National mood is against Republicans, but redistricting could help prop them up

Voters depart after casting their ballots at a polling location at the Westover Library on April 21, in Arlington, Va. Win McNamee/ hide caption toggle caption Win McNamee/ There's a dichotomy shaping up in this midterm election year. The national political landscape could hardly look worse for President Trump and Republicans. At the same time, the GOP is suddenly resurgent in the redistricting fight, getting significant wins this week in Virginia and Tennessee that could soften the blow they might have suffered without them. The national mood is very much against Republicans right now The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll underscores the headwinds for the GOP. Trump has just a 37% approval rating, with 59% disapproving. That's the worst score in the Marist poll in either of Trump's terms. Fifty-one percent of respondents in the poll said they strongly disapprove of the job Trump is doing, indicating the intensity of opposition Republicans are facing. About eight in 10 respondents said gas prices are straining their household budgets, and 63% blame Trump for that increase given the war with Iran. Americans largely don't feel the economy is working well for them — 63% said so in the latest NPR poll, and Trump is suffering politically for it. His economic approval is down to 35% and, on his handling of Iran, just 33% approve. There are few things more indicative of midterm results than presidential approval ratings Presidents' parties have a hard time in midterms. …