CNN Reports On Red-State Governors Busing Migrants
CNN hosts sounded the alarm as Joe Biden's approval ratings, particularly on immigration, continue to plummet.
On Thursday's episode of Inside Politics, host Dana Bash warned about a Monmouth approval rating poll that showed Biden's approval rating for immigration dropping to a mere 26 percent. This disapproval from the public is causing concern among CNN hosts as they admit that the Republicans seem to be winning the battle on the border crisis.
The discussion began after a report by Rosa Flores on the ground in Eagle Pass, Texas. As Flores shared her observations with viewers, Bash expressed her concern for Biden's approval ratings.
"Look let's just sort of put in context, the politics of this for President Biden," Bash said, "Just one example from a Monmouth approval rating poll shows that Biden's approval ratings on issues like infrastructure, jobs, and climate change are significantly higher than his approval rating on immigration, which is at an all-time low of 26 percent."
Kim Seung Min, a journalist for the AP, also chimed in on the topic. She noted that Biden's trip to Mexico, led by senior officials within his administration, was an attempt to shift the narrative surrounding the border crisis.
"The administration is trying to focus on the idea that this is a regional issue that requires regional cooperation," said Seung Min, "They are trying to combat the consistent criticism from Republicans that it is Biden's border policy causing these numbers at the border." However, regardless of their efforts, Seung Min acknowledged that Biden is still facing immense political pressure, and his administration may be forced to make some significant compromises on immigration in the near future.
Bash pointed out that it's not just Republicans who are concerned about illegal immigration; many Democrat mayors are also voicing their frustrations. She then played a clip of various Democratic mayors from large cities expressing their concerns about the influx of migrants.
Kasie Hunt, another journalist for CNN, joined the conversation by stating, "That right there is a huge problem for Joe Biden, because, for a long time, the conversation around this crisis was that these red-state governors and mayors were being alarmists. But now, even big-city Democrat mayors are speaking out about how this crisis has gotten worse, not better."
Hunt continued, "The strategy of sending migrants to blue states may have been effective from a political perspective, but it's causing major issues for these cities who are struggling to absorb them."
While Hunt acknowledged that the Biden administration may not be willing to make any concessions on border control if the crisis was not this bad, she also suggested that Republicans may be using the situation for political gain. Hunt speculated, "It's possible that Republicans prefer to have this issue continue to be a problem for them heading into the 2024 election."
Bash jumped back in to defend Biden, saying that it's important to note that attempts at immigration reform have been fruitless for almost two decades, and this is a problem that has plagued both Democratic and Republican administrations. Mario Tia Mitchell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution then blamed former President Donald Trump for the current crisis. "Trump made fixing immigration a central part of his campaign, but then did very little about it beyond building segments of the border wall," said Mitchell.
This statement overlooks the fact that Democrats have continuously blocked any attempts to strengthen border control, and the current Biden administration has been battling against Republican Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to control the influx of migrants in Texas.
The discussion then ended with no clear solution offered to address the crisis despite the alarming numbers and concerns raised by the CNN hosts. As Biden's approval ratings continue to decline, it remains to be seen how his administration will handle this ongoing crisis in the coming months and if the Republicans will continue to use it as a key issue in the upcoming elections.