Our research below provides messaging guidance for progressives to win key policy debates.
The public is overwhelmingly negative about Trump saying “slow the testing down, please” as the percentage of Americans who think he is not doing enough to respond to the pandemic hits an all-time high.
Disapproval of Trump’s handling of the pandemic reaches a new high as a growing number do not see a “return to normal” in the near future; majorities say states that are reopening should reverse course if new cases surge.
A Majority of Americans continue to support the protests following the death of George Floyd and a growing
number feel “engaged and interested in taking action”. An overwhelming majority say that taxing the wealthiest Americans and corporations would help with the economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.
Public debate on Trump has shifted back toward coronavirus and majorities blame him for the recent surge in cases while feeling he is not doing enough on the pandemic and that he is pushing too aggressively to reopen.
The public maintains a negative outlook on various aspects of Trump’s job performance as more Americans than ever say the country is “off on the wrong track.” Support for more aggressive social distancing measures is growing and amny believe their state is reopening too quickly amidst a rise in coronavirus cases.
Americans want to see big changes in the way the police operate and there is broad support for a variety of policing reforms and the “Justice in Policing Act” in the House; Trump earns significantly lower favorability ratings than his predecessors as more see him as “self-absorbed.”
Americans continue to support the ongoing protests, increasingly view the Black Lives Matter movement favorably, support NFL players kneeling in protest, and approve of the removal of Confederate symbols from public view.
Trump’s overall job approval has hit a new low in our tracking as Americans continue to hear negative things about his handling of recent protests and the coronavirus pandemic; a majority say he is moving to reopen the country too aggressively.
Understanding Asian Americans’ political attitudes and how the pandemic is affecting the community today.
As the public views reopening cautiously, a majority believe the country is in crisis, both in terms of the pandemic and the protests following George Floyd’s death; Democrats report concerns about police violence while Republicans are worried about rioting and looting.
Americans believe race relations have worsened under Trump and lack confidence in him to handle issues related to policing and race. As the protests continue, Americans have some concern that the national conversation has become too focused on the protests instead of the murders and systemic racism that have led up to them.
There is overwhelming support for the protests in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, among many others, and a majority recognize their deaths as part of a broader problem with police brutality. By a wide margin, Americans disapprove of Trump’s response to the protests while expressing optimism the protests will be effective.
Trump’s handling of the economy hits a new low; a majority disapprove of his decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization; Democrats hold a trust advantage on issues related to the pandemic while a majority views the House-passed HEROES Act as appealing because it gets economic relief to those who need it most.
Disapproval of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has hit the highest point yet in our tracking; the public is bothered by the death toll and few Americans view his response as “compassionate.”
More Americans say that the country is “off on the wrong track” as African Americans face particularly high infection rates and are the most likely to believe the worst is yet to come for the pandemic.
