A MAGA influencer tests the GOP midterm message. Is it working? | America, Actually

Do Republicans have an electability problem? We've heard a lot about the e-word when it comes to Democrats, not so much when it comes to Republicans. But we should ask that question. Donald Trump is an unpopular president leading an unpopular war.

Gas prices are skyhigh and Republicans have nominated a bunch of scandal plagued candidates like Ken Paxton in Texas or Max Miller in Ohio. They've even nominated candidates who supported Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Here's Tom Tiffany, the Republican gubanatorial candidate in Wisconsin. He voted not to certify Joe Biden's 2020 win. >> Do you regret your vote, though? >> I'm looking forward, not backwards. >> So, have Republicans set the stage for a backlash in

the midterms? This is going to be election between common sense versus crazy. Do you want to run a candidate that hates Thanksgiving? and are they the ones with an electability issue?

That's this week on America Actually, where we talk to CJ Pearson. Let's dig in. CJ Pearson is only 24 years old. He first went viral as just a 12year-old who was

willing to criticize President Obama. And in conservative circles, it was a hit. President Obama, you don't love America. >> Since then, he's bounced around Republican politics and masked thousands of followers in the process.

He's been a political commentator on places like Fox News and Newsmax, one of the most prominent young black voices in the MAGA movement. Pearson wasn't always a Trump guy, but he's recently reinvented himself as one of the president's most vocal fans.

He even teamed up with Trump's favorite election lawyer, Cydney Pal, to sue Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, over Trump's false claims of a rigged 2020 election. Since 2024, Pearson has found some influence in Washington as a social media creator and a liazison for young Republicans

looking to make the GOP cool again. In fact, much of his work reminds me of what Jack Pobic told me when we were at the UFC fight in Washington. That Donald Trump drives a lot of his connection with

younger voters through things like sports and culture. >> You go and look at the places that pro wrestling goes and holds their events. And then you go and cross-section that, cross reference that with MAGA rallies.

>> It's it's wonderful. >> The same group of people, the same sort of culture that speaks to each other. But the other thing Jack told me was that none of that matters unless Donald Trump focuses on the issues

that matter most in the midterm elections like affordability and the Iran war. And of course, we have not seen that from the president so far. Republicans love pointing the finger at Democrats, but are they

willing to defend Trump's record in this midterm elections? Let's ask Pearson and find out. CJ Pearson, thank you for joining us on America Actually, how are you? Thank you for having me.

It's great to be here. >> I first want to just ask a broader question because we wanted to talk to you about kind of Republicans and the midterms and their own electability questions. That eword's been thrown around a lot about Democrats, but

we want to think about how Republicans are on their own. Uh if you could rate Donald Trump's second term 1 through 10, what would you give it? Well, I think the president is doing incredibly well for

the American people. Promises made, promises kept in many ways. I think if you look at this president who ran on securing our southern border, he's done it. You look at this president who's talked about bringing down