Trump's First 100 Days

Data & Dissent: The Facts Creators Need to Fight Back

Welcome back to our final edition of Data & Dissent (for now… 👀), a bi-weekly newsletter from Haley Lickstein, Navigator Research, and Social Currant—designed to help creators cut through the chaos of the first 100 days of the Trump Administration.

We’re officially 100 days into the Trump Administration (again), and Navigator recently dropped a new report that says what many of us are already feeling: 

People are anxious, exhausted, and angry—and even some Trump voters are starting to feel regretful they voted for him.

Let’s break it down and, more importantly, talk about how to bring this to life in your content.

First 100 Days:

The big takeaway? Most Americans say Trump’s first 100 days have been more bad than good—by a 15-point margin.

Here’s what the numbers say:

• Just 25% of Americans say they’re better off now than they were 100 days ago.

• 42% say they’re worse off.

• Only 13% of independents approve of Trump’s handling of the economy (!!).

• And even 27% of Trump voters say they’re disappointed in him—or wish they voted differently.

In recent focus groups, Navigator took the time to speak with Trump voters from swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania and here is what they had to say: 

• “Did I really vote for this guy?” – PA woman, independent voter

• “I just wasted my vote at this point because I’m not happy... I’m scared we’re going to become a dictatorship.” – MI man, independent

The most interesting data to me is how Trump’s supposed strong suit – the economy, which arguably won him the election – has now become a weak spot. Comparatively, 52 percent of Americans cited the state of the national economy as more of a reason to vote for Trump in the 2024 election than for Kamala Harris.The economy now under Trump? Not such a strong suit anymore… 

Let’s talk money—because so is everyone else. Trump’s approval on the economy is the lowest ever in Navigator’s tracking.

• On inflation and cost of living, he’s down 29 points since taking office in January.

• On tariffs? 26 points down.

Everyone is feeling the changes in the economy and Trump’s promises are not being fulfilled to make life more affordable for everyday Americans. 

People think Trump is out of control—and only helping the rich. 

Over half of Americans (53%) say Trump is focused on the wrong things. And voters are using words like:

• “chaotic”

• “irresponsible”

• “only cares about the rich”

• “It’s like he’s running the country like a reality TV show. Every decision is based on ratings.” – MI voter

What I have learned from these first 100 days and this newsletter with you is that data can drive dissent. The cracks are showing, the chaos is breaking through—and people across the political spectrum are feeling it. This is your moment to meet them where they are, and use real stories + trusted data to cut through the noise.

You can find the full Navigator report on the first 100 days here, and some great explainer content from JM Monte Black, Elizabeth Booker Houston, Sylvia Salazar, and Sander Jennings.

Stay loud and as always Navigator Research and Social Currant are here to help you make your content data driven, digestible, and impactful for your audiences. If you’re interested in learning more about Navigator’s data, their creator work, or would like to collab, fill out our form here.  

Before you go, make sure to follow Navigator on Instagram!