After 88 years, Gallup will no longer poll presidential approval ratings

In Gallup's final measure of Donald Trump's approval rating, Trump was stuck at 36%—his lowest since the end of his first term in office. The president won't have to worry about the famed pollster's next set of numbers, as it will no longer bother. After 88 years, Gallup will no longer look at presidential approval. Why? "Thought leadership," etc.

The company said starting this year it would stop publishing approval and favorability ratings of individual political figures, saying in a statement it "reflects an evolution in how Gallup focuses its public research and thought leadership." … "This change is part of a broader, ongoing effort to align all of Gallup's public work with its mission," a spokesperson for Gallup said. "We look forward to continuing to offer independent research that adheres to the highest standards of social science."

Confronted with this PR gibberish, The Hill immediately asked the obvious question and Gallup would not deny interference from the White House.

When asked by The Hill if Gallup had received any feedback from the White House or anyone in the current administration before making the decision, the spokesperson said, "this is a strategic shift solely based on Gallup's research goals and priorities." 

This is like Ford announcing it's no longer going to sell F150s or General Mills discontinuing Cheerios. A strategic shift in the public thought leadership alignments and missionary science.