Republicans are increasingly antagonistic toward experts. Here’s why that matters.

Since 2015, according to a new Pew Research Center poll, Republicans’ attitudes toward colleges and universities have become much more negative. The poll found that the number of Republicans who believe colleges have a “positive impact on the way things are going in the country” dropped from 54 percent in 2015 to 36 percent in 2017. Meanwhile, Democrats’ approval held constant at 72 percent.

Has that affected our politics? Several commentators have been asking that question: Has the right’s declining trust in academics, scientists and other experts — call it “anti-intellectualism” — influenced opinions about politics?

That’s what my new research looks into. Drawing on more than 40 years of survey data, I found that the answer is yes. CONT.

Matt Motta, Monkey Cage