No matter which major party’s candidate wins this election, there’s one sure loser: The media. By nearly two-to-one, voters say they have little or no trust in either the mainstream big media or the alternative media. Can a country survive when two-thirds of its people distrust the reporting of its main news outlets?
In the September I&I/TIPP Poll of 1,582 adults, taken from Aug. 28-Aug. 30 with a margin of error of +/-2.6 percentage points, there was more glum news for the nation’s major news outlets. Americans profoundly distrust the stories they tell and how they tell them.
That’s not an exaggeration. As it does each month, I&I/TIPP asked Americans for this month’s poll:
“Generally speaking, how much trust do you have in the traditional or established news media (Example: Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, CBS News, etc.) to report the news accurately and fairly?”
The answer: Just 35% said they either trusted the mainstream “traditional” media “a lot” (13%) or “quite a bit” (22%). On the flip side, 60% said they had either “little trust” (32%) or “no trust at all” (28%).
A second question asks much the same thing for so-called “alternative” media, mainly those without the national clout and dominating airwave presence of the establishment media.
“Generally speaking, how much trust do you have in the alternative news media (Example: New York Post, Washington Times, NewsMax, The Daily Caller, etc.) to report the news accurately and fairly?”
Once again, this feisty, center-right group of media find themselves on the short end of the trust stick. Overall, 63% of respondents to the I&I/TIPP Poll said they had either “no trust at all” (25%) or “very little trust” (38%) in their reporting.
What jumps out from these two questions is just how much more trusting Democrats are in the media than Republicans or independents.
In the case of the first question regarding the establishment media, Democrats gave the highly visible news outlets 56% in overall trust of the establishment media, more than twice the level of trust expressed by either the Republicans (21%) or the independents (27%).
Democrats in general were less hard on the media when it came to “no trust at all,” the harshest possible answer. Only 17% of Dems gave the big media that lowest grade, compared to 30% of Republicans and 30% of independents.
Nor is this a recent development. As the TIPP Traditional Media Trust Index directly below shows, trust in the big news gathering organizations overall has been on a decline since March of 2021, when the index was first launched.
But note: Only Democrats have expressed a trust index number (57.8) higher than 50, the make or break point for “trust” vs. “lack of trust.” Republicans (27.3) and independents (33.3) are far, far lower, deep in the “lack of trust” zone, and have been for all 39 months of the index’s existence.
Perhaps surprisingly, Democrats (42%) were also more likely than either Republicans (26%) or independents (22%) to express either “a lot” or “quite a bit” of trust in the mostly center-right reporting of the alternate media.
Even so, as the Alternate Media Trust Index below clearly shows, Democrats are below the make-or-break level, with both the Republicans and independents trailing well behind.
What’s behind the startling continued lack of trust in the media among nearly two-thirds of our voting population?
For many, there’s a concern with what some have termed “creeping totalitarianism,” such as FBI agents knocking on doors to ask people about online posts they made, and a growing movement among major “democratic” governments, including the U.K., the EU, and Brazil, to censor speech they don’t like.
That’s clear from recent efforts to censor billionaire entrepreneur and inventor Elon Musk, who has alarmed western governments by publicly straying from the “progressive” plantation in both his personal posts and the policies of X, the former Twitter, which Musk bought in 2022.
To the extent that Americans see the media either not covering or downplaying such concerns about growing efforts to curb traditional rights and liberties while imposing wildly unpopular policies on a cowed populace — such as unbridled illegal immigration — might be a major cause of this lack of trust in the media.
Indeed, Americans seem increasingly fearful of expressing their true beliefs. Instead, they pay lip service to their own group’s shibboleths and beliefs, but privately hold quite different ideas.
A recent study, reported by Axios, found “stark gaps between what Americans say they think and what they really think about hot-button political issues.”
The study, conducted by a think tank called Populace and the online polling group YouGov, came to a startling conclusion:
The belief that there is social pressure to have the “right” opinion is pervasive in America today. In fact, a majority of Americans (58%) think that most people cannot share their honest opinions about sensitive topics.
They are not wrong: In the last year alone, 61% of Americans reported that they have avoided saying things that they believe because others might find them offensive. This includes a majority of all demographic groups — regardless of race, gender, age, income, or political affiliation — with Gen Z having the highest rate of self-silencing of any group (72%).
With the presidential election just a little over a month away, the question arises: Will this cynicism hurt former President Donald Trump in his bid for the White House? Or will it hinder current Vice President and candidate Kamala Harris?
And can the media overcome the suspicions of many American voters that major news outlets support growing government efforts to stifle what the left calls “misinformation” and “hate speech”?
It may be that after four years of creeping censorship and post-pandemic public silencing, a large share of Americans no longer trust anyone to protect their rights, even those media outlets that seem to agree with them. If so, media of all stripes might be in bigger trouble with the public than they realize.
I&I/TIPP publishes timely, unique, and informative data each month on topics of public interest. TIPP’s reputation for polling excellence comes from being the most accurate pollster for the past five presidential elections.
Terry Jones is an editor of Issues & Insights. His four decades of journalism experience include serving as national issues editor, economics editor, and editorial page editor for Investor’s Business Daily.
TIPP Picks
Content selected by tippinsights
Kamala Harris Is Keeping Voters In The Dark – Kevin Roberts, The Daily Signal
On the Second Amendment, Harris Shoots Herself in Foot—Again – Amy Swearer, The Daily Signal
The Democrats’ Joy Of Hating America – I&I Editorial Board
It’s Long Past Time To Confront The Exploding National Debt – Terence Jeffrey, The Daily Signal
Ukraine’s ‘Victory Plan’ Is Delusional – Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Race Tightens In Pennsylvania – RealClearPolitics
Pennsylvania is critical for Trump’s Electoral College victory, and his standing is improving, as shown by the RCP dashboard. Of the 12 recent polls, Trump leads Harris in four, ties in six, and trails in two. The average spread (Trump +0.2) shifted in Trump’s favor this past weekend.
The race is much tighter in 2024. On this day in 2020, Biden was up by 6.3 points, and Clinton was up by 2.4 points in 2016. Biden won Pennsylvania in 2020 by 82,166 votes, while Clinton lost it in 2016 by 44,284.
2. Lebanese Army Withdraws From Bases On Border With Israel Ahead Of Imminent Invasion – Al Arabiya
The Lebanese Armed Forces have withdrawn from bases on the southern border with Israel ahead of an imminent Israeli invasion, security sources told Al Arabiya English.
The Israeli military declared a military zone in parts of its northern border with Lebanon on Monday ahead of possible ground operations in the neighboring country.
2. Israel Says ‘Localized, Targeted Ground Raids’ Underway Against Hezbollah In Lebanon – BBC
The announcement comes after a BBC reporter said they heard fresh strikes in southern Beirut. Israel’s army had previously ordered residents to evacuate three areas of the city.
The targets, located close to the border, pose “an immediate threat to Israeli communities,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement externally posted to X. “The Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery are supporting the ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area,” the statement added.
3. Russian Jet Buzzes U.S. Fighter Off Alaska In ‘Reckless, Unprofessional Maneuver’ – UPI
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, the U.S.-Canadian military alliance that defends North American airspace, posted the 15-second video showing a Russian fighter flying dangerously close to a U.S. Air Force jet patrolling off the coast of Alaska.
Earlier this month, NORAD revealed it was tracking more Russian military planes near Alaska’s air space, with four encounters in less than a week after some 130 U.S. soldiers were temporarily deployed to a remote Alaska island with mobile rocket launchers.
4. U.S. Must Prepare For ‘Long-Term’ Confrontation With Russia, Commission Says – RFE/RL
The United States must prepare for a “long-term” confrontation with Russia that won’t end when authoritarian President Vladimir Putin departs from the political scene, according to a new report by a bipartisan commission.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission stated in its report that Ukraine’s defeat of Russia on the battlefield is critical to winning that confrontation, and Washington should do all it can to ensure Kyiv’s victory.
5. Navalny May Have Been Poisoned To Death In Prison, Investigative Group Says – RFE/RL
Russian opposition politician and outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, who died in prison in February, might have been poisoned, the Insider investigative group said, citing official documents that appear to have been edited to conform with the state’s contention that he died from cardiac issues.
The group obtained two variants of official documents on the decision not to launch a probe into Navalny’s death at the remote Polar Wolf prison. The text in one of the documents, the Insider said, appears to have been amended and now complies with the official explanation for the death.
6. North Korea Denounces Ukraine’s Zelensky For Calling It Russia’s ‘Accomplice’ – RFA
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that “Russia has no legitimate reason – none at all – for making Iran and North Korea de facto accomplices in its criminal war.”
In response to Zelensky’s remarks, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said she was issuing a “stern warning” against his “reckless political provocation.” Kim Yo Jong also said that the U.S. and the West, which provided weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, should be given the status of special accomplices.
7. China Steps Up Security, Surveillance In Beijing For 75th Anniversary – RFA
Police have been following rights activists and lawyers, detaining their family members or preventing them from entering Beijing ahead of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday.
Outspoken journalist Gao Yu’s phones remain blocked ahead of the National Day holiday. The moves are part of China’s “stability maintenance” operations, which kick in ahead of politically sensitive dates or major events to stave off potential threats to the ruling Chinese Communist Party before they can occur.
8. Biden Clears $567-M Defense Aid For Taiwan – AFP
This came as Taiwan was on heightened alert after detecting “multiple waves” of missile firings in inland China, days after Beijing test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The brief statement by the White House did not give details of the package, which is nearly twice the size of the $345 million in defense support approved in July last year. Asked about the new defense assistance, China’s Foreign Ministry warned the U.S. that arming Taiwan would “backfire.”
9. Switzerland, Italy To Redraw Borders Because Of Glacier Melt – UPI
The melting of the glaciers, brought about by climate change, necessitated new borders as much of the pre-established boundaries were set by areas of perpetual snow on Europe’s highest mountains.
On Friday, the Swiss government approved the new borders, which have not been made public but it said were meant to serve the economic interests of both countries. Italy has not approved new borders.
10. At U.N., North Korea Critical Of ‘Israeli Genocide,’ U.S. Dominance On Global Issues – UPI
Kim Song – the permanent representative of North Korea – took the podium during the General Assembly and hit on several topics, including peace in the region, nuclear weapons, and advances in North Korean society.
Kim was critical of what he called the ongoing “Israeli genocide,” as he discussed the U.N.’s global reputation and how it is affected by the United States. Kim also said the “high-handiness” and “double standards” of the United States and “certain U.N. member states” have been a global concern.
11. Venezuela Opposition Figure Wins Top European Rights Prize – D.W.
The Council of Europe awarded its 2024 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize to Venezuelan politician and human rights defender Maria Corina Machado for her fight for democracy under President Nicolas Maduro’s iron-fisted rule.
Maria Corina Machado is the co-founder and former Venezuelan election monitoring and civil rights group Sumate director. She is currently the national coordinator of the political movement Vente Venezuela. She was barred from running in Venezuela’s recent presidential election and went into hiding in August 2024.
12. Google Announces $1 Billion Investment In New Data Centers In Thailand – UPI
The company said the facilities would be built in Bangkok and Chonburi by 2029 and support as many as 14,000 jobs. Once fully staffed, the addition has the potential to add some $4 billion to the Thailand economy over the next five years, officials said.
Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia spent billions in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore before Google’s announcement in a push to speed up the development of its artificial intelligence data center.
13. Study Supports Value Of Intermittent Fasting Combined With Nutritional Counseling – UPI health
A new study indicates that adults who engaged in intermittent fasting and standard nutritional counseling gained better blood sugar control and lost more fat than those who only underwent counseling.
Investigators evaluated the effectiveness of time-restricted eating—a form of intermittent fasting—as a lifestyle intervention in adults with metabolic syndrome. The researchers noted that metabolic syndrome affects more than one-third of the U.S. population and more than 1 billion people globally. It goes hand in hand with prediabetes.
14. Falls Linked To Increased Risk Of Dementia In Older People – HealthDay News
“The relationship between falls and dementia appears to be a two-way street,” said Molly Jarman, senior author of a new study showing that cognitive decline may increase an older person’s risk for a fall and the trauma that follows a fall may also speed up the progress of dementia.
Researchers recommend that older adults who go to the hospital for care after a fall undergo cognitive screening either in the ER or in the hospital. Such screening could enable seniors who need treatment for mental declines to get it sooner.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
