As the United States approaches its 249th birthday, a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll reveals a striking sentiment among Americans regarding the state of the nation’s democracy.
According to the survey, 76% of respondents believe that democracy is under serious threat, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since April but shows a significant decline from the 87% who felt this way in August 2023.
The changing perceptions appear to be largely influenced by the political landscape, particularly among Republican respondents, who have shifted their views since President Joe Biden took office.
While 88% of Republicans expressed concerns about the threat to democracy during Biden’s presidency, that number has dropped to 57% in the current poll.
In contrast, 89% of Democrats and 80% of independents still see serious threats to democracy, underscoring the political polarization that continues to permeate American society.
Although the survey did not ask respondents to identify specific threats to democracy, it is evident that Democrats and Republicans may be driven by different motivations for their perspectives.
Interestingly, demographics such as race, income, or education did not show significant variance; however, white women—both with and without college degrees—were more likely to perceive democracy as being under threat.
In addition to concerns about democracy, the poll indicates that a notable 73% of Americans view politically motivated violence as a major problem.
The perception of this violence is somewhat uniform across political lines; however, differences emerge when analyzed by race and age.
Majorities of Latino and Black voters, as well as younger voters, recognize politically motivated violence as a significant issue, though they are less likely to recognize it compared to their white counterparts and older voters.
In this category as well, white women with college degrees lead the way, with 83% considering it a major problem, followed closely by 81% of those aged 60 and older and 80% of white women without degrees.
Political leadership appears to be another area where Americans express deep skepticism.
Across the board, approval ratings for President Donald Trump, congressional Republicans, and congressional Democrats are dismally low.
Specifically, Trump’s job approval stands at only 43%, with even lower ratings for his foreign policy handling at 41% and his handling of the economy at 39%.
When it comes to the political parties, congressional Republicans see a modest 35% approval rating, which is historically notable, while congressional Democrats hit a low of 27%—the weakest score in seven years.
The sentiments about party leadership further divide based on party affiliation; 73% of Republicans approve of their congressional representatives, while notably fewer, merely 44%, of Democrats feel the same about their party leaders.
Notably, the discontent is especially pronounced among older Democrats, who showed higher rates of disapproval for congressional Democrats compared to their younger counterparts.
The poll also delves into a core question regarding American identity and immigration, revealing a stark divide between party lines.
Almost two-thirds of respondents believe that America’s openness to people from around the globe is essential to the nation’s identity.
In contrast, only 62% of Republicans share this view, as a significant 85% of Democrats and 68% of independents find it important.
Opinions on President Trump’s immigration policies reflect a similar polarization; only 43% believe his administration’s policies enhance national security, while 33% feel they make the country less safe.
Interestingly, there appears to be widespread support for deporting individuals convicted of crimes who are in the country without authorization, while opinions grow divided concerning deportations of agricultural workers and those with expired student visas.
Republicans tend to favor deporting all of these individuals, showcasing a firm stance on immigration issues.
Public sentiment towards Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveals a majority (54%) who believe the organization has adopted an overly aggressive approach in enforcing immigration laws.
In contrast, about a quarter feel ICE is striking the right balance, while nearly 20% think the agency has not done enough.
The poll found that 81% of Americans believe that sitting presidents should adhere to court orders, even if they disagree.
This sentiment is echoed by 70% of Republicans; however, only 22% strongly agree with that stance, hinting at a level of ambivalence.
On matters of international conflict, specifically regarding U.S. military actions against Iran, public opinion is sharply divided.
The survey indicates a 50-50 split among respondents concerning agreement or disagreement with U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
While three-quarters of Democrats and 54% of independents oppose these actions, an overwhelming majority of Republicans (84%) support them.
This partisan divide reflects the broader sentiments toward President Trump himself; 53% of Republicans strongly agree with the military action against Iran, while 46% of Democrats strongly disagree.
Concerns regarding national security persist, with 48% of respondents identifying Iran as a major threat to the U.S., while 39% consider it to pose only a minor threat.
Interestingly, around 13% believe Iran is not a threat at all, with younger demographics like Gen Z and millennials being more inclined to view Iran as having no threat.
As political tensions continue to escalate, the insights drawn from this poll underscore the challenges facing the United States as it moves towards a pivotal election cycle.
image source from：npr
