Trump still has 33% support - why?

Summary of a YouTube talk by Dr David Benjamin MD – political commentator

There are five very different reasons why 55 million people approve of Trump

1. They are getting exactly what they want

• Rich people or business owners. They love Trump's tax breaks and regulatory policies because those policies help them keep or make more money.
• Immigration. They wanted tougher enforcement and more deportations. It's exactly what they voted for and it's exactly what Trump gave them and keeps giving them.
• Evangelical Christians. He's delivering on abortion, conservative judges, and the religious issues they care about. It does not matter to them that Trump is not remotely Christ-like.
• The culture war - DEI (Diversity, Equality Inclusion), transgender issues, guns, crime. Trump is fighting the fights that they want him to fight.

Trump can be a terrible president and a terrible person with all the chaos, the scandals and corruption but none of that really matters and probably never will. He's giving them what they want.

2. It hasn't happened to them yet

But Trump's policies are seriously affecting some of his followers but not all:

• The farmers who supported Trump and are now getting squeezed by record diesel prices and tariffs.
• MAGA cattle ranchers who are now furious with Trump about importing more Argentinian beef.
• Businesses and tourism that have strong links with Canada (not included in the talk)
• Immigration. There are people in MAGA who supported ICE until someone close to them was deported.

But for a lot of the remaining 33%, until it becomes personal, they will remain Trump supporters.

3. They can't admit they were wrong

If Trump is wrong it means admitting they were wrong, too. These are people:

• who were more deeply immersed in the Trump cult.
• who voted for him three times, defended him for years,
• argued with friends and family, posted about him, wore the MAGA hat
• maybe lost relationships over him.

To admit, I was wrong about Trump and other people were right comes with a large psychological price. It’s easier to find excuses than admitting that their own hero failed. 

Pride won't let them admit they were wrong.

4. They are brainwashed

It's almost impossible to overstate the power and influence of the MAGA media bubble. 

Day after day, they're hearing:

• the same stories, the same explanations, the same warnings, the same enemies. From:
• television, podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter (X). Reinforced by:
• their friends, their family, their church, their community

It's easier to fool someone than to convince them they've been fooled.

• Everyone else is lying - TV news, social media, friends & family
• Facts don't reach them.
  No information can get inside the bubble that challenges their beliefs
• Complex problems are made simple
  Black or white, good or bad, accept or reject. Trump patriots v Democrat traitors

5. Racism and White Nationalism

MAGA has provided a political home where racists and white nationalists feel they belong. MAGA offers policies, and a community where these attitudes are acceptable.
For some Trump supporters, racial attitudes and concerns about America becoming less white are a part of their beliefs and value system, and also a part of what attracts them to MAGA.

Conclusion

There probably isn't one thing that Trump can do that would suddenly make all of MAGA leave him, no matter how bad it is. 

Some may never reconsider what they believe. 

But some will change their minds
American democracy depends on it.

Link to Video

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WOKE – the right to be gay

The human right to same sex relationships has been a centuries long struggle but the abuse continues, ask Wes Streeting.

Following his appointment of the UK's first gay Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting has received terribel online abuse.

Homosexuality has been around as long as humans have been around. But even before homo sapiens appeared on the planet animals were having same sex relationships. A 2019 review found same-sex sexual behaviour in more than 1,500 animal species. It has been particularly well documented in mammals and birds. In some animals it is an occasional behaviour, while in others, individuals can show a long-term or preferential attraction to members of the same sex - domestic rams are one of the better-studied examples.

Although same sex relationships have had a degree of acceptance in some societies throughout human history they have usually been condemned, often on religious grounds.

In England gay sex was punishable by death until as recently as 1861, the last victims being two men hanged in 1835.

In 1895 Oscar Wilde was sent to prison on the charge of gross indecency. Alan Turning of Bletchley Park fame was convicted of the same charge in 1952 but escaped a prison sentence by accepting treatment of libido reducing drugs. He committed suicide in 1954.

In 1957 The Wolfenden Report recommended decriminalisation, but it took another 10 years before the 1967 Sexual Offences Act allowed gay relationships for those over 21 in private.

The rise of AIDS in the1980’s and the Thatcher government bringing in Section 28 banning local authority schools from educating (“promoting”) about same sex relationships intensified the antagonism towards gay men.

Section 28 had long‑lasting effects: young people grew up without support, bullying increased, youth groups were shut down. It is widely regarded today as a deeply harmful policy.

Section 28 was finally repealed in 2003 and was followed a year later by the Civil partnership Act. Finally in 2013 same sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales.

So, this long, long struggle for people to love who they please is finally over. Not a bit of it.

Matthew Parris wrote in The Times recently:

“Abuse of Wes Streeting proves that intolerance persists.” Streeting, the first openly gay defence secretary, reported he had received an unbelievable volume of online homophobic abuse since his appointment. Parris, a gay man himself, who was an MP when Thatcher was PM says, gay men of his generation have had to face abuse all their lives and particularly in the Thatcher era in 1988 when Section 28 was introduced into a local government bill:

A local authority shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality; nor promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.

Paris writes about the situation now:

“Being gay is officially fine. John Major broke decades-thick ice by reducing the age of gay male consent to 18. Tony Blair reduced it further and introduced civil partnerships. David Cameron gave us marriage.

He says that despite all the changes there remains an undercurrent of abuse.

Streeting is right to notice the weather in parts of social media, because what’s anonymous is part of the collective unconscious of a nation.

Paris writes: legislation has done all it can, but you cannot legislate against abuse.

It is 69 years since the Wolfenden opened the door in England and Wales for the acceptance of same sex relationships, yet some still oppose that right - far too Woke for them.

Trans Rights

The Trans human rights struggle has now become the centre of gender politics. Expect decades to pass before we as a society reach any unified consensus on all the issues involved. This is not to be dismissed as “woke” but is yet another step along the road of human rights.

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FARAGE MUST THINK UK VOTERS ARE FOOLS

Spanish Moroccan Border Crisis August 2026

When thousands of Moroccans crossed the border into Cueta, a Spanish town on the North African coast Nigel Farage jumped at another chance to spread anger, fear and division with a video on YouTube and a doomsday warning: IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP. 

He claimed Spain was opening its doors to thousands of illegal immigrants and allowing them to stay. He also reminded us of his notorious and disgusting Brexit poster – Breaking Point, when he also claimed Turkey would soon be joining the EU and millions of Turkish people would be invading the UK. In the video he boasted only a Reform government would prevent a hoard of Moroccan men, “lots of them dangerous” coming to the UK. He then cast himself as the great leader in the battle for the future of our civilisation.

Reform went completely over the top in trying to milk this crisis and showed they do not have either the calm intelligence, the statesmanship or the moral values to govern the UK.

• Robert Jenrick weighed in with “Ceuta is our future if we don’t secure our border.”
• Reform said it would launch “the largest military operation in the Channel since World War Two” to intercept all small boats and prevent any unauthorised vessel from reaching UK shores. Intercept and return all migrant boats to France or Belgium. 
• Create a joint military command for border enforcement 
• Emergency legislation to expand military powers 

If these statements do not send a chill down your spine then you need to read some history.

Under Trump the USA is actively working for the break up of the EU by funding far right parties.

Vice-President Vance posted a link to a Fox News segment that incorrectly described the migrants arriving in “Northern Spain” rather than Northern Africa. “Thank God,” he wrote, “@POTUS was elected and our country’s border no longer looks like this.” Others made more specific threats. Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), declared that “Germany is the likely destination.”

Farage's doomsday video and Reform's hysteria should be a wake-up call to UK voters

Farage is playing voters for fools. We are NOT as he claims, in a fight to save our civilisation. We don't need the army or navy to step in. We do not need emergency powers to repel an invasion. The UK is in a more serious fight; a fight to save democracy; a fight to save our country as a place of decency, tolerance, and the rule of law.

Here are some facts about that border incident

• The Spanish government has granted the right to seek citizenship for illegal migrants who entered Spain before Jan 1st. NOT open borders. (Spain's population is facing rapid decline so this policy may be connected with that)
• The crisis was ignited by false rumours on social media – posts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were saying migrants would be welcomed to Spain.
• Viral posts falsely claimed that the border between Morocco and Ceuta was completely opening up and that Europe was suddenly "within reach". 
• Cueta is NOT a gateway into the EU or even to mainland Spain. Though part of Spain it is NOT included in the Schengan Area. Those Moroccans would not pour into Germany, France or the UK.
• Nearly all of those who crossed over the border into Cueta have been returned to Morocco. The Spanish government negotiated their return with the Moroccan government. 
• Over 70 people died attempting to cross the border. Any sympathy out there for those so cruelly deceived?
• Over 1000 minors were among the thousands who made the crossing.
• The misleading comments and images posted by Vance, Jenrick, Farage, and Weidel nevertheless remain online, with no correction or retraction. 
• Farage ignores the steps the Tories made to reduce net migration and illegal migration and the progress Labour has since made to solve these issues because it serves his purpose to fan the flames of division in the country.
• Farage's Brexit scare story was false. Turkey has not joined the EU and we have not been invaded by millions of Turkish people. We also know that net migration to the UK soared after Brexit and is now on its way down.

Background to this crisis - USA- Israel-Morocco- Algeria-Spain

Double Down News Report on Face Book

Farage should take note of these wise words from H. L. Mencken.

“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.”

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It's Not About The BBC - its about Farage

Donald Trump and his henchmen are deliberately attacking our Democrachy

 Simon Marks on LBC Nov. 11^th 2025

Referring to Trumps speech to the January 6^th crowd before the storming of the Capitol

He lied at that rally relentlessly:

• He told the crowd Joe Biden's election victory could be halted when it couldn't.
• He claimed the election had been stolen when it wasn't.
• He insisted Vice President Mike Pence had powers that he didn't.
• He promised even to walk with the crowd to Capitol Hill when he knew that he wouldn't.

So, let's be completely clear about what is going on in Washington today, November the 14th, 2025.

The White House is waging a war on the BBC as a broader proxy to create upheaval in the UK, undermine Sir Keir Starmmer's government, and help Nigel Farage win the keys to number 10.

How do we know?

Well, let's look at the role GB News played this week, the channel on which Mr. Farage hosts a nightly program.

Their Washington based presenter was welcomed to the White House briefing room (by Trumps's press secretary) and to the most prominent seat in the House by the president's press secretary.

Karoline Leavitt: And in our new media seat, we have Bev Turner, who works for a new outlet, a UK outlet, but based here in Washington DC, GB News. Bev, thank you for being here today. Why don't you kick us off?

Bev Turner: Thank you, Karoline. 

So, the clock is ticking on the Friday deadline by which the BBC must retract and apologize for their malicious edits of the president in the documentary shown last year. Is the president prepared to bankrupt the BBC in his pursuit of truth and justice?

Karoline Leavitt: Well, thank you, Bev. The president has made it very clear that this is a leftist propaganda machine that is unfortunately subsidized by British taxpayers, and he thinks that's extremely unfortunate for the great people of the United Kingdom and Great Britain, and I think that the president was deeply concerned by the editing, the purposeful and dishonest editing of his speech that was so clearly fake news.

Simon Marks:   Where do these people get off!  

Steve Bannon's interview with the Economist was about MAGA UK
link here

Economist: Will Farage be a prime minister?

Bannon:

• Of course he's going to be the next Prime Minister.
• And look at everywhere from Hungary to Poland to Germany to Italy to Vox and Spain.
• Everywhere we're getting momentum.
• As long as you don't quit, they will surrender.
• Nigel's come our way.
• Nigel would never talk about mass deportations. He's now talking about that.
• I think we (MAGA) are actually helping drive some of those people to the part of the right that you actually need to be to fix the problems.

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The Brexit Debate - Reason v Emotion

 Was the decision to leave the EU based on evidence, reason and critical thinking or was it based on an appeal to our emotions?

Contrast these two articles

A selection of the main points 

Richard Dawkins 

(Professor at Oxford University) 

Prospect Magazine June2016  

(Click for full article)

My own answer to the question is, 

“How should I know? I don’t have a degree in economics, or history. 

How dare you entrust such an important decision to ignoramuses like me?”

I, and most other people, don’t have the time or the experience to do our due diligence on the highly complex economic and social issues facing our country in, or out of, Europe. 

That’s why we vote for our Member of Parliament, who is paid a good salary to debate such matters on our behalf, and vote on them. 

The European Union referendum, like the one on Scottish independence, should never have been called.

• You want your surgeon to know anatomy. 
• You want your plumber to know one end of a drain from the other. 
• Why would you entrust your country’s economic and political future to know-nothing voters like me? 

... we live in a representative democracy not a plebiscite democracy. 

 Foxhunting might have been justifiable plebiscite fodder. 

But to call a referendum on a matter as important and fraught with complicated and intricate detail as EU membership was an act of monstrous irresponsibility: 

Even if the referendum goes Cameron’s way, there will be a legacy of bitterness, stirred up by the yelling rhetoric on both side. 

My Scottish friends tell me there are still poisonous enmities that have not died down since the 2014 referendum there.

Most of the arguments for leaving are emotional. 

The evidence-based arguments tend to be the ones for remaining in Europe, whether they come from professional economists, historians, business leaders or powerful foreign politicians.

President Barack Obama’s sober warning was widely resented as “Telling me how I should vote.” No, he wasn’t telling you how to vote. He was bluntly informing you—as he is well placed to do—that if you think America will step in and rescue you when you cut yourself off from Europe you are living in cloud-cuckoo land.

[Obama actually said: “They (Leave campaign) are voicing an opinion about what the United States is going to do, I figured you might want to hear from the president of the United States what I think the United States is going to do. ..... maybe some point down the line there might be a UK-US trade agreement, but it’s not going to happen any time soon because our focus is in negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done”.]

Obama also argued that if he were a British voter he would be wary of cutting himself off from the market that takes 44% of British exports and is “responsible for millions of jobs and an enormous amount of commerce upon which a lot of businesses depend”.

Nigel Farage

(Businessman & leader of UKIP)

Daily Express Article Tue, Jun 21, 2016 

(click for online article)

We are just hours away from the opportunity of a lifetime: the opportunity to get our country out of the European Union and in doing so get our borders back, our democracy back and for us to embark upon an exciting future as an independent nation. 

We will exit a failed political union, one which is now a disaster zone. 

• We see a migrant crisis utterly out of control. 
• We see a eurozone crisis causing human misery on a shocking scale.

We must leave the European Union so that not only can wages increase for British workers but so that living standards rather than declining can start going up. 

The wellbeing of those living and working in our country matters to me more than GDP figures. 

The EU’s open borders make us less safe. 

As a bureaucratic club it makes us poorer. Membership of this union stops us acting in our own national interest, forcing us to be represented by unelected old men in Brussels. 

We know that the European Union is hell bent on further, deeper centralisation. 

.. the plans for a full EU army have been put on ice only until the very day after the referendum. 

A few days after the EU referendum it’s the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. We should never forget just how much generations have sacrificed. 

Our democracy is precious and our right to self-determination is one which has been given away by the political class to the EU and bureuacrats such as Jean-Claude Juncker. 

We must seize this chance, this opportunity to take it back. After all, what sort of future do we wish to leave our children and grandchildren? 

David Cameron has said he strongly supported full EU membership for Turkey

To top it all we are also handing over more than £1billion to Turkey and other countries in what is classed as “pre-accession funding”: 

Other countries being funded include Albania and Serbia. 

This year will see Turkey, supported by David Cameron and Angela Merkel, gain full visa-free access to Europe, effectively moving the Syrian border to Calais. 

there is no doubt in my mind that if we Remain inside the EU that Turkey will have joined by 2025. 

Just think what that would mean: net migration would be even higher, perhaps up to 400,000 net per year or even half a million each year. 

This European Union is not one which is standing still. It is expanding in powers, expanding in size and determined to become a United States of Europe.

If we Remain our country will never be the same again. 

Our public services will be pushed to the point of failure and our national security will be greatly weakened as EU open borders expand further still. 

On Thursday we must have the courage to exit the failed EU project and ensure a safer, more prosperous future with us in control of our country’s destiny. 

Together let’s make June 23 our Independence Day.

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Human Stupidity ? - Election of Boris Johnson as Tory Leader

HUMAN STUPIDITY - a rejection of evidence, reason, and critical thinking

In July 2019 Boris Johnson was the front runner to succeed Theresa May as leader of the Tory Party and prime minister. 

Johnson's former boss at the Daily Telegraph, Max Hastings issued a stark warning to the Tory Party

I was Boris Johnson’s boss: he is utterly unfit to be prime minister

The Tory party is about to foist a tasteless joke upon the British people. He cares for nothing but his own fame and gratification

Guardian, Mon 24 Jun 2019: Full article here;

There is room for debate about whether he is a scoundrel or mere rogue, but not much about his moral bankruptcy, rooted in a contempt for truth.

He would not recognise the truth, .... if confronted by it in an identity parade

I have known Johnson since the 1980s, when I edited the Daily Telegraph and he was our flamboyant Brussels correspondent. I have argued for a decade that, while he is a brilliant entertainer ...he is unfit for national office, because it seems he cares for no interest save his own fame and gratification.

Tory MPs have launched this country upon an experiment in celebrity government,

His premiership will almost certainly reveal a contempt for rules, precedent, order and stability.

A few admirers assert that, in office, Johnson will reveal an accession of wisdom and responsibility that have hitherto eluded him, not least as foreign secretary. This seems unlikely

Dignity still matters in public office, and Johnson will never have it. 

Yet his graver vice is cowardice, reflected in a willingness to tell any audience, whatever he thinks most likely to please, heedless of the inevitability of its contradiction an hour later.

Like many showy personalities, he is of weak character.

Almost the only people who think Johnson a nice guy are those who do not know him.

..his elevation will signal Britain’s abandonment of any claim to be a serious country.

I have a hunch that Johnson will come to regret securing the prize for which he has struggled so long, because the experience of the premiership will lay bare his absolute unfitness for it.

.. the Tories, in their terror, have elevated a cavorting charlatan to the steps of Downing Street, and they should expect to pay a full forfeit when voters get the message.

They are about to foist a tasteless joke upon the British people – who will not find it funny for long.

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Just a Joke ?

A man dies and finds himself at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter greets him and says, “Before you choose Heaven or Hell, you’re allowed to spend one day in each.”

First stop: Heaven. The man spends the day drifting on clouds, listening to gentle music, and chatting with kind souls. It’s pleasant, but a little quiet.

Next stop: Hell. To his surprise, he finds himself in the middle of a beautiful country club — fine food, good wine, golf, and his old friends laughing together. The Devil himself greets him warmly. They share jokes and cigars. The man has the time of his life.

When the day ends, St. Peter asks for his decision.

The man says, “Heaven was nice, but I never knew Hell could be such fun. I’ll take Hell.”

So the elevator descends again, the doors open — and he’s standing in a foul wasteland, flames and misery everywhere, souls crying out in pain.

The man stammers, “What happened to the golf course? The wine? The laughter?”

The Devil smiles and says, “Ah… yesterday we were campaigning. 

Today you voted.”

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