Americans' Ratings of Biden and U.S. Tepid but SteadyLydia Saad, Gallup
In line with public opinion throughout 2024 and stretching back to 2021, Americans close out the year disapproving of the jobs President Joe Biden and Congress are doing, rating the economy negatively, and feeling dissatisfied with the direction of the country.
Americans more hopeful about 2025 than they were for 2024Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus, CBS News
Heading into 2025 Americans are more hopeful than discouraged — and more outright hopeful than they were heading into 2024. Last year was more mixed. Among those who say they're generally hopeful about 2025, their top reason is that Donald Trump will be president.
Who's behind the drones? Most Americans think government is hiding information.Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus, Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News
There's plenty of public uncertainty about who's controlling drones spotted over the East Coast. One idea does dominate, though: the public suspects the U.S. government is keeping information from them.
US Consumer Confidence Pulled Back in DecemberConference Board
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined by 8.1 points in December to 104.7 (1985=100). “The recent rebound in consumer confidence was not sustained in December as the Index dropped back to the middle of the range that has prevailed over the past two years,” said Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. “While weaker consumer assessments of the present situation and expectations contributed to the decline, the expectations component saw the sharpest drop."
Greater Acceptance of RSV Vaccine Seen as Vaccine Hesitancy Appears to Have PlateauedAnnenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania
A year after becoming available, vaccines to protect against RSV in newborns and older adults are being more widely accepted by the American public, according to a new Annenberg Public Policy Center health survey conducted in November 2024.
Republicans Are Seen as Most Focused on ImmigrationMaryann Cousens, Navigator Research
This Navigator Research report is about the latest perceptions of the incoming Trump administration, including favorability of key figures and groups, what Americans are hearing about Trump in the news, what policies Trump and Republicans are seen as most focused on, and how Americans believe his proposed policies would impact the country.
Focus Group Report: New Trump Voters and Non-Voters on the Next Trump AdministrationRachael Russell, Navigator Research
This Navigator Research report contains findings from focus groups conducted on December 11th among new Trump voters and non-voters, as well as qualboards conducted November 6 – 7 among strong Harris supporters and late deciders on reactions to the election results, perceptions of the political parties, and what they view as the priorities for the incoming Trump administration.
California: Post election Latino voter pollThe Great Transformation with Mike Madrid
New polling sheds light on the economic impact of Latino voter decisions in November's elections.
For the middle class, fewer gifts under the tree this yearAbha Bhattarai, Washington Post [unlocked]
Inflation is weighing on middle-income families this holiday season, leading them to spend 20 percent less on gifts, poll shows.
Under Biden, a generational shift in U.S. views of IsraelYasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post
Support for Israel was once widespread across the American political spectrum. Biden’s presidency has widened a deepening rift among Democrats.
Democrats Are Adrift as Donald Trump Prepares to Take PowerJohn McCormick, Catherine Lucey & Siobhan Hughes, Wall Street Journal [unlocked]
Emotional breakdowns in private meetings over the election results. Hand-wringing over whether to attend the inauguration. Clashing over next steps. And a fatigued and frustrated base. These are challenging days for Democrats ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. “There is no leadership now at the highest level,” said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist who has worked on numerous presidential campaigns.
Democrats shouldn’t try to find ‘common ground’ with TrumpJennifer Rubin, Washington Post [unlocked]
Unwise, premature and embarrassing outreach from what is supposed to be the opposition.
These Spiritual Democrats Urge Their Party to Take a Leap of FaithKatie Glueck, New York Times [unlocked]
In a party that has grown less religious, some prominent Democrats say discussing their deepest beliefs can be a way to connect — when it’s authentic.
Why did the Democrats get creamed? Sherrod Brown can tell you.Karen Tumulty, Washington Post [unlocked]
“I don’t look at politics left and right. It’s who’s on your side.”
Dems finally get some good news: GOP dysfunctionHolly Otterbein, Brakkton Booker and Ally Mutnick, Politico
Democrats were bracing for full Republican control of government. Now they’re hoping the last week has been a preview.
Republicans averted a shutdown, yet showed boundaries of Trump’s powerDan Balz, Washington Post
This week’s events were a preview of the perils of governing that face Trump and Republicans in Congress, despite their narrow majorities.
Donald Trump won the election. Now he must govern.Douglas E. Schoen and Carly Cooperman (Schoen Cooperman Research), The Hill
Trump’s victory was a result of voters trusting him more to address the issues that mattered to them. As such, voters will be expecting the Trump administration be committed to delivering real results on issues like the economy, securing the border, and lowering the cost of living.
Donald Trump’s Agenda Has New Enforcers: Charlie Kirk and a Legion of InfluencersAaron Zitner, Wall Street Journal [unlocked]
On podcasts, posts and college campuses, conservatives push their worldview and the president-elect’s policies
Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Scholz! Will Musk Propel AfD To Power In Germany?tippinsights
On December 20, Elon Musk, moments after playing a significant role in Washington's annual government shutdown drama, had set his sights 4,000 miles across the Atlantic. The billionaire tech entrepreneur and owner of X publicly endorsed the conservative political party in Germany (Alternativ fur Deutschland - AfD) by posting on his platform: "Only the AfD can save Germany." Musk's move signifies his broader political alignment with conservative populist movements across Europe, following his support for other figures like Italy's Giorgia Meloni and the UK's Nigel Farage.
A Pro-Trump Group’s Risky Bet on Infrequent Voters Seems to Have Paid OffNick Corasaniti, New York Times [unlocked]
Turning Point Action devoted much of its attention to less reliable voters. New data in Arizona showing a sizable Republican edge among them suggests that the strategy succeeded.
‘More of a Purple Look’: California Has Changed, and So Will Its Resistance to Donald TrumpDavid Siders, Politico Magazine
The state’s Democrats are still planning to lead the resistance to Donald Trump, but they are also grappling with changes in their own political landscape.
The California Job-Killer That Wasn’tRogé Karma, The Atlantic [unlocked]
The state raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers—and employment kept rising. So why has the law been proclaimed a failure?
Growing Tribalism Threatens the American ExperimentMichael Baharaeen, The Liberal Patriot
A call for walking our democracy back from the brink.
Clinging to compassionRuby Cramer, Washington Post [unlocked]
In deep-red Arizona, “a genuinely good person” tries not to surrender to anger and resentment.
The End of NewsCharlie Warzel, The Atlantic [unlocked]
Legacy media has a trust problem, but it’s not too late to solve it.
Trump signals plans to use all levers of power against the mediaSarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr, Washington Post [unlocked]
Press freedom advocates say they fear that the second Trump administration will ramp up pressure on journalists, in keeping with the president-elect’s combative rhetoric.
Trump's lawsuit against Ann Selzer is textbook authoritarianismLisa Needham, Public Notice
Reading the complaint in Donald Trump’s lawsuit against pollster Ann Selzer over her 2024 poll that found Kamala Harris leading Trump in Iowa, it’s hard not to give in to thoughts of how comically obscene it is.
Americans Are Moody, and Pollsters Should Pay AttentionJennifer Benz (NORC), Scientific American
The full potential of public opinion polling lies in its ability to illuminate deeper societal trends beyond electoral forecasts
We’ve Misunderstood Human Nature for 100 YearsKurt Gray (UNC Chapel Hill), New York Times [unlocked]
It’s a source of today’s intense political animosity.
Here Comes Santa Claus’s Approval RatingKaleigh Rogers, New York Times
Despite some debates in the news, Americans’ views on Santa haven’t really changed, polls show. Most parents still say he’ll visit on Christmas Eve.
The numbers were good, but feelings were bad: The US economy in 2024Consider This from NPR
By most objective measures, the US economy is in good shape. Employers added about 2 million jobs this year. Unemployment is low. In much of the country, gasoline is now selling for less than $3 a gallon. The Economist has called the United States' performance "the envy of the world." But even as the U.S. is outperforming most other countries, many Americans remain frustrated by the high cost of living. And that's fueled a lot of unhappiness, and a political comeback for President-elect Donald Trump. Trump will soon take the reins of an economy that's bounced back strongly during the four years he was out of office. For many families, though, that rebound was overshadowed by soaring prices for food, housing, and other necessities. Will his policies bring costs down? Or rekindle inflation?
The ultimate What If election: 2024 Alternative Histories with Jonathan MartinThe Chuck ToddCast
Alternative history is back! We kick off this year's series with a look back at all the possible "What If" scenarios from the 2024 election. Chuck is joined by Politico's Senior Political Columnist, Jonathan Martin.
The Political Legacy Of Joe BidenThe NPR Politics Podcast
Joe Biden has been a national political figure for more than 20 percent of the United States' history. His policies and public figure have evolved over time, in ways that reflect how his Democratic Party also changed. We look back on the legacy of a man who was both one of the youngest senators ever elected, and the oldest person to serve as president.
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Biden's big moves and the Republicans’ funding fightPBS NewsHour
NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including President Biden's big decisions with just weeks left in office and how a funding fight reveals potential cracks in the GOP as Republicans prepare to take power.
