Sen. Murphy Sounds Alarm: Democrats’ Approval Tanks as Trump Threatens Democracy

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., didn’t mince words on the Interesting Times podcast, laying bare why the Democratic Party’s approval ratings are, in his words, "in the toilet." The public, he argues, is fed up with how Democrats have fumbled their response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive first 100 days in his second term. Murphy told host Ross Douthat that many assumed Trump 2.0 would be a repeat of his first term—big talk, little action. They were wrong.

"The public’s dissatisfaction is palpable," Murphy said, pointing to the party’s failure to counter Trump’s swift moves. He warned that Democrats are dangerously out of touch, with some still treating this as politics-as-usual. "Democracy itself is at stake," he stressed, hinting at a chilling possibility: if Democrats don’t step up, there may not even be a competitive election in 2026.

Murphy’s critique cuts deep. He admitted the party’s messaging lacks energy and credibility, especially on defending democracy. "People didn’t believe Trump would follow through on his dictator talk," he said, noting voters were swayed by promises of lower prices instead. To turn the tide, Murphy urged Democrats to flood social media with daily outrage and push bold reforms, like campaign finance overhaul and cracking down on the lobbyist-Congress revolving door.

Looking ahead to 2026, Murphy’s not optimistic. If the party’s "five-alarm urgent" faction doesn’t prevail, he fears Democrats could face an electoral wipeout—or worse. His call to action? Stop playing nice and start fighting like democracy depends on it. Because, he insists, it does.