Poll: Most Feel American Democracy is Under Threat

As we prepare to celebrate our nation's 249th birthday, 76% of Americans say democracy is under serious threat, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The poll comes as the Trump administration continues to defy Congress and the courts, expanding presidential power more than any administration in American history.

Regarding the question of whether there is a serious threat to the future of democracy, 89% of Democrats, 80% of independents, and 57% of Republicans responded affirmatively. The question showed almost no variation across racial demographics and was nearly identical when measured by those over 45 years of age and those under. In terms of gender, women with a college degree were the most likely to respond yes, while men without a college degree were the least likely.

In the same poll, nearly as many Americans (73%) thought that political violence had reached dangerous levels. While age once again did not play much of a factor, racial minorities were 10% more likely to answer yes. Confidence in political leadership was also low, with Trump scoring an overall approval rating of 43%, with the lowest areas being the economy (39%) and foreign policy (41%). Immigration was highest at just 43%.

While Trump's approval rating remained sky-high with Republicans (86%), it plummeted among independents (33%) and was just 12% among Democrats. Congressional approval was also low, with Democrats scoring a paltry 27% overall and reaching just 44% within their party. Republicans' overall approval rating in Congress hit an all-time high of 35%, but that was before the deeply unpopular budget bill passed the Senate.