 percent, the protests have gone too far, while independents say so by three points, 35 percent to 32 percent. Those with a college degree say the anti-ICE protests have gone too far by ten points, 41 percent to 31 percent. While a portion of voters say the methods used by ICE have gone too far, voters still prefer the GOP’s leadership on tackling immigration by double digits. 61 percent of voters say ICE’s tactics are too tough, but 24 say the agency’s tactics are about right and 15 percent say ICE’s tactics are not tough enough. Half of voters say they disapprove of “what Trump wants to accomplish” through deportation, but half of voters approve of what President Trump wants to accomplish. The survey finds voters say by 10 points, 39 percent to 29 percent, that President Trump and Republicans have the better approach to immigration compared to Democrats. Independents say the GOP has the better approach by two points, 29 percent to 27 percent.
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Bring Up The SAVE Act In The Senate And Vote, One Way Or Another
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Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano: “Bring up the SAVE Act and vote already. If Democrats filibuster it, then somebody should motion to override the rules and test that, putting everyone on the record as voters have a right to know where every member stands, especially after the President has already called for the Senate to act on a rules change. And then get on to the second budget reconciliation bill so that 2026 is not a do-nothing year for Congressional Republicans.”
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Americans Say Anti-ICE Protests Have Gone Too Far And Trust Trump And Republicans On Economy And Immigration
By Manzanita Miller
Despite concerns about the speed of the economic recovery and increasing agitation against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Americans trust President Donald Trump and Republicans over Democrats to handle major issues including the economy and immigration. Voters also believe anti-ICE activists have gone too far in opposing the agency by thirteen points according to a new survey.
A Morning Consult survey from Jan. 16-18 shows Republicans leading Democrats on all major issues except healthcare, a warning sign for Democrats heading into the midterms. According to the survey, Republicans lead by double-digits on the top issues to voters, with voters trusting the GOP more on immigration (+9), national security (+9), trade (+6), foreign policy (+4), national debt (+4), the economy (+3), and taxes (+3). The only major issues Democrats lead on are healthcare (+13) and Medicare and Social Security (+13). Democrats also lead on abortion (+18) and LGBTQ+ rights (+28), but these issues tend to rank as significantly lower priorities for voters.
These findings are echoed in an Economist/YouGov survey released Jan. 16. The survey finds that despite criticism of President Trump and the GOP from the mainstream media and activists, Americans trust Republicans over Democrats when it comes to handling major issues. Even traditionally Democrat-leaning voters — including college-educated voters and Hispanics — are split on whether to trust Democrats or the GOP. The survey shows Americans largely agree that anti-ICE activists have gone too far.
A strong majority of Americans say the anti-ICE protests led by extremist groups have gone too far according to the Economist/YouGov data. 42 percent of Americans say the protests have gone too far, while 29 percent say the protests have not gone far enough and 29 percent say the protests have been about right. Moderates, independents, and even college-graduates — who tend to lean against President Trump’s policies — all agree the anti-ICE protests have gone too far. Moderates say by six points, 33 percent to 27 percent, the protests have gone too far, while independents say so by three points, 35 percent to 32 percent. Those with a college degree say the anti-ICE protests have gone too far by ten points, 41 percent to 31 percent.
While a portion of voters say the methods used by ICE have gone too far, voters still prefer the GOP’s leadership on tackling immigration by double digits. 61 percent of voters say ICE’s tactics are too tough, but 24 say the agency’s tactics are about right and 15 percent say ICE’s tactics are not tough enough. Half of voters say they disapprove of “what Trump wants to accomplish” through deportation, but half of voters approve of what President Trump wants to accomplish.
The survey finds voters say by 10 points, 39 percent to 29 percent, that President Trump and Republicans have the better approach to immigration compared to Democrats. Independents say the GOP has the better approach by two points, 29 percent to 27 percent.
While non-college voters prefer President Donald Trump and the GOP’s approach to immigration by 36 points, 54 percent to 18 percent, even college-educated voters are split on whether to side with Democrats. College-educated voters — who typically oppose President Trump — are split on the issue. 38 percent of college-educated voters say President Trump and the GOP have a better approach to immigration, and 38 percent say Democrats do. Hispanics are also split evenly, with 29 percent siding with President Trump and the GOP, while 29 percent side with Democrats. These numbers prove that despite fearmongering from activists, President Trump’s immigration policies are gaining support from swing voters, and a majority of Americans believe the GOP has the better approach to border security.
Economic perception appears to be a factor driving down President Trump’s approval rating, with voters saying by 24 points, 59 percent to 35 percent, the economy is very or fairly bad. Just 35 percent of Americans believe the economy is very or fairly good. Voters cite food prices (89 percent), gas process (65 percent), the housing market (60 percent), and national job reports (57 percent) as areas they are using to evaluate the economy.
Despite voters being critical of the speed of the economic recovery under President Trump, voters do not say they want to hand the reins back to Democrats in 2026. They survey shows voters say President Donald Trump and Republicans have the better approach to economic policy compared to Democrats by six points, 33 percent to 27 percent.
Voters may criticize various aspects of the Trump Administration’s execution, but on crucial issues, voters still trust Trump and the GOP over Democrats. In addition, voters acknowledge that despite facing harsher backlash than he did in his first term, President Donald Trump has accomplished more this term. A Jan. 19 YouGov survey reveals voters say 37 percent to 33 percent that President Trump has accomplished more this term compared to his first term. This comes as voters admit in another Jan. 19 survey that opposition to President Trump has been stronger this term than it was in his first term. Americans say opposition to President Trump has been stronger compared to his first term by 31 percentage points, 48 percent to 17 percent.
While Democrats currently hold a 4.4 percentage-point lead in the latest generic congressional ballot average from Real Clear Polling, is it worth admitting that voters do not appear to trust the Democratic Party on a majority of the issues facing the country. In addition, despite a Democrat hailstorm against President Donald Trump in his second term, the American people largely prefer Trump and the GOP’s approach to major issues and believe Trump has accomplished more this term despite stronger opposition.
Manzanita Miller is the senior political analyst at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.
To view online: https://dailytorch.com/2026/01/americans-say-anti-ice-protests-have-gone-too-far-and-trust-trump-and-republicans-on-economy-and-immigration/
Video: HAKEEM’S HAVOC: U.S. Rep. Jeffries’ Unpopular Leadership With Possible Government Shutdown Looming
To view online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFFxQLSY06k
Bring Up The SAVE Act In The Senate And Vote, One Way Or Another
Jan. 21, 2026, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement urging Senate Republicans to vote on the SAVE Act even if they don’t have the votes to overcome a filibuster:
“If Senate Republicans are unwilling to abolish the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, then it will require 60 votes. In 100+ years of the filibuster, the GOP has never had a filibuster-proof majority and so, even when in power with a trifecta, can never pass anything but bipartisan bills and since the Budget Control Act, budget reconciliation bills. That's the so-called ‘uniparty’ voters occasionally complain about. It stops Democratic bills, too, so everyone should recall back to 2022 when Democrats explicitly tried to abolish the filibuster and it failed, thank goodness. The way the President is framing this right now, Republicans are in a race against time to abolish the filibuster and to secure elections with the SAVE Act before Democrats win a trifecta again in 2028 or 2032 — every time Democrats win the Presidency they usually win the trifecta going back a century.
“I've always thought that changes to Senate rules should be done by the rules requiring two-thirds of the Senate: ‘on a measure or motion to amend the Senate rules… [a] necessary affirmative vote shall be two-thirds of the Senators present and voting.’ But ever since both parties began confirming nominees simply by overriding the rules on simple majorities, and then Democrats attempted to just eliminate the filibuster by the same means in 2022, reciprocal partisan escalation in the Senate has rendered the question down to who’s willing to make the power grab first. In this context, it is interesting then that the Senate GOP definitely lacks the votes to overturn the filibuster (seems 20+ are opposed). But once Democrats ‘cross the Rubicon’ first on the filibuster they'll apparently be fine with bare majorities for legislation. In other words, they don't want to get blamed but they'll be ok with blaming the other side when Democrats finally get around to abolishing the filibuster the next time they have the trifecta, and only then take full advantage of the rules change after they next win the trifecta, which might not happen with Puerto Rico and D.C. becoming states, packing the Senate, or voter ID being banned nationwide.
“So, for the SAVE Act, the options to pass the SAVE Act or to change the rules appear to be: 1) try to find about 10 Democrats to support some version of a SAVE Act; 2) put the SAVE Act up for a vote and then when it’s filibustered a member should make a motion to override the rules and it put it up for a vote so everyone's on the record even though everyone thinks the motion would fail, allowing the American people to at least point out potential Democratic hypocrisy on changing filibuster rules, creating political predicate to blame them later when they do it anyway; or 3) bring up a motion to change Senate rules by the rules, a two-thirds vote, to change the standing rules of the Senate and just make it about that, again creating predicate to blame Democrats later when they do it anyway.
“Democrats have already said they want to change the rules, and Senators Manchin and Sinema are gone now so the Democratic caucus are presumably just members who say they want a simple majority Senate, and maybe half the Republicans want that, too. Ok, that's more than enough to change Senate rules. If so, just vote on the rules change and let the will of the Senate be recognized whatever that is, and if it passes get back to doing things by the rules.
“It's the same process whether or not we're talking about legislation or a rules change. The bill or rules change resolution gets introduced and then placed on the Senate calendar. Unless the majority leader motions for unanimous consent to get it on the floor, triggering cloture rules, it just sits there and dies. So, whether it's the SAVE Act or a resolution to amend Senate rules, the one person that controls that is Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He might be thinking ‘not on my watch’ and that's fine. Lacking the votes, maybe Republicans would be better off figuring out their next budget reconciliation bill anyway. Nobody can pass any partisan legislation any other way, and bipartisan bills occasionally get to the President's desk anyway, and so why waste any more time?
“Bring up the SAVE Act and vote already. If Democrats filibuster it, then somebody should motion to override the rules and test that, putting everyone on the record as voters have a right to know where every member stands, especially after the President has already called for the Senate to act on a rules change. And then get on to the second budget reconciliation bill so that 2026 is not a do-nothing year for Congressional Republicans.”
To view online: https://getliberty.org/2026/01/bring-up-the-save-act-in-the-senate-and-vote-one-way-or-another/
