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“Price Takers, Not Price Makers”: Iowa Farmers on Tariffs, Trump, and What Americans Get Wrong About Farming

Posted on by Navigator Research Team

Recent press reporting has described compounding financial pressures for American farmers, from cost-raising tariffs to record-high diesel prices. At the same time, in Iowa – a state President Trump won by nearly 15 points in 2024 – our Expanding the Battleground polling found a majority disapprove of his handling of the presidency, economy, and Iran war – all top-of-mind issues for Americans. Navigator went to Iowa to hear directly from nearly two dozen farmers on these issues. Here’s what we found. 

Tariffs Are Impacting Farmers, But Many Remain Loyal to Trump 

Nearly every Iowa farmer we spoke to described being affected by President Trump’s tariffs, citing higher costs and market instability. Even so, not all were opposed to tariffs, viewing them as “reciprocal” and instead seeing a potential long-term benefit. Many described wanting a fairer playing field in trade, especially with China, even as they’re frustrated by today’s high input costs and market volatility. Opinions were decidedly mixed on tariffs targeting Canada: several worried they’d drive input prices even higher, encouraging some to purchase potash fertilizer now before the price increases.

  • “We’re fighting with Canada right now. They’re the number one supplier of potash. Potash is actually a pretty good price right now. What happens if it goes up by 50%?… I’m not totally anti-Trump, but man, let’s not make everybody mad.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Democrat 
  • “I want a free market. I want China to be able to buy our beans, but I think the Chinese people ought to be able to buy our products. And when they can’t, then I think a tariff is reasonable, and I don’t think it’s punitive. I don’t think it’s being ornery. I don’t think it’s being cocky. I don’t think it’s being arrogant. I think it’s just a tool to attempt to get a level trade.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 
  • “As a whole, they’re not good for us. I mean our inputs always cost more because of all these tariffs, and there’s a good chance we sell less, export less of our products because of them. So, it hurts us on both ends.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 

Some participants defended President Trump, describing him as a knowledgeable business man. Others, even those who voted for Trump at least once, were more critical of the president.

  • “Trump plays multi-level chess and … I mean he’s not doing it just because he wants to do it. He’s doing it because he’s got a goal in mind.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Democrat 
  • “It’s back to the tariff thing. I think he’s got the right plan. I think it’s going to work, but it really hurts to get there. So I’ll tell you in five to 10 years if it was good or not.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 

Some expressed frustration with Trump’s rhetoric and feel there isn’t a strategy behind his policy announcements. 

  • “Just about every time he opens his mouth there’s a facepalm. And I’ve always leaned conservative pretty hard.” – Livestock farmer, independent lean Republican 
  • “Hell, I voted for this moron once. He’s just gone off the rails.” – Livestock farmer, independent 
  • “It’s like there’s no plan. They claim it’s this 4D chess thing, but on the surface, sure looks like there’s just not a plan.” – Livestock farmer, independent lean Republican 

Reviews of Trump’s second term were mixed when asked to give him a grade. Trump’s second term grades are decidedly mediocre, with more giving him a “C” than anything else. Those scoring him higher cited Trump getting things done while those more critical in their grading cited broken promises.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Trump Receives A Median C Grade, With Some Willing To Give Him The Benefit Of The Doubt And Others Disappointed

Many Had Concerns Over Rising Fuel Prices, High Interest Rates, and the National Debt 

Farmers agreed high diesel prices have been very challenging and have raised their input costs. One farmer said it would cost him $1,000 per day to run his combine in the fall during harvest. While some blamed the wars in Ukraine and Iran for high energy prices, others pointed to corporations like BP making record-breaking profits. 

  • “I think I read or heard somewhere that BP’s prices or BP’s profit was at an all time high…We’ve had 80, 90, $100 crude before, but we didn’t have $6 diesel fuel. Something between here and there changed.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican   
  • “We’re just kind of still doing the same thing we’re doing, but the fuel prices are just killing us…because it’s double what we are accustomed to paying.” – Livestock farmer, strong Republican

Several brought up concerns over inflation, America’s rising national debt, and high interest rates. Several participants brought up how closely they monitor rising interest rates and cited specific examples of how it relates to their farm’s finances. 

  • “I think the high interest rate is driving its own part of the inflation. So because it trickles down, if the big corporations have to pay the high interest, they build it into their price and then we pay it.” – Livestock farmer; independent lean Republican 
  • “Inflation is still significant. But I mean, also you’ve got this $40 trillion national debt.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 
  • “I’m scared to death about the cost of interest and the national debt’s the highest it’s ever been and everybody in Washington isn’t even talking about it.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Democrat 

Farmers Feel Most Americans Don’t Understand Their Daily Work Or Recognize Them As Business Owners and Operators 

Farmers feel most Americans, especially those living far from rural areas, don’t understand their daily lived reality. Many described running multi-million dollar businesses and closely watching the markets and commodities pricing. They feel they are either villainized as big agribusiness owners or depicted in a nostalgic pastoral scene akin to a Norman Rockwell painting.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Americans Misunderstand The Business-First Nature Of Farmers’ Lives, Or Even Where Their Food Comes From

Farming is “in their blood”

Farming was described as more than a livelihood but a lifestyle – for many, a heritage – that comes with a unique set of challenges but is also a source of pride, especially for those running multi-generational family farms and working alongside family members. While the hours are long and the work is never done, many said they wouldn’t want to do anything else. 

  • “You got to want to do it. It’s a tough business. It’s not a 40-hour a week job.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Democrat 
  • “I like a good day’s work and the feeling you have after you have had a good day’s hard work where you can look and see that you really did something. That’s what I like best.” – Livestock farmer, not strong Democrat 
  • “I got my grandkids and I can guarantee you, I know which ones will farm and which won’t.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 
  • “It has to be in your blood and you got to want to do it.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Democrat 

Iowa Farmers Are Mostly Optimistic, Yet Describe Lack of Ability to Control Outside Factors 

Despite their hardships, most were optimistic about the future and many were content with the present, citing the recent higher prices for commodities increasing their profits. But nearly all described a lack of agency in shaping the factors affecting farming, especially decisions made in Washington or prices set by major corporations.

  • “As a farmer, you have to be optimistic.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican
  • “I don’t listen to the news. I only live my little life and journey on, you know? That’s basically my attitude…Whatever happens in Washington, DC, I can’t do anything about it. I can’t do anything about fuel prices. So I just got to pay the bill.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 
  • “Farmers, we’re always absorbing everybody else’s greediness and we don’t have anybody to pass it on to. Everybody else has this pass through. They pass it on to their customers. We don’t tell our price. We get our price told to us and we there is no passing it through to the next guy.” – Livestock farmer; independent lean Republican
Slide from Navigator Research titled: Many Feel a Lack of Agency, With Farms Subjected to The Whims Of Politics, The Economy, And Consumer Preferences

Many Blame Big Corporations for Higher Prices 

When discussing higher prices for inputs and everyday items, many blamed big corporations. While strong supporters of a free market and capitalism, many farmers pointed to prices going up and staying high even when contributing factors changed. 

  • “I’m not a tinfoil hat person, but I still go back to COVID when companies were raising widgets 10, 15, 20% of the time and people didn’t quit buying widgets. They just bitched about what they cost. They figured, ‘Oh my God, look what we can get away with.’ Look at the profits of some of these larger corporations where they’ve done it in the last five years. I’m not saying they shouldn’t make money. I think that’s the capitalistic way, but we almost have become immune to huge price increases and until people quit buying, companies are going, ‘Yeah, they’ll pay it.’” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 
  • “A lot of the fertilizer suppliers have found that we can accept certain prices and they’re not going to come down.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 

Politics is Not Viewed as Important to their Political Identity, With Nearly All Pessimistic About Politicians and Political Parties  

The farmers we spoke with were nearly unanimous in their pessimism for politics and politicians. While describing some Iowa elected officials as understanding of farming and farm life, they felt once the elected officials get to Washington they sell out to special interests. When asked how important politics is to their personal identity, several answered “zero” with many feeling neither Democrats nor Republicans represent them well and are too extreme on both sides. Some described voting as picking the “lesser of two evils.” In this regard, farmers responded much like Americans Navigator has spoken to around the country and from all walks of life. 

  • “I think Iowa politicians, especially ones that go to Washington, they’re concerned about [farming] because it drives the whole economy of Iowa. But when you get to New York or any of those, they don’t give a darn about us.” – Crop farmer, not strong Republican 
  • “Most new politicians actually do care for a year or two until they get established out, you know. They all need to have a NASCAR jacket. Tell us who they’re sponsored by.” – Livestock farmer, strong Republican 
  • “We are made promises from the government that aren’t followed through on. I think that’s probably the frustrating part that we start getting our hopes up.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Republican 
  • “I would never say that politics define who I am, but who I am defines who I support in politics. And since I’m more of a conservative person, I’m going to support more Republican people.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 

Some described the government and politics as “polarized” and when asked if the system is broken, didn’t hesitate to respond: “absolutely.” 

Farmers Are Proud to be Good Stewards of the Land, See Themselves as Doing the Right Thing to Conserve It 

All described an immense amount of pride in their work and dedication to protecting the land. Many hoped to or already had plans to pass their farm down to the next generation. They were defensive about farmers being blamed for high cancer rates in Iowa, saying if they had better data or information on what needs to change to lower rates they would do it. The farmers were also critical of data centers being built nearby and on prime farm land. 

  • “I truly believe there’s not a person in this room that if someone came out and said, ‘If you would do this, cancer rates will drop in Iowa 50%.’ Every one of us would do it in a heartbeat…we are probably the most related to the soil and conscientious about what we do because anytime we put on fertilizer or chemical on anything, it’s big money.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican
  • “I do know they took 320 acres of prime ground and they’re building a data center about nine miles down the road from me. I mean it is prime dirt and I don’t know why they can’t do it on … I can get them some rocky dirt or something, build it on that.” – Crop farmer, strong Republican 
  • “I think it’s important to know that most of us are multi-generational businesses and that we do everything we can to do it right and to do it safe. We’re doing a business that we’re going to pass on to the next generation. But food safety and environmental safety, there’s nobody who’s a better environmentalist than the American farmer.” – Crop farmer, independent lean Democrat

Special Report: Americans in Key Battleground States Want Leaders Who Share Their Values

Posted on by Navigator Research Team

Last month, Navigator conducted statewide surveys in Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas – four battleground states that are receiving an outsized amount of attention ahead of the midterms – to better understand how people view their leaders and the issues most important to them. Throughout September, Navigator will release reports on each of these states to delve deeper into how Alaskans, Iowans, Ohioans, and Texans think and feel.

Americans in the Battleground Want Leaders to Align With Their Values

Nearly three-quarters of battleground constituents say they would rather “a candidate who most aligns with your values regardless of party” (74%) rather than “a candidate who is part of the political party you want to control the U.S. Congress” (24%).

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Nearly Three-in-Four Say They Vote for Candidates Whose Values Align with Their Own Regardless of Party

Across the board, named Republican lawmakers (Alaska – Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Iowa – Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Ohio – Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), and Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton (R)) are not seen as sharing the values of their constituents. 49% across all four states say the phrase “shares my values” does not describe these lawmakers well, including 41% who say it doesn’t describe them well at all. A majority (51%) also say the phrase “lowering costs for working families” does not describe these lawmakers well, including 42% who say it does not describe them well at all.

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Republican Elected Officials are Only Described as Being Strong on Securing the Border

President Trump and Lawmakers in Both Parties are Underwater

Across all four states, all of which Trump won by double-digits in 2024, the president has a net approval of -14 (43% approve – 57% disapprove). In Navigator’s latest national survey, Trump had a net approval of -21 (39% approve – 60% disapprove). Trump is also underwater in these battleground states on his handling of the economy and the Iran war. In these four states, Trump has a net -15 approval on his handling of the economy (42% approve – 57% disapprove) and a net -22 approval on his handling of the Iran war (38% approve – 60% disapprove).

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Americans in the Expanded Battleground are Deeply Critical of the Job Trump is Doing, Especially the War With Iran

Trump is not the only unpopular lawmaker. Democrats in Congress have a net favorability of -34 (31% favorable – 65% unfavorable) and Republicans in Congress have a net favorability of -23 (37% favorable – 60% unfavorable).

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Democrats are More Disliked Overall, but Republicans are More Disliked by Independents

Battleground Constituents Blame Republican Lawmakers and Their Policies for a Dismal Economy

More than two-thirds of Americans in the battleground view the economy negatively (31% positive – 68% negative), including 36% who view it poorly. Independents are even more down on the economy: 83% view it negatively and only 15% view it positively. A majority (52%) say the current economic system in America needs major changes. 

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Two-Thirds Have a Negative View of the Economy; Only MAGA Republicans Have a Positive Outlook

Half (50%) say Republicans in Congress have focused on policies that have made life less affordable. Only 25% say they’ve focused on policies that have made life more affordable. When asked who they blame for rising costs, a plurality of battleground constituents (48%) say Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress compared to 37% who say Democrats in Congress. Independents are more likely to blame Republicans for rising costs (54%), however they’re twice as likely as battleground constituents overall to say they don’t know (15% overall – 31% independents).

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: A Plurality Place the Blame for Rising Costs on Trump and Republicans; Even Non-MAGA Republicans are Divided

Similarly, 51% say that they don’t believe the phrase “lowering costs for working families” describes the named Republican lawmakers well, including 42% who say not well at all.

Battleground Constituents Want Their Leaders to Prioritize the Economy and Healthcare, Issues They See Democrats Focused On

The top five issues people in the battleground want their leaders in Washington to prioritize are:

  • inflation and the cost of living (48%)
  • corruption in government (47%)
  • jobs and the economy (36%)
  • healthcare (34%)
  • government spending and debt (32%)
Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Inflation, Cost of Living, and Corruption are the Top Issues for Americans in the Expanded Battleground

This is largely consistent with findings from Navigator’s latest national survey. These priorities are largely consistent across states. One of the key differences is in Texas where immigration is the fourth-most prioritized issue (34%).

Battleground constituents see Democrats more focused on their top priorities than Trump and Republicans in Congress. 22% see Democrats focused on inflation and the cost of living compared to 11% who say the same about Trump and Republicans. Similarly, 26% see Democrats focused on healthcare compared to just 2% who say the same about Trump and Republicans.

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Americans Don’t Think Trump and Republicans are Focused on Some of Their Top Priorities Like Inflation and Healthcare

Battleground constituents see Trump and Republicans in Congress more focused on immigration (59%) and foreign conflicts (40%). Similarly, they also see Democrats focused on things like transgender issues (35%) and climate change and the environment (34%). 

Democrats are More Trusted, or Nearly Just as Trusted, on the Issues Battleground Constituents Care Most About, But Many Don’t Trust Either Party

Battleground constituents trust Democrats more on healthcare (43% Democrats – 31% Republicans), and healthcare costs (44% Democrats – 31% Republicans).

On issues of the economy and corruption battleground constituents are nearly split on who to trust. Democrats and Republicans are nearly just as trusted on lowering costs (36% Democrats – 38% Republicans) with 24% saying they trust neither party on the issue. On corruption, battleground constituents are nearly evenly divided (32% Democrats – 35% Republicans), but a substantial group (32%) don’t trust either party. These close results are similar to those in Navigator’s latest national survey.

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Democrats are Competitive With Republicans on Key Priorities, Including Costs and Corruption Driven by Strong Advantages with Independents

Stay tuned for more reports in our Expanding the Battleground series! Next week we’ll go deeper in our state-by-state data and will bring you reports on Texas and Iowa. 

Tuned Out, Not Checked Out: Where Passive News Consumers Get Their Info

Posted on by Navigator Research Team

Last month, Navigator conducted qual boards with passive news consumers. Qual boards are a private online forum where participants log on and answer a series of questions. These qual boards focused on passive news consumers, or those who say news comes to them rather than seeking it out. Over a three-day period, participants answered a series of questions on politics, news consumption, and AI use.

Participants Are Skeptical of Traditional Media and Spending More Time on Social Media

When asked what “the media” means to them, participants naturally mention more traditional media outlets like Fox, CNN, ABC, NBC, and CBS. Yet some also brought up social media. But no matter where they get the news, participants mentioned bias in coverage.

  • “It’s hard relying on news whether it’s traditional and social media because they seem to be [biased]. Resources like [Ground] are the best in my opinion when seeking out accurate news information.” – GA man, weak Democrat
  • “Big name news companies, anyone with giant money backing.” – TX woman, weak Republican

Participants say they spend “anywhere from less than an hour on a busy day” to up to seven hours a day on social media. While most say they primarily use it to pass the time or connect with friends and family, many say they use it as a news source.

  • “I use Social Media to stay up to date on current events, do research or find hacks, DIYs, or new beauty products to try based on video reviews.” – NV woman, weak Democrat
  • “I use social media as a news source mor[e] than anything.” – WI man, independent lean Republican
  • “My main intention of being on social media is to follow up on local, national, and international current events, as well as listen to and watch videos of interest.” – GA woman, independent

Many were able to name specific websites and creators they follow to understand what is going on in the country.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: There Are A Variety Of Popular Non–Traditional News Outlets

News Stories are Still Breaking Through to Passive News Consumers, But Many Say The Coverage They See Is Too Negative

Even without seeking the news out, many mainstream stories are breaking through to passive news consumers.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Recent Interesting Stories That Stuck Out Include “Traditional” Big News Stories Like ICE, Iran And The World Cup…

Several cited other stories that broke through that weren’t necessarily covered by mainstream news, like a conflict in Oregon over $200,000 in missing Legos. However, participants lamented that they don’t follow the news as closely because it is too negative.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: News Is Also Stressful, Which Is The Reason Most Give For Not Following The News More Closely

People Responded Positively to Creator Videos That Presented Facts Directly and Negatively to Those That Appeared to Include Spin

Participants were asked to respond to three videos of creators sharing the day’s news. Respondents were most positive about a video featuring a creator debunking talking points from Republicans in Congress on SNAP.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Dr. Jessica Knurick on SNAP Was The Best Liked Video, With Many Finding Her Compelling and Authoritative

Two of the videos, one featuring a creator speaking directly to camera and another featuring a video of Trump with a negative caption, were viewed as biased, especially by those unfamiliar with the speaker.

  • “It’s not helpful news and it’s just a clip taken pretty much out of context.” – PA woman, independent lean Democrat
  • “I have no idea who that is or if what he says [is] credible or not. I’d definitely have to dive in to figure out more information. It’s not a very professional video, and when I see videos like this I tend to feel like they are more opinion pieces than factual news.” – TX woman, weak Republican
  • “My first reaction is that I don’t know this man and he didn’t ​cite any sources for this information so while it may be interesting if true it ​is something that would require me to fact check it.” – OH woman, weak Republican

When asked what would make them trust a source more, some said they trust news more when they can cross-check it on other platforms or if the reporter comes off as someone without an agenda, while others cited corporate ownership as a form of bias.

  • “People are allowed to have opinions of course, however when it is presented in a way to purposely divide people politically, it makes it untrustworthy. I’d trust some news sources more if they didn’t do that.” – PA woman, independent lean Democrat
  • “If they reported the facts without bias.” – OH woman, weak Republican
  • “I would trust a news source that was not owned by the bigger corporations.” – NC woman, independent lean Democrat

Participants Do Not Want to See Content from Elected Officials and Few Say an Elected Has Made Them Change Their Minds

When asked what type of content they wanted to spend more time reading, watching, or listening to, the vast majority listed “content for an elected official” last. Some say it sounds like campaigning and not truthful.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: What’s Not Trustworthy, Popular, Or Persuasive Is Content From Elected Officials

Only a handful could name a time when they heard from an elected official who made them change their mind.

  • “Thomas Massie (R) kinda changed my mind about this as he goes against his party’s grain.” – OH woman, weak Democrat
  • “When I heard Mamdani speak on raising taxes for the upper class. I’d always been on the fence about that because they did earn their share. However, when I saw what that extra money can do for the city and how the upper class doesn’t always pay their fair share, I fall now on the side that they should be proportionally contributing to society.” – GA woman, independent lean Democrat
  • “James Talarico is the only one that so far stands out as a political figure that is interesting to me. He presents ideas that I agree with. He seems like a breath of fresh air. He seems like he cares about people and is easy to understand when he speaks. He communicates casually and straight to the point.” – TX woman, independent lean Democrat

Content is Driving Participants to Change Their Personal Habits, But Not Necessarily Take Political Action

Many described times when they made changes to their lives based on the content they’re seeing, but not necessarily inspiring them to take political action. Many of the changes they took were in health and wellness.

  • “I see information on health and workouts all the time. I started eating high protein and fiber because of the info I saw online about its importance to physical health.” – GA woman, independent lean Democrat
  • “I started drinking hot water with lemon and chia seeds every morning because of a Chinese medicine video I watched. I’ve lost 10 lbs since I started.” – NC woman, independent lean Republican

Participants Use AI and Worry About Others Getting Duped By AI Content

Many participants said they use AI, but are worried about the future.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: AI Evokes A Wide Range Of Anxiety And Excitement

Many report using chatbots, like ChatGPT and Gemini. Some say they’ve used them for everything from health tips to organizing emails.

  • “Asked AI some health related questions and tips on calorie counting because I am trying to lose weight. It’s definitely helpful, down 30lbs and counting so far.” – GA man, weak Democrat
  • “​I have used ChatGPT to ​help with organizing a work email. It was helpful but I needed to make ​it sound authentic.” – WI man, independent lean Republican
  • “I used DeepSeek to get information on the current for sale sign on my neighbor’s house. I used Gemini to help me find keywords for job searches. I needed help on making burgers in the air fryer, so I asked Alexa about that. She even set an alarm for me. So, I would say yes, It was helpful.” – NC woman, independent lean Democrat

When it comes to concerns, some cite job security, the impact of data centers, and people becoming dependent on it.

Participants Are Frustrated With the State of the Country and Overwhelmed By Rising Costs

Participants use words like “annoying,” “divided,” and “chaotic” to describe the state of the country today. To explain their answers, many cited the political state of the country, with some pointing specifically to the Trump administration.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Many See The Country As Dangerously Divided, And Worry Many Are No Longer Willing To Respectfully Disagree

Rising costs are the top concern for participants, with many pointing to gas, food, and energy costs. Participants say that in order to keep up with rising costs, they’ve taken on debt, used buy now, pay later platforms, and sold personal items.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Most People Have Taken Some Kind Of Action To Help Understand, Handle, Or Track Their Finances

America at 250: The State of Our Union

Posted on by Navigator Research Team

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Americans find themselves and our country at a political tipping point. Political divisions run deep, frustration with Washington is widespread, and patriotism has hit historic lows. 

Against this backdrop, the administration’s “Freedom 250” celebration reflects a particular vision of America rooted in a white Christian identity and nostalgia for a pre-civil rights history. But when Americans are asked what patriotism means to them, a far more nuanced picture emerges. 

This report, and our forthcoming series, explores that gap between the way America is being celebrated and portrayed by this administration, and the America people believe in.

Being American Is Deeply Tied To Personal Identity, And Many Express Pride at Progress Made 

Nearly nine-in-10 (88%) say being American is very or somewhat important to their personal identity, compared to just 66% of Americans who say politics is important to their personal identity.

  • 85% of immigrants say being American is important to their personal identity, including 51% who feel it’s very important. 
  • 94% of baby boomers feel being American is important to their personal identity, compared to 84% of millennials and 75% of Gen Z.
  • 83% of Democrats say being American is important to their personal identity, compared to 77% of independents and 95% of Republicans. 
Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Being American Prevails Over Politics When It Comes to Personal Identity, Especially for Waker Partisans, Older Americans

People feel hopeful (49%) and proud (46%) about being an American today, though many also feel frustrated (44%), discouraged (32%), or anxious (31%).

  • Independents and non-MAGA Republicans are especially primed to feel hopeful, proud, though frustrated about being an American today.
Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Across Partisanship, Being an American Still Inspires Hope and Pride, But Also Brings Frustration, Discouragement, Anxiety

When we asked focus group participants if they think America is the greatest country on earth, reactions were mixed, but many believe that status is at risk of being taken away.

“As a retired military member, I’m flushed with patriotism. So when I hear being American, it’s almost like I’m a part of the winning team. I’m on the right side. I’m on the good side. I’m the good guys. To me, it’s the greatest country in the world and I am so grateful to be a part of it.” – TX man, white veteran strong Democrat

“I think America still is the greatest country, but…it’s definitely declining, especially from an economic perspective….Starting off on your own, getting a house, starting a family, it’s extremely hard nowadays.” – PA man, 2nd generation soft Republican

“I have faith and high hopes that America will be great again. I think we have to hit rock bottom, pick ourselves up and get better. And I have hopes that better days are coming.” – MS woman, white Christian soft Democrat

Americans Are Divided on the Direction of Our Country 

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans say the country is on the wrong track, and 16% doubt the United States will exist at all in 250 years. Only one-third (30%) of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction, with modest optimism about the longer-term future: 37% expect the country to be better off in 20 years and 33% in 250 years. Among those who see the country headed in the wrong direction, the most commonly cited concerns shared in their own words were Trump, war, inflation, and prices.

Of those who feel the country is off on the wrong track:

  • 66% cite Trump’s election as the turning point.
  • 49% cite the war with Iran.
  • 42% cite the events of January 6, 2021.
Slide from Navigator Research titled: Majorities Say the U.S. Is Off on the Wrong Track, Cite Trump as the Turning Point for the Worse

When asking if they feel America’s best days are ahead of us, behind us, or happening now, responses remain mixed, but almost no one feels America’s best days are happening now.

“I truly believe that because we’re so young, again, we’re babies in this world, in the United States, that we’re judging things on a very small scale. Countries have had thousands of years of history. We have a long way to go, but again, I think we’re trending in the right direction.” – PA man, Black veteran, strong Democrat

“I think the best days of America were back then. It’s hard to live the American dream—home, car, family. It just seems impossible these days.” – TX man, 2nd generation, independent lean Democrat

“I’m a huge optimist….I think we’re making some progress and I think we’re all working towards that more perfect union and that shining city on the hill.” – PA man, white veteran strong Republican

Americans Are Proud Of Our Founding and the Progress that Followed

Both in their own words and selecting from a list of current and historical figures, Abraham Lincoln (46%), Martin Luther King Jr. (44%), John F. Kennedy (43%), George Washington (35%), and Barack Obama (34%) stand out as the figures who most represent what it means to be American.

  • While Democrats heavily favored Martin Luther King Jr. (61%) and Barack Obama (59%), independents and non-MAGA Republicans favored Abraham Lincoln (50%) and John F. Kennedy (48%). 
  • MAGA Republicans stand alone in favoring Donald Trump (60%) and Ronald Reagan (48%).
Bar chart from Navigator Research titled Americans Most Cited as Symbols of U.S. Are Lincoln, MLK, JFK, Washington, Obama, Trump

On events over the last 250 years, the abolition of slavery (57%) and the signing of our founding documents (54%) made people feel most proud to be an American. The abolition of slavery was a top choice for both Democrats (64%), independents, and non-MAGA Republicans (52%). The signing of our founding documents was the clear top choice for MAGA Republicans (71%). 

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Moments of Unity – Abolishing Slavery, Signing Foundational Documents, Saving Americans on 9:11 – Most Pride-Inducing

On a personal level, holidays and milestones bring out a deep sense of pride for many Americans. From stories of celebrating with family to a participant’s naturalization ceremony, Americans find moments of pride and joy in their country. 

Moderator: Tell me about times or a time you celebrated being American, or feel or felt most American.

“Martin Luther King Day just because I just found out a couple of years ago that Martin Luther King Day, you’re supposed to volunteer on that day. So to me, when I found out like, ‘oh, I should definitely do that.’ So now I drag my son and we do stuff to volunteer.” – PA man, white Christian soft Democrat

“When I hear ‘Taps,’ it still brings me to tears because it means so much to those that gave their lives in combat to protect what we have today. That’s what makes me feel American because I know people are willing to give their lives and fight for what we believe.” – OH man, white Christian independent 

“When I was able to marry…..I felt that we were being seen as a person and not as a sin anymore. And so yeah, being given the right to marry made me celebrate being American.” – TX man, Hispanic strong Democrat

“When I first saw the Statue of Liberty in person. That was kind of like, ‘okay, I have arrived’ kind of thing. So that was really the most American I felt, and it was really an overwhelming feeling of pride, of happiness, as well as, I don’t know, a connection.” – MI woman, 1st generation independent lean Republican

Americans Are Strongly Aligned On Shared Values Of Freedom, Helping Each Other  

Americans across demographics strongly agree with values centered on protecting freedoms and helping each other. 

  • 69% strongly agree that you can question America’s leaders and still love your country. 
  • 62% strongly agree that feeling free to speak out when you feel America is getting it wrong is a good thing.
  • 58% agree that America is at its best when we help our neighbors.
Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Speaking Out Is Seen as Deeply American, as Is Helping Neighbors and the Most Vulnerable

Freedom (82%), rights (74%), and independence (71%) rank as the most important values to Americans’ personal sense of what it means to be American. While Americans associate rights more closely with the Democratic Party, Democrats hold only a narrow advantage, or in some cases are at a slight disadvantage, on freedom and independence. 

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Freedom, Rights, and Independence Are Most Important Values to Americans

Freedom of speech (65%), the right to vote (53%), and freedom of religion (44%) are the rights and freedoms that Americans think are most important. Independents and non-MAGA Republicans especially value freedom of speech (69%) above all others. Freedom of speech (51%) is also the right that Americans feel are most under threat right now, including from Democrats (51%), independents and non-MAGA Republicans (47%), and MAGA Republicans (55%). 

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Freedom of Speech Most Treasured and Most Endangered Right in the U.S. Today

The value of freedom of speech is deeply aligned across the political spectrum. In a focus group, a strong Democrat and strong Republican shared similar sentiments on the importance of freedom and acceptance. 

“Being in America, everybody has a right to do what they want and say what they want as long as it’s not infringing upon anybody else. It would be boring if we were all the same, but one thing we need to do and we must do is respect each other’s opinion.” – PA man, Black veteran strong Democrat

“The shared values would be the freedom to express, whether it’s religion, your speech, anything of that sort….And also I would say the diversity. It’s a country that is based on accepting people.” – TX woman, Hispanic strong Republican

The Symbols and Values That Most Evoke Pride in Americans

Images of our founding documents (93%) or a veteran returning home (94%) evoke deep feelings of patriotism for people across demographics. And many Americans (41%) say they display the American flag.

“I still got a lot of warm feelings towards the flag….For me, the flag is tied up in what we want to be. And I think that Americans want to be kind. We want to be generous. We want to be neighborly. We want to get along with each other and we want a fair shake at providing for ourselves and our families….To me, the flag represents the dream.” – MI man, white veteran strong Democrat

Americans are also most proud in moments of unity, when people come together after a crisis (58%) or when service members, veterans, and first responders are honored (42%). 

  • 43% of Black Americans are proud when people march, protest, or speak out for civil and equal rights, but almost one-in-10 (9%) are not proud of any of the options given. 
  • 48% of AAPI Americans are proud of America’s scientific innovation.
  • While only a small minority of Democrats (4%) and Republicans (3%) don’t feel proud of any of the options given, 13% of independents are more pessimistic in sharing this sentiment.
Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Americans Most Proud When Coming Together- After a Crisis, to Honor Veterans, to Celebrate the Fourth, to Recite the Pledge

The American Dream Is Achievable, But Harder Today Than It Has Ever Been

To Americans, the American dream is about opportunity, freedom, and financial security.

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: In Their Own Words, Americans Say the American Dream Means Opportunity, Freedom, Liberty, Financial Security

However, only about a quarter (26%) feel that the American dream is still achievable, while 39% feel it is much harder for most Americans today to achieve and 24% feel it is no longer achievable for most today. 

“I think my parents are the epitome of the American dream. My dad and mom came with a suitcase and a couple hundred bucks, and then not even 10 years later, they owned their own house, they had me, both got stable jobs, just working hard. And I feel like nowadays I don’t think you can do that anymore.” – PA man, 2nd generation, Republican

  • Hispanic Americans (32%) especially feel the American dream used to be achievable but is no longer achievable today. 
  • Second generation Americans (34%) also feel the American dream used to be achievable but is no longer achievable today compared to just 22% of first generation immigrants. 
  • Baby boomers are 10 points more than Americans overall to feel the American dream is still achievable, though harder today. 
  • Nearly one-in-three Americans (29%) feel that the American dream is out of reach for them.
Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Most See the American Dream as Achievable, But Much Harder Today; Few Report Living the American Dream Today

America at 250, A Work in Progress

Two and a half centuries in, Americans are neither naive nor defeated. They see the cracks, and they still bet on the future. The country’s defining trait isn’t agreement, it’s a refusal to stop striving for a better tomorrow.

And when Navigator asked what would you put in a time capsule for future generations to find, one veteran shared:

“The Constitution….’Boys and girls, just in case you forgot, this is where we came from and this is where we’re supposed to stay with.’” – TX man, white veteran strong Democrat

Focus Group Report: Black Americans on Leadership and Voting

Posted on by Navigator Research Team

For decades, Black Americans have been one of the Democratic Party’s most loyal voting blocs. But in 2024, President Trump made significant gains among Black Americans, especially Black men. According to Pew Research, while President Biden won 92% of the Black vote in 2020, President Trump’s support among Black voters nearly doubled from 8% in 2020 to around 15% in 2024, including roughly 21% support among Black men. 

In our recent focus groups, Navigator heard from Black Americans who either shifted from voting to Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024 or who are Democrats that feel disaffected and unmotivated to vote, in order to assess the roots of their disillusionment and how leaders and elected officials can win back their trust.

Cost of Groceries, Gas, Healthcare are all Major Stressors

Participants said the stress of rising costs, like groceries and gas, is top of mind. Even with multiple sources of income, it’s not possible to make ends meet. The increasing cost of healthcare was also a major concern.

  • “The inflation and the cost of living as well as the food, it’s just outrageous. People can’t afford basic necessities. Going to the grocery store is just unrealistic .” – MI man, less motivated Democrat
  • “Honestly, for me as a young adult, it’s kind of a harsh reality seeing how bad we’re going. Businesses are going out or layoffs are happening. Gas rights are high. Airplanes are shutting down. I’ve never seen that happen in my lifetime.” – MI man, less motivated Democrat

The Government’s Role was Viewed as Helping People, but Seen as Falling Short

Participants viewed the government’s role as “helping,” but also falling woefully short, suffering from inaction and lack of results.

  • “I think they do have a responsibility to their citizens… We put these people in office. So they definitely…should take a stance in making sure that everybody’s taken care of in the end.” – GA man, 2024 Trump voter, 2020 Biden voter
  • “We the people, the ones who are out there every day working a nine to five, the middle class that literally are probably paying the most in for taxes. There’s just no benefit that’s coming to us. And every time there’s a tax law change or something that affects us, we just have to go with it. We have no say.” – GA woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat
  • “I would say get the health premiums down to where you can actually have health insurance, because right now, they’re not making a decision as far as health insurance, and you got a lot of Americans going around the country not having health insurance. So anything catastrophic, they’re going to be financially ruined.” – NC man, 2024 Trump voter, 2020 Biden voter

Participants Say Words Are Not Enough, They Want To See Results

Black participants told us they want to see Democrats taking more decisive action and “do what they say,” rather than “step back.” Many said they’ll judge leaders based on results alone.

  • “I need to see results. I need some results… If they haven’t already poured into the community and showed and they have proof that they have, I’m not voting for you.” – TX woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat
  • “James Baldwin says a quote… he says, ‘I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.’ So all they have to do is show me what you do.It’s not like, okay, you can say it all day if you want to, but show me.” – GA man, 2024 Trump voter, 2020 Biden voter

Trump’s Unprofessionalism and Erraticness Disturbs Participants

Trump’s behavior was widely viewed as disturbing, corrupt, and racist, many didn’t believe he was fit or qualified to serve the role. Though this didn’t always translate into enthusiasm for the Democratic Party.

  • “And don’t forget, we got a racist president. And you got a whole country full of every color that’s outnumbering the Caucasians, but yet he still keeps trying to act like they are superior.” – GA woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat 
  • “He’s just dividing [us]. People think they can say and do what they want to say and do. And it’s not fair that people get to go around and say things. And I think they do that because they think that Trump has been spilling all this stuff out his mouth that’s making people think that they can say what they want to say. They want to send us back to the 50s.” – TX woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat

2024 Election Options Viewed Poorly

Black Americans shared they weren’t enthusiastic about their choices in the 2024 election, but still cast a vote, feeling it was important to participate even if they felt the candidate options weren’t particularly appealing. While most Trump 2024 voters expressed serious grievances with Trump’s second term, most said they didn’t regret their decision as they didn’t feel like there was a better option.

Voting Widely Recognized as Important yet Unlikely to Bring Improvements 

Voting was largely viewed as civic duty – though some doubted its ability to bring about desired change.

  • “I think that if it’s not for our generation [to fix], the next group they have to endure because it’s been a struggle for us as Black people, for probably before my grandmother was alive.” – PA woman, less motivated Democrat 
  • “[Voting has] changed for me, real talk. I used to be a die hard, ‘Let’s go vote,’ especially during the presidential election. It was important. Our people died and fought and did so much for us to have the ability to vote. So it was really important to me. But now…I feel like my votes don’t mean nothing….I don’t even know if it’s worth it.” – GA woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat
  • “I don’t think voting is actually seen anymore as a means to an end. I think it’s just more of a popularity contest. It feels like how you vote for the president in high school or something like that.” – MI woman, less motivated Democrat

Motivation to Vote is Declining with Lack of New and Results-Oriented Leaders

While many had a respect for leaders who fought for civil rights, many participants also craved new, fresh, younger leadership. This didn’t seem to depend on participants’ own age; even one of our older participants lamented that our political system “is coddling all these old folks.”

  • “[We need] term limits. I’m tired of seeing the same people. So tired… New people. Fresh blood. Younger people, bigger voices, smarter voices. Just more different people.” – GA man, less motivated independent lean Democrat
  • “Where is the new young, vibrant, fresh idea people? Where are they at?We’re at this point we’re just coddling all these old folks, but there’s nobody stepping up with young, fresh ideas to even take their place.” – GA woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat

Many Familiar with Callais Decision, Viewing it as an Attack on Voting Rights

The Supreme Court’s Callais decision was widely known and associated with gerrymandering and voter suppression. Even those unfamiliar with the decision still saw gerrymandering and voter suppression as (largely) Republican-driven symptoms of our broken politics.

  • “The slashing for the Voting Rights Act, and the redistricting that they have allowed to set off while people are voting…is wild for me. Like, you, basically, are drawing us off the map.” – GA man, less motivated independent lean Democrat 
  • “It’s like they’re trying to control the vote in a way, essentially… that means you may not get the representation that your district actually deserves if it was otherwise that line not drawn there… It just seems like it’s a way to control the vote.” – MI woman, less motivated Democrat 
  • “Oh, yeah. Them shutting down Democrat gerrymanderings in certain voting Black-dominated voting areas throughout the country. They pretty much shut that down in the Supreme Court. So they pretty much gave the Republicans a huge advantagethis November.” – NC man, 2024 Trump voter, 2020 Biden voter

Participants Mostly Getting their News Online from Social Media and Podcasts

Legacy news media was almost as frustrating to participants as Trump and the economy. As one participant explained, “I can’t remember how you’re supposed to get on the TV and watch basic channels,” something she associated with her grandfather. Across groups, social media and podcasts were go-to sources of information and news. Don Lemon, Joe Rogan, and Roland Martin all came up across groups as trusted sources. Some participants also described a desire to avoid the news, viewing much of the content as depressing, and instead relying on friends or family to share information, or receiving brief updates while scrolling other content online.

  • “I don’t even mess with the CNN stuff anymore. The local news, when I come home from work it’s on, I watch it then and I scroll on YouTube as well, look at the podcast and watch a lot of reaction videos… Joe Rogan is one, for sure.” – MI man, 2024 Trump voter, 2020 Biden voter 
  • “[Don Lemon’s] my favorite. I believe everything he reports… I go straight to his page to see what’s going on because he keeps us updated with the current and he’s really on it.” – TX woman, less motivated independent lean Democrat 
  • “I used to watch a lot of cable news… But those stations look like they’ve been bought out and overturned… So now I tend to go on YouTube and watch a lot of different podcasters… I watched Joe Rogan.” – GA man, 2024 Trump voter, 2020 Biden voter

Where Things Stand in the Battleground

Posted on by Navigator Research Team

Most Americans say Republicans in Congress are Prioritizing the Wrong Things

Nearly three-in-five Americans in the battleground say Republicans in Congress are prioritizing the wrong things (59% – prioritizing the wrong things), the highest share since Republicans seized control of both chambers of Congress. This includes 58% of Americans in battleground districts that President Trump won by more than 10 points in 2024 and 64% of independents.

Similarly, 60% of battleground constituents say that Republicans in Congress have focused more on non-economic issues compared to just 28% who say they’ve focused more on economic issues.

The top priority for Americans in the battleground is inflation and the cost of living (30% named a top two priority).

This underscores a consistent finding from Navigator that Americans do not think Trump and Republicans are focused on the right things.

Chart from Navigator Research titled Inflation and the Economy Are Top Issues for Battleground Constituents Followed by Government Corruption

Trump’s Net Approval Hit New Lows Among Battleground Americans

President Trump’s net approval fell another five points from -10 in February to -15 today. 57% of Americans in the battleground disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency, the lowest point Navigating the Battleground has tracked since he began his second term. Likewise, net approval of Trump’s handling of the economy is at a new low among Americans in the battleground: -17 approval (41% – approve, 58% – disapprove).

Line graph from Navigator Research titled: Trump’s Economic Approval Has Fallen Double Digits Over the Last Year

Among independents, Trump has a net -26 approval overall and a net -25 approval for his handling of the economy.

Americans in the Battleground are Unhappy With the Economy, and They Blame Republicans

More than two-thirds of Americans in the battleground view the economy negatively (68%) compared to just 32% who viewed it positively. This is the widest gap since Navigating the Battleground polled this question in February 2025 (25% positive – 74% negative).

Line chart from Navigator Research titled: Battleground Constituents’ Outlook on the Economy Hits its Worst Level Since February 2025

People are seeing their own financial situations getting worse. In February 2026, the gap between those who said their own personal financial situations were positive versus negative was 22 points (60% positive – 38% negative). That gap has been cut in half to just 11 points (55% positive – 44% negative) as frustrations with the economy – and with Trump’s handling of it – have grown.

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Battleground Constituents Have Grown More Concerned About Their Personal Financial Situation Since February

When asked who they blame for the economy, two-thirds (67%) say Trump and Republicans in Congress compared to just 24% who say Democrats in Congress.

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Two-Thirds of Battleground Constituents Say Blame for the Economy Belongs to Trump and Republicans in Congress

Democratic incumbents in Congress have a net +3 approval among their constituents in the battleground (38% – approve, 35% – disapprove). Republican incumbents, on the other hand, have a net -19 approval among their battleground constituents (32% – approve, 51% – disapprove). Net approval for Democratic incumbents has nearly held steady from February 2025, when it was +2. For Republican incumbents, their net approval has fallen 16 points from -3 in February 2025. 

Americans in the battleground are split on whether or not they approve of Democratic incumbents’ handling of the economy (34% – approve, 34% – disapprove), a marginal improvement from February 2025 (34% – approve, 36% – disapprove). Republican incumbents have a net -21 approval on the economy among Americans in the battleground (29% – approve, 50% – disapprove), a drop of 21 points since February 2025.

Line chart from Navigator Research titled: Approval of Republicans Incumbents’ Handling of the Economy Fell by 21 Points Since February 2025

Among independents, Democratic incumbents have a -2 net approval on the economy, compared -25 for Republican incumbents.

Americans in the Battleground are Split on Who They Trust to Stand Up for Them

Americans in the battleground are nearly split on whether they trust Democrats or Republicans more on key issues, including:

  • Looking out for people like me (40% – trust Democrats more, 38% – trust Republicans more);
  • Standing up to corruption (35% – trust Democrats more, 37% – trust Republicans more);
  • Bringing needed change (35% – trust Democrats more, 37% – trust Republicans more); and
  • Fixing a broken system in Washington (30% – trust Democrats more, 32% – trust Republicans more).

On all of these issues, at least one-in-five battleground constituents say they trust neither party. A majority of independents say they trust neither party on all of those issues.

Bar chart from Navigator Research titled: Battleground Constituents Are Mixed on Which Party They Trust More to Handle the Economy

Republicans continue to lead Democrats on getting things done (29% – trust Democrats more, 36% – trust Republicans more) and keeping people safe (37% – trust Democrats more, 44% – trust Republicans more), while Democrats lead on ensuring our food is safe (40% – trust Democrats more, 33% – trust Republicans more) and standing up to corporate special interests (32% – trust Democrats more, 26% – trust Republicans more).