U.S.WEEKEND USA

Small business owners are doing OK, but will it help Trump's approval?

Surveys show small businesses employ about half of U.S. workers and feel fairly confident, though overall economic sentiment toward the president stays poor; midterms are close.

On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on Weekend Edition
Published 8:23 AM ET, Sunday, October 18, 2026

Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on this story, from Weekend Edition at 8:23 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Guardian's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Donald Trump — Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by The Guardian: “Small business owners are doing OK – but will that help Trump overcome his low approval ratings?”
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 8:23 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
Topics: Trump.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The GuardianSmall business owners are doing OK – but will that help Trump overcome his low approval ratings?

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSmall business owners are feeling fine, according to surveys in The Guardian, and there are thirty-four million of them, employing about half the country's workers.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe optimism index is ninety-seven point nine, which is one tenth of a point under its fifty-two-year average.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI'd call that a rounding error with a smile.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA tenth under average, Vera, that's practically a victory lap. Rex has the scores, and he's not rounding anything.

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