100 Days In: The 3 Numbers That Define Everything — And 1 Nobody Expected

One hundred days.

That's the number hanging over Washington this morning like a storm cloud that hasn't decided whether to break.

Every president gets judged at the 100-day mark — it's an arbitrary milestone that somehow became the most watched scoreboard in American politics.

But **this particular 100 days** may be the most consequential stretch of any presidency in modern memory.

Not because one big thing happened. Because everything happened at once.

Let's start with the number that's getting the most attention in the West Wing right now: **39**.

That's roughly where Trump's approval rating sits across multiple major polls this morning — the lowest of any president at the 100-day mark since modern polling began.

His team disputes the numbers, calling the polls "fake" and "rigged" — a familiar response. But even some Republican strategists are privately expressing concern, according to multiple reports on X this morning.

Why does this matter to you? Because a president with low approval ratings has less political cover to push through big legislation. And there is very big legislation on the table right now.

The so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" — the sweeping tax-and-spending reconciliation package that is Trump's signature domestic priority — is wobbling.

**At least 6 House Republicans** are now publicly or privately expressing reservations, according to posts circulating on X from Capitol Hill reporters. Republicans can only afford to lose 4 votes. Do that math.

The sticking points are familiar: Medicaid cuts that moderate Republicans in swing districts don't want to defend at home, and deficit concerns from the fiscal hawks who want deeper spending reductions before they'll support more tax cuts.

Speaker Mike Johnson is applying pressure. The White House is applying pressure. But pressure only works if members believe the political cost of a "no" vote outweighs the cost of a "yes."

Right now? Several of them aren't sure.

Then there are the tariffs.

Trump marked his 100th day by doubling down — not backing off — on the most aggressive trade posture America has seen since the 1930s.

**The average U.S. tariff rate now sits near 28%**, according to economic analysts posting on X, a level not seen in roughly 90 years. The White House argues this is leverage that will produce better trade deals. Critics argue it's already producing something else: higher prices at the checkout line.

The data is starting to come in. Import prices are up. Shipping volumes from China are down sharply — which sounds like a win until you realize that means American retailers are facing empty shelves on some product categories in the coming weeks.