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The Nation’s Pulse: Americans’ top priorities and the direction of the country

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  • Forty percent prioritize the economy as the country’s most important issue
  • Immigration/border security and crime are the other top concerns
  • Abortion rose in importance to fourth place
  • Nearly two-thirds express dissatisfaction with the direction of the country


The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

What are Americans’ priorities 90+ days before the November election?

Forty percent identified the economy as the country’s most important issue, followed by immigration and border security at 38 percent. Crime and abortion were also significant concerns, each cited by 19 percent and 18 percent of survey respondents, respectively.

In the run-up to the election, abortion has gained importance since January, when it was 10th place and was rated an important issue by only 12%.

These results are from the latest TIPP Poll, which surveyed 1,488 Americans and was completed in early August. The poll asked participants, “What are the top three issues facing the country?”

Ten other issues received double-digit responses: gun violence/gun control (17%), health care (15%), homelessness (15%), national debt/federal government spending (14%), home affordability (14%), the 2024 election (13%), climate change (13%), threats to democracy (12%), trust in government/politicians (12%), and lack of unity/division in the country (10%).

Meanwhile, terrorism/national security (9%), mental health (9%), racial justice (6%), Russia/Ukraine situation and global security (6%), Israel-Hamas conflict (5%), China-U.S. relations (4%), and coronavirus (3%) are in the bottom tier, each garnering under ten percent.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Priorities varied along party and ideological lines.

For Democrats, the top issues were the economy (34%), abortion (29%), gun violence/gun control (25%), climate change (21%), and threats to democracy (18%).

Republicans, on the other hand, prioritized immigration and border security (62%), the economy (44%), crime (23%), and national debt/government spending (22%).

Independents aligned more closely with Republicans, with their top issues being the economy (41%), immigration/border security (37%), homelessness (22%), crime (18%), and national debt/government spending (16%).

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Top Economic Issues

Inflation (48%), food prices (46%), people’s ability to pay their bills (25%), and home affordability (24%) are among the top three economic issues facing Americans.

From a list of 21 economy-related issues, the survey respondents picked their top three concerns.

Gasoline prices (23%), government spending (17%), recession (16%), tax rates (15%), rising interest rates (14%), and lack of good jobs (12%) received double-digit responses.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Direction Of Country

Each month, the TIPP Poll probes the general sentiment​ about 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 the country’s direction. 37% said they are not at all satisfied, and 28% are not very satisfied. Most Republicans (83%) and independents (72%) expressed dissatisfaction. Over one-half (57%) of Democrats are satisfied.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

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 36 months. The August reading is 35.2.

Democrats have the most optimistic reading, at 56.6, while Republicans have the lowest score (19.4), indicating extreme pessimism. Independents are in the middle at 28.0.

Democrats fell 25.4 points from a high of 77.3 in April 2021 to 56.6 this month—a 27% drop. Their median during Biden’s presidency was 60.3.

Republicans’ slide began after the elections in November 2020, and they have been posting pessimistic readings (under 50) for 45 months in a row, with a median of 20.7 during Biden’s presidency.

Independents’ median rating during Biden’s presidency is 31.1.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

The nation faces a protracted stagflation, an economic slowdown accompanied by inflation. With high food prices and near-stagnant income, households are forced to tighten their budgets. Uncontrolled immigration and rising crime rates are making matters worse. The pervasive disenchantment does not bode well for incumbent Democrats in 2024.

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TIPP Takes

Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More

Israeli Is In A ‘Multi-Front War’ With Iran And Its Proxies, Says Netanyahu – Euronews

Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

He made the comments at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday as the US and allies prepare to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict.

“Anyone who harms our country will be held accountable,” Netanyahu said at a state memorial ceremony in Jerusalem, “Iran and its proxies seek to surround us with a stranglehold of terror on seven fronts.”


Iran said to dismiss US, Arab calls for restraint — even if it sparks war – The Times Of Israel

The U.S. warns Iranian attack will hamper relations with West; Israel bracing for multi-day assault; Netanyahu consulting with defense chiefs, considering ‘preventative measures’

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Iran has rejected attempts by the US and Arab nations to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, as Israel braces for an attack from the Islamic Republic and the Lebanese Iran-supported Hezbollah, saying they would strike the Jewish state even if it means war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.


‘Hostage Deal Needs To Get Done,’ US Says Amid Reports Of Netanyahu-Biden Tension – The Jerusalem Post

The US pushes for a swift Gaza ceasefire amid growing tensions between Netanyahu and Biden over the hostage deal.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

The United States stressed the importance of quickly resolving the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal amid reports of tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden on the issue.

“We’ve been quite clear how urgent the situation is in Gaza and how strongly we feel… that this deal needs to get done,” US National Security Deputy Adviser Jonathan Finer said on Sunday.


Hamas Begins Selecting New Leader After Haniyeh Assassination – UPI

Hamas leaders have also begun choosing a new leader for the movement. However, who might ultimately be selected is unclear.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

“The assassination of the mujahid brother Ismail Haniyeh will only increase the strength of the Hamas movement and the Palestinian resistance to continue its path and approach. His pure blood will ignite the fire of resistance and escalate it,” the militia said.


Ukraine Receives First F-16 Fighter Jets – Zelensky – BBC

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

“F-16s in Ukraine. We did it,” President Zelensky said at a ceremony at an unnamed airbase, flanked by two of the planes.

Ukraine’s leader thanked allies for what they were once very hesitant to provide – though he added that many more were needed.


Ukraine Orders Evacuations From Donetsk Towns As Russia Claims Advance – Al-Jazeera

Ukraine has announced the mandatory evacuation of children and their guardians from areas in the eastern region of Donetsk, where Russia has been claiming advances.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

“The enemy is bombing the towns and villages of these communities every day, so it was decided to evacuate children with their parents or other legal representatives,” Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin said.


Biden Official Says U.S. Still Working On Freeing Teacher Marc Fogel From Russia – CBS

Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer says that the U.S. hasn’t forgotten about Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher detained in Russia who was not a part of last week’s prisoner swap.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

“We think about Marc Fogel every single day. And not only think about him, we work on his case every single day,” Finer told Ed O’Keefe on “Face the Nation” Sunday. “And we’re going to do what we can to bring Marc home as soon as possible.”


China Unveils Action Plan To Boost Consumer Spending – Strait Times

China’s government laid out its priorities on August 3 to spur consumer spending as weak domestic demand continues to weigh on growth.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

According to a statement on the central government’s website, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, designated 20 key steps, including exploring the potential to expand basic consumption in catering, home services, and eldercare.


US Expected To Propose Barring Chinese Software In Autonomous Vehicles – Reuters

The Biden administration plans to issue a proposed rule that would bar Chinese software in vehicles in the United States with Level 3 automation and above. This would also ban testing on U.S. roads of autonomous vehicles produced by Chinese companies.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

The sources added that the administration also plans to propose barring vehicles with Chinese-developed advanced wireless communications abilities modules from U.S. roads in a previously unreported decision.


China Evergrande’s EV Arm Units To Enter Bankruptcy, Reorganization Proceedings – Reuters

Shares of the electric vehicle maker plunged 7% on July 29, a day after individual creditors of Evergrande New Energy Vehicle (Guangdong) and Evergrande Smart Automotive (Guangdong) sought court approval for the units to go through bankruptcy proceedings and be reorganized.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Houthi Rebels Hit Container Ship, Say They Shot Down US Drone – AP

A missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck a Liberian-flagged container ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden, authorities said Sunday, the first assault by the group since Israeli airstrikes targeted them.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

The rebels separately said they shot down another U.S. spy drone Sunday, later publishing imagery of the aircraft’s wreckage on the side of the mountain.


Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index Plunges Nearly 7% As Global Sell-Offs Resume – AP

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index plunged 6.7% early Monday before recovering some lost ground, extending sell-offs that began last week.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

About a half-hour after opening, the Nikkei shed more than 2,400 points to 33,488.08. By about an hour after trading began, the index was down 5.3%, or about 1,900 points, at 34,010.69.

The market’s broader TOPIX index fell as much as 7.8% before recovering to trade down 6.6%.


The Decline Of Intel – A Potential Repeat Of Nokia, Kodak, And Blackberry – Barchart.Com

Intel’s current struggles are reminiscent of past tech giants like Nokia, Kodak, and Blackberry.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Three significant issues that Intel is currently facing threaten its market share. The company is clearly behind Nvidia and AMD in chip technology, which causes a technological lag.

Moreover, Intel seems hesitant to adjust to the tech sector’s evolving needs, including the growth of artificial intelligence, sophisticated graphics processing, and the rising relevance of energy efficiency.


Traders Bet On $130 Oil As Middle East Tensions Spike – Oilprice.Com

Rising tensions between Israel and Iran have finally seen a return of the geopolitical risk premium that had been noticeably absent in recent weeks.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Some traders are betting this week that oil prices could hit $110-$130 in November as Middle East risks reached a boiling point amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.


Castor Oil Is All The Rage Among Health Influencers—What You Need To Know About This Alternative Remedy – Medical Xpress

Castor oil, which was once used by fascists in Italy as punishment because of its quick-acting laxative effect, is now a weight-loss trend on TikTok. Not drinking it, but rubbing it on your belly.

The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

Influencers also pour it into their belly buttons and wrap towels soaked in it around their midriff. They claim it can melt belly fat and help with bloating.


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Republished with permission from TIPP Insights

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