A new CBS News poll finds that 50% of Americans now think the special counsel’s Russia investigation is justified, while 45% think it is politically motivated.

“As recently as November, a slight majority of Americans felt the investigation was politically motivated. This shift in opinion is due to more Democrats calling it justified. Eighty-three percent of Republicans continue to say the Russia investigation is politically motivated, the same as in November.”

“White House officials were caught off guard Wednesday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally disinviting President Trump from giving his State of the Union address from the House chamber, leaving them scrambling for a response,” CNN reports.

“White House officials had believed Pelosi wanted only to postpone Trump’s State of the Union for political reasons after she sent a letter to him last week asking him to delay the address until after the partial government shutdown ended. The plan from administration officials was to call her bluff by pressing forward with plans to deliver the speech, including a new letter on Wednesday that they hoped would force her hand.”

“Now they’re left exploring alternative venues.”

As Nancy Pelosi continues to school Donald Trump over the ongoing government shutdown, her popularity among the American people is rising.

According to a CBS News poll released on Wednesday, Americans believe Pelosi – by double digits – is handling shutdown negotiations better than Trump.

The survey finds that 47 percent back Pelosi’s efforts to re-open the government, compared to 35 percent who say Trump is coming off as the better deal-maker.

Compared with earlier presidents, Trump’s approval rating has been relatively stable over the course of his presidency, ranging from the mid-30s to the mid-40s. By contrast, President Barack Obama never fell below 40 percent in polling by Gallup.

Trump is also the only president in this poll never to reach 50% approval.