Will President Trump’s assault on the norms underpinning constitutional democracy permanently alter American political life? On a daily basis, Trump tests the willingness of the public to accept a president who lies as a matter of routine. So far, Trump has persuaded a large swath of America to swallow what […] Read more »
President Trump Legacy May Be as One of the Worst U.S. Presidents
Americans have low expectations for the administration of President Donald Trump. In fact, few U.S. residents think President Trump’s tenure will be remembered as a positive one. Nearly six in ten Americans, 58%, believe Mr. Trump will be remembered as either one of the worst presidents in the nation’s history, […] Read more »
Beyond Misinformation: Understanding and coping with the post-truth era
The terms “post-truth” and “fake news” have become increasingly prevalent in public discourse over the last year. This article explores the growing abundance of misinformation, how it influences people, and how to counter it. We examine the ways in which misinformation can have an adverse impact on society. We summarize […] Read more »
Why Republicans Rely More Than Democrats On Ideological Sources of Information
During the 2016 presidential election, supporters of Donald Trump commonly read and shared news stories favorable to their candidate and opposed to Hillary Clinton. In contrast, Clinton supporters relied more on mainstream news sources rather than turning to openly ideological alternatives. Similarly, Trump’s campaign rarely used academic experts to craft […] Read more »
Partisanship, Individual Differences, and News Media Exposure as Predictors of Conspiracy Beliefs
Conspiracy theories are woven into America’s social and political fabric. While such beliefs help some individuals organize their political world, their popularity also raise concerns about the health of a democracy when those governed also suspect powerful forces work against their interests. The research here examines national survey data to […] Read more »
The Health of American Democracy: Comparing Perceptions of Experts and the American Public
Given widespread concern about the possible erosion of democracy in the United States, Bright Line Watch has conducted expert surveys since early 2017 asking thousands of professional political scientists to identify the dimensions of democracy they see as most important and to rate how well the U.S. is performing on […] Read more »