Topic: When the facts do not support the bravado

Question: How is it that the one who received a plurality of the national popular vote (49.8%) can claim to have a mandate?

Answer 1: Because, by and large, the voters in this country do not know the difference between a majority and plurality.

Answer 2: Because in this country the public has gotten used to the idea that “this too shall pass,” without realizing that sometimes it does pass and when it does not pass it will take down the nation with it.

Answer 3: The press corps that covers him is too dumb, timid, or coward to call him or the members of his administration on claim that he has amandate.

Explanatory note:  In framing this “Thought of the Day,” I asked Internet/Google (read: AI) two questions:

1. What level of popular vote constitutes a mandate? Answer: “There is no set level of popular vote that defines a political mandate. The concept of a mandate is subjective and politically charged, often asserted by a winning candidate to claim broad public support for their agenda. A very large popular vote majority is often cited as a clear sign of a mandate, while a small margin of victory makes the claim weaker.”

2. What percentage of the American public knows the difference between a majority and plurality? Answer:  “As of October 2025, there are no available surveys that specifically measure what percentage of the American public knows the difference between a majority and a plurality. While polling has found that a majority of Americans understand some basic civics concepts, studies have not been conducted to determine the public's understanding of this specific distinction.”