Polls: Latino voters abandon Trump ahead of midterms, sharp shift toward Democrats

Latino Voters Abandon Trump Ahead of Midterms

Two recent polls indicate that a majority of Latino voters have turned away from President Trump, confirming a trend that has been building since his return to office and the start of his aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

• A new NBC News/Telemundo poll shows Latinos favoring Democrats by a 59 percent margin in the upcoming midterm elections—nearly double their support from 2024.
• A CBS News/YouGov poll reports that 60 percent of Latino voters prefer Democratic House candidates.
• Overall, 69 percent of Latino voters disapprove of President Trump's performance ahead of the midterms.

This marks a sharp reversal from 2024, when Trump won a groundbreaking 42 percent of the Latino vote, sparking talk of a new multicultural Republican coalition. That vision now appears to have collapsed, as these voters have responded negatively to Trump's handling of the economy, his inaction on the affordability crisis, and his mass deportation campaign.

However, this does not guarantee Democratic turnout. 42 percent of Latinos still hold a negative view of the Democratic Party, which has not fully capitalized on two years of violent arrests, kidnappings, shootings, pepper ball incidents, and killings.

Right-Wing Commentator Benny Johnson Sued for Defamation

Conservative commentator Benny Johnson is being sued for defamation after labeling Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters as "left-wing terrorists."

On October 3, 2025, Johnson accompanied top Homeland Security officials to an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, where a crowd had gathered in a designated "free speech" zone. Johnson filmed as ICE agents broke up the peaceful protest, shoving and striking attendees until they fell to the ground.

He then posted the videos across X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Rumble, narrating that protesters were "left-wing terrorists" who had been "arrested for attacking police officers and ICE officers."

Nearly a year later, two of those protesters—Harvard University data scientist Kyle Frankovich and contracted court reporter Maureen Foody—have filed a joint lawsuit against Johnson, alleging he knew his portrayals were false but "did not care."

According to the complaint, the pair "sang songs, participated in prayers, held signs, and recorded official activity." Neither was charged with a crime, though they were detained for roughly eight hours and released a half-mile from the jail.

Johnson's content from that day has accumulated millions of views and interactions. In one post, Johnson claimed he saw "dozens of Democrat domestic terrorists arrested today for VIOLENT ASSAULT on federal law enforcement"—a post viewed 1.7 million times.

Frankovich told MS NOW that he was "shaken" by Johnson's posts and the resulting comments from followers, which included calls to torture, shoot, and kill the arrested protesters. He also criticized a DHS post that turned an image of his tattooed arms and zip-tied hands into a recruitment poster.

"You shouldn't get to lie about me," Frankovich said.

Trump Administration's Brazil Election Interference May Backfire

The Trump administration has intensified efforts to influence Brazil's upcoming election, using sanctions, tariffs, and narratives to boost Flávio Bolsonaro—son of convicted traitor and former President Jair Bolsonaro—against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The strategy may be backfiring.

The administration has:

• Threatened military action against Brazil
• Classified Brazilian criminal groups as terrorist organizations
• Sent State Department officials to delegitimize Brazil's election system
• Hosted pro-Bolsonaro social media influencers at a private roundtable at the U.S. Consulate in São Paulo

Eduardo Bolsonaro, another son of the former president, even suggested the Trump administration might reject the election outcome if Lula wins.

"Brazil did not want the U.S. imposition of this category on these criminal organizations because it opened the door for many ways in which the Trump administration could interfere in Brazilian internal politics," said James Green, Brown University professor of Portuguese and Brazilian studies.

While Lula's approval rating hovers around 50 percent—much higher than Trump's at any point in his second term—the election margin is expected to be close. Voting begins Sunday.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett Accused of Premature Lobbying Efforts

Texas Representative and former Senate candidate Jasmine Crockett reportedly attempted to launch her lobbying career before leaving office.

According to reporting from Zeteo, Crockett—who lost a contentious Democratic primary to state Representative James Talarico—advertised political consultation services on her merchandise website, the "Clapback Collection." Listed services included:

• Campaign management and strategy
• Communications and public relations
• Government relations and lobbying
• Digital and social media
• Political risk management

The page was taken down after Zeteo reached out to Crockett's office.

A spokesperson for Crockett said: "This website is and has always been focused on selling campaign merchandise. The Congresswoman has only advertised it for merchandise and did not build it. She never directed anyone to add the button you are inquiring about."

Crockett has refused to endorse Talarico, instead sparring with people online and making a guest appearance at a Chris Brown concert.

G7 Agrees to Release 100 Million Barrels of Oil

The Group of Seven nations agreed Friday to release 100 million barrels of oil from their stockpiles, following a desperate plea from the White House.

The G7 held an emergency meeting Friday morning to discuss global energy costs, prompted by a call between Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. During that call, Trump asked for assistance amid the current oil crisis and floated the idea of banning U.S. diesel exports, according to CBS Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Margaret Brennan.

The coalition—comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S.—expects the barrels to hit the market over the next four months.

In a statement, the group said it had "agreed on decisive, coordinated measures to stabilize immediate energy supplies, shield households and businesses from price shocks, and strengthen the long-term resilience of global energy systems."

Trump announced after the meeting that "Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately."

However, two diplomats told Politico that the declaration was largely a reiteration of an agreement from March, when the International Energy Agency led an effort to release some 400 million barrels. That sale was stalled due to low availability of cheaper U.S. crude oil.

Oil and gas prices have risen sharply since the start of the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In early February, gas cost approximately $2.99 per gallon. Today, a gallon costs $4.39 on average, according to AAA. Diesel has risen from $3.70 per gallon last year to $6.37 today.

This story has been updated.