February 2021 Memo – Numbers Driving The Narrative
73% – Americans Who Think the Country Is on the Wrong Track
Joe Biden assumes the presidency at a time of historic pessimism about the future of the country, with more Americans “worried and pessimistic” than those who are “hopeful and optimistic” for the first time since NBC News began asking this question.
By comparison, 59% of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track at the outset of Barack Obama’s presidency during the depths of the Great Recession.
WHAT IT MEANS: This collective concern is hardly surprising in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed millions, destroyed segments of the economy and cut off basic human contact for much of the world. The recent storming of the U.S. Capitol only added to that sense of anxiety and dread. This is a difficult backdrop for Biden to begin his presidency. The next year will determine whether this is just darkness before the dawn or the middle of a long night ahead.
79% – Voters Who Think Politicians Would Break Law to Win
Cynicism about our elected leaders remains sky high, with 90% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats thinking political candidates or their campaigns “often” or “sometimes” do things that are illegal in order to make sure they have the best possible chance to win.
This skepticism of the political process helps explain how 64% of Republicans think former President Trump “definitely” or “probably” won the election.
WHAT IT MEANS: It is hard for our elected leaders to govern when voters hold them in such low regard. Many Democrats think Trump and his supporters should be jailed for fomenting an insurrection, while a majority of Republicans think Democrats stole the presidency. Emotionally, this is a very different country than the one that rallied around the flag in the wake of 9/11 or clawed back from the Great Recession.
40%– Share of Republicans Who Do NOT Want Trump to Remain a Major Political Figure
For all the talk about Donald Trump’s dominance of the Republican Party, that support definitely trailed off during his final months in the White House.
His job approval among Republicans slumped to 60% by the time he left office, down from 85% months before the election, and a majority of GOP voters think Trump bears “some” or “a lot” of responsibility for the Capitol riot.
WHAT IT MEANS: Trump will remain an influential voice inside the Republican Party, but there are signs he may not be the dominating factor some of his allies and many media outlets suggest. Trump will have to work hard to preserve whatever sway he does have over the party – and the country as a whole – especially without his Twitter megaphone and the nonstop media coverage of his every utterance.
44%– CNN’s Drop in Viewership During First Week of Biden’s Presidency
Ratings plunged across all three hours of primetime programming for the cable news giant.
Fox News and MSNBC were much less impacted, although the latter also registered a noticeable decline in viewership.
WHAT IT MEANS: Love him or hate him, Donald Trump was good for the news business, driving huge traffic for many media outlets. Few benefited more from that surge than cable news outlets who translated the constant controversy into historically high ratings. His ouster will force many media companies to refocus on the bleak financial reality of an increasingly splintered landscape for news and dwindling trust in the institution itself.
2.2 million– Combined Tweets and Facebook Posts by Members of the 116th Congress
This tally by the Pew Research Center found members of Congress generated 1.57 million Twitter posts, up from about 1 million during the 114th Congress (2015 – 2016), and 680,000 Facebook posts, up from about 484,000 in the 114th.
On average, members of Congress produced more than 3,000 posts across both platforms over the last two years.
WHAT IT MEANS: This past Congress was far more prolific on social media than it was at legislating (although, it was far from the least-productive). But for those rolling their eyes, this is also evidence that elected officials (not named Trump) continue to communicate directly to their constituents and most ardent followers as some traditional channels wither.
27%– People Reporting Concussion-like Symptoms From Lack of Sleep, Too Much Stress
A sprawling study of student-athletes and military cadets with no recent history of concussions reported symptoms that meet the criteria for post-concussions syndrome (PCS).
Between half and three-quarters of the 31,000 student-athletes in the study reported one or more of symptoms commonly associated with PCS.
WHAT IT MEANS: You’re not alone. Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, an alarming share of people are going through life in a kind of fog. Researchers highlighted three major factors for predicting these symptoms: stress, pre-existing mental health issues and a lack of sleep. The lead author of the study thinks the numbers are even worse for the broader population.
73% – Americans Who Think the Country Is on the Wrong Track
Joe Biden assumes the presidency at a time of historic pessimism about the future of the country, with more Americans “worried and pessimistic” than those who are “hopeful and optimistic” for the first time since NBC News began asking this question.
By comparison, 59% of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track at the outset of Barack Obama’s presidency during the depths of the Great Recession.
WHAT IT MEANS: This collective concern is hardly surprising in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed millions, destroyed segments of the economy and cut off basic human contact for much of the world. The recent storming of the U.S. Capitol only added to that sense of anxiety and dread. This is a difficult backdrop for Biden to begin his presidency. The next year will determine whether this is just darkness before the dawn or the middle of a long night ahead.
79% – Voters Who Think Politicians Would Break Law to Win
Cynicism about our elected leaders remains sky high, with 90% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats thinking political candidates or their campaigns “often” or “sometimes” do things that are illegal in order to make sure they have the best possible chance to win.
This skepticism of the political process helps explain how 64% of Republicans think former President Trump “definitely” or “probably” won the election.
WHAT IT MEANS: It is hard for our elected leaders to govern when voters hold them in such low regard. Many Democrats think Trump and his supporters should be jailed for fomenting an insurrection, while a majority of Republicans think Democrats stole the presidency. Emotionally, this is a very different country than the one that rallied around the flag in the wake of 9/11 or clawed back from the Great Recession.
40%– Share of Republicans Who Do NOT Want Trump to Remain a Major Political Figure
For all the talk about Donald Trump’s dominance of the Republican Party, that support definitely trailed off during his final months in the White House.
His job approval among Republicans slumped to 60% by the time he left office, down from 85% months before the election, and a majority of GOP voters think Trump bears “some” or “a lot” of responsibility for the Capitol riot.
WHAT IT MEANS: Trump will remain an influential voice inside the Republican Party, but there are signs he may not be the dominating factor some of his allies and many media outlets suggest. Trump will have to work hard to preserve whatever sway he does have over the party – and the country as a whole – especially without his Twitter megaphone and the nonstop media coverage of his every utterance.
44%– CNN’s Drop in Viewership During First Week of Biden’s Presidency
Ratings plunged across all three hours of primetime programming for the cable news giant.
Fox News and MSNBC were much less impacted, although the latter also registered a noticeable decline in viewership.
WHAT IT MEANS: Love him or hate him, Donald Trump was good for the news business, driving huge traffic for many media outlets. Few benefited more from that surge than cable news outlets who translated the constant controversy into historically high ratings. His ouster will force many media companies to refocus on the bleak financial reality of an increasingly splintered landscape for news and dwindling trust in the institution itself.
2.2 million– Combined Tweets and Facebook Posts by Members of the 116th Congress
This tally by the Pew Research Center found members of Congress generated 1.57 million Twitter posts, up from about 1 million during the 114th Congress (2015 – 2016), and 680,000 Facebook posts, up from about 484,000 in the 114th.
On average, members of Congress produced more than 3,000 posts across both platforms over the last two years.
WHAT IT MEANS: This past Congress was far more prolific on social media than it was at legislating (although, it was far from the least-productive). But for those rolling their eyes, this is also evidence that elected officials (not named Trump) continue to communicate directly to their constituents and most ardent followers as some traditional channels wither.
27%– People Reporting Concussion-like Symptoms From Lack of Sleep, Too Much Stress
A sprawling study of student-athletes and military cadets with no recent history of concussions reported symptoms that meet the criteria for post-concussions syndrome (PCS).
Between half and three-quarters of the 31,000 student-athletes in the study reported one or more of symptoms commonly associated with PCS.
WHAT IT MEANS: You’re not alone. Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, an alarming share of people are going through life in a kind of fog. Researchers highlighted three major factors for predicting these symptoms: stress, pre-existing mental health issues and a lack of sleep. The lead author of the study thinks the numbers are even worse for the broader population.
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February 2021 Memo – Numbers Driving The Narrative
73% – Americans Who Think the Country Is on the Wrong Track
79% – Voters Who Think Politicians Would Break Law to Win
40% – Share of Republicans Who Do NOT Want Trump to Remain a Major Political Figure
44% – CNN’s Drop in Viewership During First Week of Biden’s Presidency
2.2 million – Combined Tweets and Facebook Posts by Members of the 116th Congress
27% – People Reporting Concussion-like Symptoms From Lack of Sleep, Too Much Stress
73% – Americans Who Think the Country Is on the Wrong Track
79% – Voters Who Think Politicians Would Break Law to Win
40% – Share of Republicans Who Do NOT Want Trump to Remain a Major Political Figure
44% – CNN’s Drop in Viewership During First Week of Biden’s Presidency
2.2 million – Combined Tweets and Facebook Posts by Members of the 116th Congress
27% – People Reporting Concussion-like Symptoms From Lack of Sleep, Too Much Stress