- Over two-thirds express dissatisfaction with the direction of the country
- Immigration/border security and crime are top concerns
- Nearly one in two picked the economy as the country’s most important issue
- RELATED: Biden Is Responsible For The Border Mess. Period.
What are Americans’ priorities one month into the new year and as they gear up for an election year?
These results are from the latest TIPP Poll, which surveyed 1,402 Americans from January 31 to February 2. The credibility interval for the survey is +/- 2.7 percentage points. The poll asked participants, “What are the top three issues facing the country?”
Nearly four in ten (38%) Americans picked the economy as the country’s most important issue, followed by immigration/border security at 36 percent and crime at 19 percent as the other top concerns. Interestingly, the importance of immigration increased sharply from 29% in December to 36% in January and remained at that level in February.
Besides these, one in five respondents (18%) rated gun violence as an issue of concern.
Ten other issues received double-digit scores. National debt/federal government spending (17%), homelessness (17%), trust in government/politicians (16%), climate change (16%), and health care (15%) received 15% or more.
Meanwhile, abortion (14%), home affordability (13%), lack of unity/division (12%), terrorism/national security (11%), and election 2024 (10%) were five other issues that received 10 percent or more.
Mental health (9%), the Israel-Hamas conflict (8%), the Russia/Ukraine situation and global security (8%), and racial justice (6%) fell in the 5% to 10% range.
Coronavirus ranked last with 3%, sharing the bottom two positions with China-U.S. relations (4%).
Priorities varied along party and ideological lines. However, Democrats, Republicans, and independents share concerns regarding the economy and immigration.
For Democrats, the top issues are:
- 30% Gun violence/Gun control
- 28% Economy
- 24% Climate change
- 21% Immigration/Border security
- 20% Abortion
- 20% Health care
For Republicans, the top priorities are:
- 55% Immigration/Border security
- 44% Economy
- 24% National debt/Federal government spending
- 22% Crime
- 20% Trust in government/Politicians
Independents’ priorities:
- 41% Economy
- 35% Immigration/Border security
- 19% National debt/Federal government spending
- 18% Homelessness
- 18% Home affordability
- 18% Trust in government/Politicians
Top Economic Issues
Inflation (49%), food prices (42%), and home affordability (24%) are the top three economic issues facing Americans.
From a list of 21 economy-related issues, the survey respondents picked their top three concerns.
People’s ability to pay their bills (24%), government spending (21%), gasoline prices (20%), recession (15%), tax rates (13%), and rising interest rates (13%) received double-digit responses.
A recent TIPP Poll and Bankrate survey revealed that the majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Their wages have not grown, while stubborn Bidenflation, at 17 percent, has taken a toll on their finances. Only one-third (34%) say they’re better off than four years ago.
Media, Nobel Laureates, and politicians want to sell the ‘economy is milk and honey’ narrative in an election year. For example, Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, a staunch supporter of President Biden, shared his thoughts on inflation in October 2023:
The war on inflation is over. We won, at very little cost
Despite Krugman’s erudition and accomplishments, it is crucial not to accept this claim prima facie.
Krugman’s claim echoed Mark Twain’s famous statement about ‘Lies, damned lies, and statistics.’ It was based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), without including food, energy, shelter, and used cars. However, Americans still have to eat, heat their homes, pay for shelter, and buy used cars, especially when affording new cars is challenging in Biden’s America.
The chart below illustrates why Americans remain anxious about the economy. The key takeaway here is that Americans continue to experience the impact of inflation and rising food prices. Stay tuned for more lessons in the coming days.
Direction Of Country
Each month, the TIPP Poll probes the general sentiment regarding the country’s direction using the survey question, “In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that the country is going in at this time?”
Nearly two-thirds (65%) are dissatisfied with where the country is headed. 37% said they are not at all satisfied, and 28% are not very satisfied. Most Republicans (82%) and independents (71%) expressed dissatisfaction. One-half (53%) of Democrats are satisfied and 42% are dissatisfied.
We also compute a compact index from responses to the question. The index ranges from 0 to 100. A score of 50 or above is positive, below 50 is negative, and 50 is neutral.
Overall, the index entered the negative zone in September 2021 and has remained there for 30 months. The February reading is 34.7.
Democrats have the most optimistic reading, at 53.4. Republicans have the lowest score (20.7), indicating extreme pessimism. Independents are in the middle at 29.2.
Democrats fell 23.9 points from a high of 77.3 in April 2021 to 53.4 this month, a 31% drop.
Republicans’ slide began after the elections in November 2020, and they have been posting pessimistic readings (under 50) for 39 months in a row, with a median of 20.4 during Biden’s presidency.
Independents’ median during Biden’s presidency is 31.4.
The nation is grappling with entrenched core inflation and increasing layoffs. High food prices and stagnant income have left households in dire straits. Government spending has spiraled out of control, resulting in a national debt exceeding $34 trillion.
Prominent figures such as Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, and JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon are sounding alarms about this debt spiral. Still, their concerns seem to fall on deaf ears among politicians who advocate for more spending. Meanwhile, uncontrolled immigration and rising crime rates are exacerbating the situation.
Americans’ frustrations make President Biden’s second term look more unlikely than likely, at least for now, as more people miss President Trump than approve of Biden’s policies.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Hamas Deploys Police In Sign Of Resurgence In Gaza Areas Israeli Troops Left – A.P.
Hamas has begun deploying police forces and making partial salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City in recent days, resurfacing in areas from which Israel had withdrawn the bulk of its troops a month ago, residents and a senior official in the militant group said.
Signs of a Hamas resurgence in the Gaza Strip’s largest city underscore the group’s resilience despite Israel’s deadly air and ground campaign against it over the past four months.
2. U.S. House Panel Recommends $17.6 Billion In Military Aid For Israel – Reuters
The funding bill, offered by a House Appropriations panel, could come to a vote in the full House sometime next week, Speaker Mike Johnson said in a letter to members.
The Republican-controlled House had previously approved $14.3 billion in new military aid to Israel, but with the requirement that it be paid for by clawing back a chunk of money already targeted for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
3. Germany Warns Against Rafah Offensive – D.W.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has told Israel that a military offensive in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip would be wrong.
The Green Party politician said:
Taking action now in Rafah, the last and most overcrowded place, as announced by the Israeli defense minister, would simply not be justifiable.
The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the Israeli military was planning to expand operations into the Rafah area.
4. Turkey’s Intelligence Head Meets Hamas Chief Haniyeh In Qatar – Al Arabiya
Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar’s capital Doha, Turkish state broadcaster TRT said.
Kalin and Haniyeh discussed efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Israeli hostages held in the enclave, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to TRT.
Hamas condemned overnight U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, saying Washington had poured “oil on the fire” in the Middle East.
5. U.S., UK Strike 36 Houthi Targets Across 13 Locations In Yemen – Reuters
The United States and Britain launched strikes on Saturday, the second day of major U.S. operations against Iran-linked groups following a deadly attack on American troops last weekend.
The strikes hit buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers, and other capabilities the Houthis have used to attack Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said, adding it targeted 13 locations across the country.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the U.S. strikes “will not pass without a response and consequences.”
6. UN To Hold Emergency Meeting Monday On U.S. Strikes In Iraq, Syria: Sources – Al Arabiya
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday afternoon on the U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, diplomatic sources told AFP.
The meeting, requested by permanent member Russia, would discuss the attacks launched by Washington against Iran-backed groups it has accused of attacking U.S. troops in the region.
7. Russian Refinery Ablaze After Apparent Ukraine Strike – RFE/RL
One of the largest oil refineries in the southwestern Russian region of Volgograd caught fire after a drone attack on February 3 in an apparent continuation of Ukraine’s recent targeting of Russian infrastructure.
Separately, Russia-installed authorities claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on a bakery in the occupied eastern city of Lysychansk killed at least 20 people and trapped “dozens” of others in the rubble.
8. Polish President Says He Doesn’t Know If Ukraine Can Retake Crimea – Reuters
Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, said he was unsure if Ukraine would be able to regain control over Russian-occupied Crimea but believed it could retake Donetsk and Luhansk.
His comments drew criticism from politicians in the governing coalition.
Warsaw has been one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters since Russia invaded the country in 2022 and has said Ukraine must regain control over all of its territory to deter Moscow from further aggression.
9. Two Years Into EU Ban, Russia’s RT And Sputnik Are Still Accessible Across The EU – RFE/RL
Without using a VPN or other circumvention tools, the websites and streaming services of RT – previously known as Russia Today – and Sputnik were accessible from the buildings of the EU’s executive body, the European Commission, and the European Council.
The ease of access is a clear blow to unprecedented Western efforts to punish Russia for the invasion and to combat its carefully tracked trail of disinformation to try to justify or spin the conflict.
10. Moldova’s Separatist Transdniester Region Says It Needs More Russian Gas – Reuters
Moldova’s pro-Russia separatist region of Transdniester said it needs more Russian natural gas to operate its industry.
Moldova has long depended on Russia for gas. Still, last year, it met its needs from European markets, leaving all available gas from Russian giant Gazprom for the breakaway eastern region.
Transdniester split from Moldova before the 1991 Soviet collapse and fought a brief war against the newly independent state. Russia maintains troops in the separatist territory.
11. Housing Glut Leaves China With Excess Homes For 150m People – Nikkei Asia
China is grappling with the aftermath of its bursting housing bubble. Given weak sales and an inventory build-up in the sector, it is now expected to take more than five years for the country to shed excess stock.
As China’s housing demand will likely fall further due to a shrinking population and rising living standards, the world is bracing for a surge in exports of cheap building materials from the country.
12. China Ships Warn Japan SDF Planes To Leave Airspace Near Senkakus – Kyodo News
Last month, China Coast Guard vessels began to issue warnings for Japanese Self-Defense Forces planes to leave airspace over and around the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, sources familiar with the matter said.
The development came after Chinese President Xi Jinping called for bolstering Beijing’s sovereignty claim over the islets during a rare visit in November to the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard in Shanghai.
13. Iraq Says 16 Killed In U.S. Strikes, Summons Charge D’affaires In Baghdad – Al Arabiya
Iraq summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires in Baghdad to deliver a formal protest after strikes on the country killed at least 16.
The United States carried out the strikes on Friday in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. military personnel in a drone attack on a base close to Jordan’s border with Syria and Iraq.
14. Syria Says U.S. Occupation Of Syrian Territory ‘Cannot Continue’ – AFP
Damascus said that U.S. occupation of Syrian territory “cannot continue” after Washington carried out deadly strikes in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan.
“The occupation of parts of Syrian territory by U.S. forces cannot continue,” it added, affirming the army’s “determination to liberate all Syrian territory from terrorism and occupation.”
The United States has some 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in neighboring Iraq as part of an international coalition against ISIS.
15. Northern Ireland Elects First-Ever Nationalist Leader – D.W.
Northern Ireland has appointed Michelle O’Neill as the first Irish nationalist leader in its history after an agreement with pro-UK unionists.
O’Neill’s ascent to the role as first minister is the latest sign that her Sinn Fein party’s ultimate goal of achieving a united Ireland may be near.
16. U.S. Nuclear Envoy Says No Indications Of ‘Direct’ N.K. Military Action – Yonhap
U.S. Senior Official for North Korea Jung Pak made the remarks in an interview as the North’s pugnacious rhetoric, and its continued weapons tests have deepened worries about the possibility of major provocations by the North and even of an armed clash on the Korean Peninsula.
Despite an escalation of threats, the envoy expressed her hopes for Pyongyang to further reopen its border to pave the way for diplomacy while stressing Washington’s “sincerity” in its repeated yet unanswered dialogue overtures.
17. Namibia’s President Hage Geingob Dies Aged 82 – Al Jazeera
Namibian President Hage Geingob has died at the age of 82; his office has said, less than three weeks after it was announced he would undergo treatment for cancer.
Namibia, a former German colony that gained independence from South Africa in 1990, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in November. If elected, the ruling SWAPO Party’s presidential candidate, Nandi-Ndaitwah, would be the country’s first female head of state.
18. Brain Benefits More From A Walk In Nature Than In City – UPI Health
A new brain scan study finds that a walk in the woods appears to sharpen the mind better than an urban asphalt amble.
According to findings published recently in Scientific Reports, people strolling through a nursery at the University of Utah performed better on brain function tests than those who walked around an asphalt-laden medical campus.
Researchers said EEG data showed that nature walks lit up brain regions related to executive control, which influences a person’s working memory, decision-making, problem-solving, and planning.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
