Americans’ trust in the federal government’s ability to handle both domestic and international problems has sunk to the lowest points in more than two decades. Thirty-five percent of Americans have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust and confidence in the U.S. government’s ability to deal with domestic […] Read more »
The ‘Rotten Equilibrium’ of Republican Politics
One clear lesson from the elections of 2016 and 2018 is that President Trump and his fellow Republican candidates win where white voters are losing ground. Take a look at the 2018 congressional results in the upper Midwest and Pennsylvania, states that provided the Electorate College votes crucial to Trump’s […] Read more »
When shutdown politics add to economic woes, nobody wins
The Congressional Budget Office told us this week that the U.S. economy is likely to take a $3 billion hit from the partial government shutdown, assuming federal employees will get their back pay. $3 billion is a significant amount, but it is likely to have a relatively small impact in […] Read more »
Republican Favorability Down; Views of Democrats Steady
As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end, Gallup polling suggests that the Republican Party’s image has suffered more than the Democratic Party’s. The GOP’s favorability rating fell to 37% from 45% in September. At the same time, Americans’ favorable views of the Democratic Party remained […] Read more »
Voters from Both Parties Endorse New ‘Citizen Cabinet’ Method for Consulting Constituents
Looking toward 2020, a major new study finds voters are seeking candidates who they believe will be more responsive to the people. Their dissatisfaction with elected officials in Washington, DC, is fueled by the pervasive perception that they give a higher priority to special interests, partisan interests, and wealthy campaign […] Read more »
Democrats need to understand how to talk to working class voters about immigration
Trump’s blatant and vicious appeal to pure prejudice regarding immigrants and immigration has led many progressives and Democrats to dismiss all of his white working class supporters as racists rather than understand their concerns and seek ways to regain their support.… While most Americans do not share Trump’s visceral loathing […] Read more »