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“People in higher-income countries are generally more likely to say their nation’s political system needs only minor or no changes, according to recent Pew Research Center surveys. Conversely, people in middle-income countries are more likely to say their political system needs major changes or complete reform. … The United States, however, is a notable exception to this pattern. Despite having the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of any of our surveyed countries, 77% of Americans say the nation’s political system needs major changes or complete reform.”
“The most thunderous sound in all of American politics is the sound of a turning page.”
— James Carville, in an interview with the New Republic.
74%
A new PRRI poll finds that 74% of Americans say things in this country are going in the wrong direction, compared with 24% who say the country is moving in the right direction. Large majorities of Republicans (93%) and independents (76%) say the country is moving in the wrong direction, compared with a narrower majority of Democrats (53%).
“Well, the Senate was never a perfect place. But it was a better place.”
— Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), quoted by the Washington Post.
14%
A new GfK poll shows that 14% of Americans are so worked up about politics these days that they’re actually losing sleep over it.
71%
A new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll finds 71% of Americans say the nation’s politics have reached a dangerous low point, and a majority of those believe the situation is a “new normal” rather than temporary. “The poll finds that 7 in 10 Americans view the Trump administration as dysfunctional. But dissatisfaction extends well beyond the executive branch: Even more Americans, 8 in 10, say Congress is dysfunctional, and there is limited trust in other institutions, including the media.”
