ago shows a dangerous political environment for republicans heading into 2018. democrats have a double digit lead among voters, 50% rooting for democratic control of congre congress. 39% wanting congress to control. the first time they are seeing numbers since 2008. meanwhile, president trump s approval rating is 41% with 56% disapproval. let s go right now to my panel for some quick reaction right away to this. joining me, caitlyn hughie burns and katy bow williams, national security reporter for the hill. let me start with the double-dig get lead. big numbers. big numbers, indeed. republicans are heading into 2018 with an environment that s to their disadvantage historically. the party in power and white house typically loses seats and republicans have been extra k
suburbs, where democrats turned out in droves. the election has underlined a serious enthusiasm gap between the two parties headed into 2018. democrats clearly animated over health care and the president s divisive language. republicans, meanwhile, struggling under the weight of poor messages, agenda misfires and a president whose polling is in the 30s. two reports now on whether virginia is a bellwether for next year s congressional elections, let s start with capitol hill and nbc s capitol hill correspondent, kasie hunt. kasie, what s the mood like there down there today? god, i got to get my words in front of my brain. what is the mood on capitol hill today? reporter: all good, katy. the mood here, republicans are nervous. i m hearing privately from republicans in suburban areas essentially looking at a lot of these very far down-ballot races, races we don t typically pay much attention to, races in the case of people i ve talked
frustrated. the american public is frustrated with us for not stepping up and holding him accountable for that moral failing and at the same time, i don t want to be his parent. at some point in time, what do you do? you said, don t make it personal. he has made it personal. i can t pretend that he hasn t. i can t walk away from that. can t unring the bell. there s aed good cliche. i m leave it there, but there are about 10,000 things i want to follow up on. i have a space time continue yum issue. happy freedom of the press day. 27 years ago today. all right. thank you both. coming up, we ll turn the focus to 2018. democrats think they will make big gains and republicans have to grapple with how to campaign in the trump era. we ll look at the stakes next.
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noting that this is working for republicans now while they have the majority in the house and the senate, but democrats are going to use this as a political wedge, i would anticipate, in 2018. democrats will be able to go out on the campaign trail and say, look, republicans didn t demand answers of the trump administration. they are not going to hold them in contempt of congress. we will. and it s one of the examples of you can call it elections have consequences or you can say there s gambling in the casino and hypocrisy in politics in that, you know, the republicans didn t say anything when jeff sessions wasn t willing to answer and as rebecca noted they went to court against eric holder, the attorney general when he refused to answer questions and jeff sessions loved james comey s actions in the campaign when he was a trump campaign sauer gate and now believes james comey should be fired for the very same things. welcome to washington. wolf, you know, i think senator burr who is