The Point: Yes, things are worse now than ever before

View this email in your browser   January 21, 2020  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Yes, things are worse now than ever before President Donald Trump didn't create our deep political polarization. But he now runs a country divided more deeply than ever before by our partisan differences.   According to Gallup, the 82-point partisan gap between Republican approval of the job Trump is doing (89%) and Democratic approval (7%) is the largest in the 74-year history of the poll. That gap breaks the previous record of 79 points that Trump set in his second year in office, in 2018. (Trump's first year in office, 2017, was the sixth most partisan in history.)   As I said, though: This is not a phenomenon invented by or during the Trump presidency.    The 10 most partisan years in history have all occurred in the last 16 years, as measured by Gallup. Those 10 years include years from the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama as well as Trump.   "There have always been partisan gaps in ratings of president, just not to the degree seen over the past two decades," wrote Gallup's Jeffrey M. Jones in an analysis of the data.   How far have we fallen? Consider this: Four post-World War II presidents  -- Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and George H.W. Bush -- averaged more than 40% approval ratings from the opposition side.   When did things turn? Interestingly timed question! The impeachment of Bill Clinton 21 years ago is broadly cited as the moment our current polarization problem began.   Two decades later, we have another impeachment trial -- one that has already gotten off to a far more partisan start (the two sides can't even agree on a set of rules to begin the trial) than it did in 1999. The Point: It's both facile and selfish to assume that whatever is happening to you -- or us -- is something that has never before happened in history. In the case of our current polarization, however, we are truly living in historic times. And not the good kind.    -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "I've done the research now -- I wasn't wrong (at the time), I am just far more correct now than I was then." -- Alan Dershowitz, constitutional lawyer and Trump impeachment legal team member. In 1998 he said a president could be impeached even without being accused of a crime. He now says the opposite. IMPEACHMENT LATEST The Senate kicked off the impeachment trial, in earnest, today at 1 p.m. Eastern.   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also revised the rules to govern impeachment because of some Republican concerns: He's increased the time frame for opening statements to be in 24 hours over three days instead of two. Evidence will now be admitted unless there is a vote in opposition to it.   What's coming next: Day two of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump starts tomorrow at 1 p.m.   Follow the special, live coverage on CNN and CNN.com. YOUR IMPEACHMENT QUESTIONS, ANSWERED Chris answers your most pressing questions ahead of this next phase in the impeachment process.   Stay in the know with The Point on YouTube!  CHRIS' GOOD READS How Donald Trump has kept Republicans in line   The defense of Donald Trump   John Harris on Donald Trump and American exceptionalism   The unbelievable story of Omar Ameen   I quit!   "Curb" (still) rules MUSICAL INTERLUDE A new Real Estate tune, with Sylvan Esso!     Today's episode: The Senate's impeachment rules of the road. LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST     Bernie Sanders: Is getting a boost from fresh criticism by Hillary Clinton, who said "nobody likes" him. Sanders supporters have taken to Twitter to voice support for him. Even Tom Steyer got in on the action.    Joe Biden: Received an apology from Bernie Sanders after a Sanders supporter accused Biden of a "big corruption problem."   Mike Bloomberg: Is now calling for Trump to be removed from office in a new TV ad.   ONE MAJOR PERCENTAGE 51% The percentage of Americans who believe President Trump should be removed from office, according to a new CNN poll. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 Copyright © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.