Newsletter August 18, 2022

Are Americans Hopelessly Divided Over Politics?

Daniel A. Cox

Artists rendition of two people meeting in the middle of a bridge held up by a stone elephant and stone donkey. There is an American flag in the background.

Partisan hostility is at an all-time high, but things are not quite as bad as they seem

Every new poll seems to bring more bad news about the state of American politics. Most recently, the Pew Research Center released a new survey showing Democrats and Republicans hate each other more this year than they did last. The report states: “Growing shares in each party now describe those in the other party as more closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent than other Americans.” 

I’m not going to suggest that the American political system is in great shape, but things are probably not quite as bad as they seem. Why? Well, too often the political news and information are presented in ways that highlight division and exaggerate differences. Let me explain.

Continue reading on American Storylines.

Survey Reports

Daniel A. Cox, Jae Grace, Avery Shields
April 27, 2026

Strangers Next Door: The Decline of Neighborhood Socializing and the Class Divide in Belonging

Acknowledgment The American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life is grateful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for its generous support of this research. As Americans spend more of their time online, the neighborhood—once a primary physical location for real-world socialization—is playing less of a central role than ever before. Since

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
November 20, 2025

Individuality and Moral Behavior: A Generational Divide in Moral Judgments and Self-Expression

Younger and older Americans increasingly disagree on the morality of certain behaviors, reflecting deep shifts in views about individuality, self-expression, and the role of community and faith.

Daniel A. Cox
July 2, 2025

America’s Cultural Crossroads: Enduring Discontent, Rising Disconnection, and an Uncertain Future

A new survey from the Survey Center on American Life shows Americans are changing course on major cultural issues—from immigration and gay rights to gender roles and public trust.

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
January 29, 2025

Romantic Recession: How Politics, Pessimism, and Anxiety Shape American Courtship

A new report by the Survey Center on American life finds that safety concerns and declining trust are reshaping modern dating, leaving many singles feeling pessimistic about their prospects. Sharp gender divides in attitudes toward dating apps, trust, and relationships reveal how these challenges are redefining the search for connection.