What Americans Think about Politics

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 35% of Likely U.S. voters rate Biden as doing a good or excellent job of handling crime and law enforcement issues – down from 43% in August – while 48% now give Biden a poor rating on crime issues. The nationwide crime wave has included a shocking increase in carjackings in Washington, D.C., where an FBI agent was carjacked last month. Sixty percent (60%) of voters believe the problem of violent crime in America is getting worse, barely changed from October. Just 12% now think the crime problem is getting better, while 25% see it staying about the same.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 70% of American Adults think anti-Semitism is a serious problem on U.S. college campuses today, including 42% who see the problem as Very Serious. Only 16% don’t think colleges have a serious anti-Semitism problem today, while another 14% are not sure. University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned earlier this month after she refused to say during a congressional hearing that calling for the genocide of Jews would be a violation of the university’s harassment policy. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans, 73% of Democrats and 62% of those not affiliated with either major party believe anti-Semitism is a serious problem on U.S. college campuses today. Forty-nine percent (49%) of American Adults think there is less freedom of speech on U.S. college campuses today than there has been in the past. Eighteen percent (18%) say there is more freedom of speech at college now, while 21% believe the level of freedom of speech on campus is about the same. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Biden good or excellent on his handling of the economy – unchanged from July – while 49% give him a poor rating. In Milwaukee this week, Biden said his administration’s policies have produced “record job creation, historic economic growth,” and the U.S. has “among the lowest inflation rates of any major economy … on this Earth.” However, 84% of voters say inflation is a serious problem, including 56% who see it as a Very Serious problem. Only 14% don’t consider inflation to be a serious problem. These findings are nearly unchanged since August.

 

[Doug64]

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I did!

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is likely that the United States will become involved in a war in the Middle East in the next few years, including 23% who consider such a war Very Likely. Thirty-three percent (33%) don’t think America is likely to fight a Mideast war in the next few years. Fewer expect war with China or Russia. Forty-four percent (44%) believe it’s likely the U.S. will become involved in a war with China in the next few years, including 16% who say such a war is Very Likely, but a greater number (47%) see war with China as unlikely, including 14% who think it’s Not At All Likely. Forty-six percent (46%) of voters think it’s likely the U.S. will become involved in a war with Russia in the next few years, but only 14% see that scenario as Very Likely. Forty-three percent (43%) say it’s unlikely the U.S. will fight Russia, including 10% who believe it’s Very Unlikely. Another 11% aren’t sure.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. voters believe it is likely that some people are promoting mass immigration to the United States as part of a political agenda to replace the existing American population, including 36% who say it’s Very Likely. Thirty-three percent (33%) don’t think it’s likely that such a political agenda motivates those who promote mass immigration, including 19% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Another 10% are not sure. During this month’s debate among Republican candidates, Ramaswamy said: “The great replacement theory is not some grand right-wing conspiracy theory, but a basic statement of the Democratic party's platform." Fifty-one percent (51%) of voters agree with that statement, including 29% who Strongly Agree. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree, including 21% who Strongly Disagree. Another 17% are not sure.

 

[Doug64]

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending December 21, 2023. This week’s finding is up four points from a week ago. Sixty-one percent (61%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down four points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 37% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 57% said it was on the wrong track.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 41% of American Adults say their personal financial situation has gotten worse in the past six months, while just 17% say their finances have gotten better. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say their financial situation has stayed about the same. Twenty-five percent (25%) expect their personal financial situation to get better in the next six months, while 32% expect it to get worse and 36% think their financial situation will stay about the same. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say that, in the past six months, they have been late at least once in making a major monthly payment, such as their rent or mortgage, car payment, or utility bills, while 65% haven’t missed any payments.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 75% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that, in their lifetime, the overall quality of America’s political leaders has gotten worse. Just five percent (5%) think political leaders have gotten better during their lifetime, while 15% say the quality of American political leadership has stayed about the same. Forty-one percent (41%) believe President Joe Biden most represents the Democratic Party’s values, while 10% say House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries most represents his party’s values and nine percent (9%) think Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer most represents Democratic values. However, 31% say neither Biden, Jeffries nor Schumer most represents the party’s values. Forty-four percent (44%) believe former President Donald Trump most represents the Republican Party’s values, while 13% see the GOP’s values most represented by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 11% think House Speaker Mike Johnson most represents Republican values. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say neither Trump, McConnell nor Schumer most represents the party’s values.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 14% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Russia is winning the war in Ukraine, down from 17% in May 2023. Nineteen percent (19%) think Ukraine is winning, down from 25% in May. Fifty-two percent (52%) see the war in Ukraine as basically a stalemate, up from 45% last May. Another 16% are not sure who’s winning. At a time when many issues find voters divided along party lines, there is a remarkable consensus about the war in Ukraine – 50% of Democrats, 53% of Republicans and 52% of voters not affiliated with either major party now agree the war between Russia and Ukraine is basically a stalemate.

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending December 28, 2023. This week’s finding is down three points from a week ago. Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, up two points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 36% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 58% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 41% of American Adults say crime has increased in their community over the past year. Only 14% think crime in their community has decreased, while 38% believe crime has stayed about the same over the past year. Two years ago, 45% said crime had increased in their community. Last year saw “double-digit declines in homicide across nearly 70 of America's largest cities” compared to 2022, according to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. However, only 15% of Democrats, 13% of Republicans and 14% of those unaffiliated with either major party say crime decreased in their communities over the past year. A majority (50%) of Republicans believe crime increased in their community, as do 37% of Democrats and 38% of the unaffiliated.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 34% of American Adults believe their finances will be better a year from now, while 33% think their finances will get worse in 2024. Twenty-four percent expect their financial situation to be about the same at the end of this year. Biden recently scolded the media for their economic coverage.“What’s your outlook on the economy next year?” a reporter asked the president at a Dec. 23 White House event. Biden replied: “All good. Take a look. Start reporting it the right way.” However, only 40% of Democrats expect their finances to get better in 2024, a view shared by 31% of Republicans and those not affiliated with either major party.

 

[Doug64]

Economic confidence increased to 102.2 in this month’s Rasmussen Reports Economic Index, more than four points higher than December. This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase in the index. Enthusiasm about the economy surged under former President Donald Trump, reaching as high as 147.8 in January 2020 before tumbling after the coronavirus lockdown threw Americans out of work and closed many businesses. By November 2020, it had recovered to 126.4, but dropped sharply after President Joe Biden was elected. The index fell to 97.8 in February 2021 before beginning a three-month rebound that took the index to 123.7 in May 2021, but reached a low of 78.6 in July 2022.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of American Adults rate the economy as excellent or good this month, unchanged from last month. The number who rate the economy as poor was 43%, also unchanged from December. Twenty-eight percent (28%) now think the economy is getting better, up three points from last month. Fifty percent (50%) expect a worsening economy, down five points from December. Nineteen percent (19%) now see things staying about the same, up four points from last month. Forty-eight percent (48%) of Democrats view the economy as good or excellent, compared to 21% of Republicans and 27% of those not affiliated with either major party. GOP confidence has declined more than 50 points since November 2020, when 74% of Republicans had a positive view of the economy, while Democrats’ confidence is now 16 points higher than it was before Biden’s election, when 32% of Democrats rated the economy good or excellent.

 

[Doug64]

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and The National Pulse finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is accurate to describe the current situation with migrants at the border with Mexico as an “invasion” of the United States, including 43% who say such a description is Very Accurate. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, including 15% who think it’s Not At All Accurate to call the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border an invasion. House Speaker Mike Johnson led a group of Republican congress members visiting the border in Texas last week, pressuring Biden and the Democrat-controlled Senate to agree to a new border security bill. Seventy percent (70%) of voters consider border security a vital national security interest for the United States these days, while 17% disagree and 13% are not sure. Seventy-two percent (72%) believe the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is a crisis, while 20% don’t think so.

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending January 4, 2024. This week’s finding is down one point from a week ago. Sixty-five percent (65%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, up two points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 34% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 60% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 40% of American Adults believe violent video games lead to more violence in our society – up from 37% in 2021 – while 39% disagree and 21% are undecided. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe violent movies lead to more violence in our society, but 43% disagree. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. These findings are both far below earlier surveys. Fifty-two percent (52%) blamed video games for violence in 2018 and 62% blamed violent movies in 2011.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 53% of American Adults believe it is likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths – up from 49% a year ago – including 30% who think it’s Very Likely. Thirty-six percent (36%) now don’t say a significant number of deaths have been caused by vaccine side effects, including 16% who believe it’s Not At All Likely. Another 11% are not sure. Twenty-four percent (24%) of adults say they personally know someone whose death they think may have been caused by side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, while 61% don’t and another 10% are not sure. A year ago, 28% believed someone they know may have died from the vaccine.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. voters trust Democrats more to handle abortion, while 39% trust Republicans more. Another 18% are undecided. In November, Democrats led by 11 points on the abortion issue. Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters consider themselves generally pro-choice on the issue of abortion, while 42% view themselves as pro-life. In November, 54% of voters identified as pro-choice.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot represented a threat to American democracy, but 46% don’t think the J6 riot threatened democracy. Two years ago, 50% saw the Capitol riot as a threat to democracy, while 41% did not. Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol based on their belief that Joe Biden had not legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Likely Voters still don’t believe Biden won the election fairly, while 53% say Biden was fairly elected, and another 10% are not sure. These findings are barely changed from January 2022.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending January 11, 2024. This week’s finding is up two points from a week ago. Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down one point from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 32% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 61% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s likely that Willis had an "improper relationship" with the attorney she hired as special prosecutor in the Trump case, including 33% who think it’s Very Likely. Thirty percent (30%) don’t think such a relationship is likely, including 12% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Another 20% are not sure. Last week, after one of Trump’s co-defendants in the Fulton County case filed a motion alleging that Nathan Wade, Willis’s lead prosecutor in the Trump case, had an “improper” relationship with Willis, Trump blasted the prosecutor: “The district attorney is totally compromised. The case has to be dropped.” Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters agree with that quote, including 35% who Strongly Agree. Forty-one percent (41%) don’t think Willis is “totally compromised,” including 31% who Strongly Disagree with the Trump quote. Another 10% are not sure.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 34% of Likely U.S. Voters think Austin should resign as Secretary of Defense because of his health problems. Forty-six percent (46%) disagree, and 20% are not sure. Austin was released Monday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, two weeks after experiencing complications from surgery to treat prostate cancer. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of voters have a favorable impression of Austin, including 17% with a Very Favorable opinion of the Defense Secretary. Forty-four percent (44%) view him unfavorably, including 28% with a Very Unfavorable view of Austin. Seventeen percent (17%) have no opinion.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Nobody defends billionaires more vigorously than hundredaires.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 38% of American Adults say this winter has been worse where they live than it has been in past years. That’s higher than the 30% who said winter was worse in 2022. However, a majority (50%) still say this year’s winter has not been worse, and 12% are not sure. Fifty-nine percent (59%) think it’s likely that climate change is causing more extreme weather, including severe snow storms in winter. That includes 23% who believe it’s Very Likely climate change causes severe winter weather. Thirty-five percent (35%) don’t think it’s likely that more extreme winter weather is caused by climate change. These findings are essentially unchanged from 2022.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is likely that Obama is influencing the policies of the Biden administration, including 40% who consider it Very Likely. Twenty-nine percent (29%) don’t think it’s likely the Biden administration is influenced by Obama, including 13% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Many ex-Obama administration staffers work for the Biden administration. Last year, North Carolina Republican Rep. Greg Murphy said in an interview that Joe Biden is not “running the show” at the White House. “He's a puppet for a progressive left committee … headed by Obama." Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters agree with that quote from Murphy, including 37% who Strongly Agree. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree, including 31% who Strongly Disagree with the claim that Biden is a “puppet.”

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that just 30% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Biden is doing a good or excellent job handling issues related to immigration, while 52% rate him as doing a poor job on the issue. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said: "Since his first day in office, President Biden has worked to systematically undermine America’s border security.... The result is a humanitarian and national security catastrophe." Fifty-eight percent (58%) of voters agree with that statement, including 44% who Strongly Agree. Thirty-seven percent (37%) disagree with the quote from Johnson, including 25% who Strongly Disagree. Another 11% are not sure.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Republicans more to handle energy policy, while 41% trust Democrats more and 12% are not sure. Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters believe Congress and President Joe Biden should focus more on increasing oil and gas drilling to help reduce energy prices – down from 60% in April 2023 – but 39% think the policy focus should be more on limiting carbon dioxide emissions in an attempt to reduce climate change. Sixty percent (60%) of Democrats want to make reducing climate change the policy priority, but that opinion is shared by only 17% of Republicans and 38% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Seventy-three percent (73%) of Republicans, 33% of Democrats and 54% of unaffiliated voters believe increasing oil and gas drilling should be the priority.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending January 18, 2024. This week’s finding remains the same as a week ago. Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down two points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 31% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 63% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 61% of American Adults say the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs should keep their mascot, while only 21% believe they should get rid of it. Another 18% are not sure. Similarly, just 22% of Americans believe Atlanta’s major league team should dump their Braves mascot, while 63% disagree and 15% are not sure. After 2020, NFL’s Washington team got rid of their Redskins mascot to become the Commanders, and baseball’s Cleveland Indians changed their name to the Guardians. Since then, the Braves have won the 2021 World Series and the Chiefs, who won the 2022 Super Bowl, are set to play Sunday for the AFC title.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that just 26% of Likely U.S. Voters think “Bidenomics” will help Biden win this year’s presidential election, while 44% say it will help Trump win. Twenty-three percent (23%) believe “Bidenomics” will not make much difference in the presidential campaign. Biden himself has repeatedly used the word “Bidenomics” to describe his economic policy agenda. Forty-two percent (42%) of voters approve of “Bidenomics,” including 23% who Strongly Approve. But a majority (51%) disapprove, including 40% who Strongly Disapprove of “Bidenomics.”

 

[Doug64]

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and the Woodford Foundation finds that 64% of Likely U.S. voters favor ending “corporate welfare,” and believe government should not give handouts to businesses. Only 20% disagree, while another 16% are not sure. These findings have changed only slightly since September 2022. There is almost no partisan difference on this issue. Sixty-five percent (63%) of Republicans support ending “corporate welfare,” as do 64% of both Democrats and voters not affiliated with either major party. A solid majority (57%) of voters also agree that taxes and government spending should be cut 50% or more. Thirty-two percent (31%) disagree and 12% are not sure. More Republicans (72%) than Democrats (46%) or unaffiliated voters (54%) favor such a proposal.

The Rasmussen Reports Immigration Index for January increased to 89.1, up more than three points from 85.4 in December. The Immigration Index has been under the baseline in every survey since Election Day 2020, and reached a record low of 82.3 in late March 2021. The index is more than 15 points below where it was in late October 2020, indicating voters are looking for tighter immigration control from President Joe Biden’s administration.

The Index is based on a series of questions designed to determine whether voters are moving toward an immigration system that encourages more immigration to the United States or one that reduces the level of immigration here. All surveys are compared to a baseline – set the week of December 2-6, 2019 – which has been given an Index of 100. An index finding moving up over 100 indicates growing support for a more expansive immigration system. An index number falling below 100 indicates increased support for a more restrictive immigration system.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 69% of Likely U.S. Voters support Texas erecting barriers at the border to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing, including 53% who Strongly Support the action. Only 27% oppose Texas taking action to prevent illegal immigration, including 15% who Strongly Oppose the state’s action. After the Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration against Texas, Louisiana Republican Rep. Clay Higgins said: "The feds are staging a civil war, and Texas should stand their ground." Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters agree with that quote, including 37% who Strongly Agree. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree with the “civil war” statement, including 26% who Strongly Disagree.

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending January 25, 2024. This week’s finding is up two points from a week ago. Sixty percent (60%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down two points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 28% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 66% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 63% of American Adults believe it is likely that those who practice Judaism are publicly bullied in the United States today, including 28% who consider such bullying Very Likely. Only 21% don’t think it’s likely that those who practice Judaism are publicly bullied, while another 16% are not sure. Forty-nine percent (49%) think it’s likely that those who practice Islam are publicly bullied, including 20% who say it’s Very Likely. Thirty-four percent (34%) don’t think Muslims are likely to be bullied, including 13% who consider it Not At All Likely. Forty-three percent (43%) believe it’s likely that those who practice Christianity are publicly bullied, including 20% who consider anti-Christian bullying Very Likely. Forty-eight percent (48%) don’t think it’s likely Christians are bullied, including 18% who view such bullying as Not At All Likely.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that, in terms of their own health-care decisions, 35% of American Adults believe it's safe to trust advice from experts, while 58% say it's important to do your own research. Thinking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, 45% think most of the experts were basically right, while 41% believe most experts were basically wrong, and 14% are not sure. There is a wide political gap in these findings. While 73% of Democrats believe most experts were right about the COVID-19 pandemic, that belief is shared by only 24% of Republicans and 37% of those not affiliated with either major party. Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans, 16% of Democrats and 44% of the unaffiliated think most experts got it wrong about COVID-19.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 26% of American Adults believe race relations in the nation today are good or excellent, including just six percent (6%) who rate them as excellent. That hasn’t changed much from February 2023. Thirty-one percent (31%) now give U.S. race relations a poor rating, down from 35% from last year. Forty-two percent (42%) now say race relations in America are getting worse. Only 15% now say race relations in America are getting better – down from 18% last year – while 36% believe race relations are staying about the same.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think that, over time, Biden is getting less and less mentally sharp. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree. Many critics claim Biden’s verbal miscues have gotten worse, as in a Wisconsin appearance last week when one observer remarked that it seemed the 81-year-old president was “speaking a different language.” Sixty-one percent (61%) of voters believe it’s likely that the news media are helping cover up evidence of President Biden’s declining mental sharpness, including 45% who consider such a cover-up Very Likely. Thirty-six percent (36%) don’t think it’s likely the media are trying to hide evidence of Biden’s mental decline, including 20% who say it’s Not At All Likely.

Thirty-three percent (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending February 1, 2024. This week’s finding is down one point from a week ago. Sixty-one percent (61%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, up one point from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 30% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 65% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of the effort to impeach Mayorkas, including 36% who Strongly Approve. Thirty-six percent (36%) disapprove of impeaching Mayorkas, including 25% who Strongly Disapprove. Another 12% are not sure. A close vote in the House failed to impeach Mayorkas, who is accused of “willful and systemic refusal to comply” with immigration laws. Seventy-three percent (73%) of Republicans at least somewhat approve of the impeachment effort, as do 33% of Democrats and 50% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters view Netanyahu favorably, including 20% with a Very Favorable opinion. Thirty-five percent (35%) view Netanyahu unfavorably, including 20% with a Very Unfavorable impression. Twenty-four percent (24%) are not sure. These findings mark a significant decline in the Israeli PM’s favorability since early November, when 54% viewed Netanyahu at least somewhat favorably. After Israel faced charges of genocide in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague last month, Netanyahu said the "claim that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians is not only false, it's outrageous." Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely Voters agree, including 34% who Strongly Agree. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree, including 17% who Strongly Disagree. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 43% of American Adults believe the opioid drug crisis has gotten worse over the past year – slightly up from 42% last July. Just 14% now think it’s gotten better, while 28% say the opioid problem has stayed about the same. Another 15% are not sure. The synthetic opioid fentanyl has been a major factor in the rise of drug overdose deaths, which hit a record of 112,000 in the U.S. in 2023. Forty-eight percent (48%) of Americans say the abuse of opioid drugs is a major problem in the area where they live, while 28% say it’s not. Another 24% are not sure.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the current situation in the Middle East a major crisis. Twenty-one percent (21%) view the Middle East situation as a minor crisis, and only five percent (5%) say it’s not a crisis at all. Robert C. O’Brien, who served as National Security Advisor under former President Trump, said last week: "Just three short years ago we had peace in the Middle East … and now everything in the world is aflame. It's because President Biden moved away from a peace through strength posture that President Trump had, into an appeasement posture." Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters agree with that quote, including 40% who Strongly Agree. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree with O’Brien’s statement, including 30% who Strongly Disagree.

Economic confidence increased to 110.0 in this month’s Rasmussen Reports Economic Index, eight points higher than January. This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase in the index. Enthusiasm about the economy surged under former President Donald Trump, reaching as high as 147.8 in January 2020 before tumbling after the coronavirus lockdown threw Americans out of work and closed many businesses. By November 2020, it had recovered to 126.4, but dropped sharply after President Joe Biden was elected. The index fell to 97.8 in February 2021 before beginning a three-month rebound that took the index to 123.7 in May 2021, but reached a low of 78.6 in July 2022.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of American Adults rate the economy as excellent or good this month, up six points from last month. The number who rate the economy as poor was 36%, down seven points from January. Thirty percent (30%) now think the economy is getting better, up two points from last month. Forty-eight percent (48%) expect a worsening economy, down two points from January. Eighteen percent (18%) now see things staying about the same, down one point from last month. Sixty percent (60%) of Democrats view the economy as good or excellent, compared to 24% of Republicans and 28% of those not affiliated with either major party. GOP confidence has declined 50 points since November 2020, when 74% of Republicans had a positive view of the economy, while Democrats’ confidence is now 28 points higher than it was before Biden’s election, when 32% of Democrats rated the economy good or excellent.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters say they respect Trump most as a leader, while 21% have the most respect for President Joe Biden. Former President Barack Obama is considered the most respected leader by 17% of voters. Others are in single digits – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (5%), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (5%), Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (3%) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (2%). Trump’s dominance on this question is mainly due to his strong support among Republicans, 75% of whom identify him as the leader they respect most. Democrats are more divided, with 43% naming Biden as the most respected leader and 30% choosing Obama as most respected. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 39% respect Trump most as a leader, while 17% prefer Obama and 13% choose Biden.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending February 8, 2024. This week’s finding is down four points from a week ago. Sixty-five percent (65%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, up four points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 35% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 60% said it was on the wrong track.

 

[Doug64]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 66% of American Adults American Adults who work full-time say that, over the past two years, their income has not kept up with the rate of inflation. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say their income has kept pace. In October, 55% of full-time workers said their income hadn’t kept up with inflation. Fifty-one percent (51%) of full-time employed Americans say they have worked more hours or taken an extra job to help keep up with inflation, while 47% have not. These findings are unchanged from the October survey. Lower-income workers have been hardest hit by inflation. For example, 58% of those earning less than $30,000 a year, and 63% of workers with annual incomes between $30,000 and $50,000, say they have worked more hours or taken an extra job to help keep up with inflation. By comparison, 38% of those with incomes between $100,000 and $200,000 – and just 19% of full-time workers earning over $200,000 a year – say they’ve worked more to keep up with inflation.

 

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The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters believe increasing tensions in the Middle East between Iran and the United States will likely lead to war, including 24% who see such a war as Very LIkely. Twenty-four percent (24%) don’t think war with Iran is likely. The United States has launched attacks against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters say that, in his dealings with Iran, Biden has not been aggressive enough, while 11% believe Biden has been too aggressive and 31% think Biden’s response to Iran has been about right. Another 11% are not sure.

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending February 15, 2024. This week’s finding is up one point from a week ago. Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down one point from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 33% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 61% said it was on the wrong track.