Post-ABC poll finds bipartisan support for sanctions on Russia as it invades Ukraine

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A large and bipartisan majority of Americans supports economic sanctions on Russia for its military invasion of Ukraine, as public antipathy toward Russia climbs to Cold War levels, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

But while the invasion has produced a bipartisan and sharply negative consensus about Russia, it has not eliminated partisan divisions about President Biden. Overall, the president receives negative marks for handling the situation, with 33 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving, while another 20 percent have no opinion. CONTINUED

Scott Clement, Emily Guskin & Dan Balz, Washington Post

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Negative views of Russia near Cold War levels amid Ukraine crisis

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Negative views of Russia have advanced to levels last seen during the Cold War and Americans broadly support sanctions in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine — although support subsides to half if those sanctions raise energy prices in the United States.

President Joe Biden, for his part, gets more negative than positive ratings in this ABC News/Washington Post poll of his handling of the situation: Thirty-three percent approve while 47% disapprove, with the rest unsure. CONTINUED

Gary Langer, ABC News

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Poll finds sharp partisan divisions on the impact of a Black woman justice

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Leading into President Joe Biden’s first Supreme Court nomination, Americans are split along partisan lines on a range of attitudes relating to the high court — approval of its job performance, confidence in Biden’s selection and how having a Black woman as justice would affect the country.

There is one narrow area of congruence in this new ABC News/Washington Post poll: Americans of all partisan stripes split about evenly on whether justices’ decisions are guided by the law or their personal political views. It’s a closely divided 46%-45%, overall. CONTINUED

Sofi Sinozich, ABC News

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Public Sees Russia-Ukraine Conflict as Critical Threat

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Before the invasion of Ukraine, amid rising tensions between Russia and the West, 52% of Americans see the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as a critical threat to U.S. vital interests. That’s a change from 2015, after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, when less than half of U.S. adults, 44%, thought it posed that serious a threat. …

When asked separately about the broader threat Russia’s military power poses to U.S. vital interests, an even higher percentage, 59%, consider that to be a critical threat. This is up from 44% a year ago and is the highest Gallup has recorded since the item was first asked in 2004. CONTINUED

RJ Reinhart, Gallup

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How Does a War in Europe Impact Biden at Home?

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It has been almost 80 years since the world witnessed a land war in Europe. As such, we should be cautious about making broad pronouncements of what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will mean to the current world order. We also shouldn’t assume we know how Americans will respond and react, especially if this invasion continues beyond Ukraine’s borders. …

We are in a precarious international moment filled with many unknowns. But, we do know that Biden starts with three significant challenges in front of him:

• A low public approval ratings.
• A polarized electorate that neutralizes ‘rally around’ effects.
• A sanctions policy that could harm an already shaky economy. CONTINUED

Amy Walter, Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

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1 in 4 Republicans Still Believe in QAnon Conspiracy Theories

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Even with former President Donald Trump out of power, QAnon conspiracy beliefs have continued to flourish among some Americans, according to a new analysis released today by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). The report includes the largest collection of survey data conducted on QAnon conspiracy theories to date, tracking those beliefs throughout 2021.

The PRRI survey finds that nearly one in five Americans (16%) are QAnon believers, a number that held steady throughout 2021. The proportion of Americans who buy into QAnon theories increases among Republicans, as one in four (25%) are QAnon believers, compared to 14% of independents and 9% of Democrats. The share of Americans who completely reject QAnon conspiracy theories dipped slightly in 2021, from 40% in March to 34% in October. CONTINUED

Public Religion Research Institute

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