New Poll Finds About Three Quarters Of Americans Say Democracy Under T

About three-quarters of Americans say democracy is under serious threat, according to a new poll from NPR, PBS News and Marist. A similar number also see politically motivated violence as a major problem. Ahead of the Independence Day holiday and the country's 249th birthday, three-quarters of Americans say democracy is under serious threat. That's according to a new poll from NPR, PBS News and Marist. A similar number also see politically motivated violence as a major problem. MARTIN: NPR political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro is here to talk about these results, as well as the general atmosphere around politics in this country right now.

Good morning, Domenico. MARTIN: So let's start with this question about the state of democracy. What did the poll ask, and what stood out to you about the answers? Demonstrators rally on Pennsylvania Avenue during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Demonstrators carry a signed banner representing the U.S. Constitution as they march to the national Mall during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) A person holds an American flag upside-down during a “No Kings” protest Oct. 18, 2025, in Denver.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans “strongly agree” or “agree” that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, with about one-third saying they don’t have an opinion. But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country’s leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people. Americans across the political spectrum believe democracy is under threat as partisan divisions deepen and politically motivated threats and attacks mount, a new poll found.

Around three-quarters of Americans feel that U.S. divisiveness poses a “serious threat to democracy,” according to the NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released on Tuesday. The survey, conducted from June 23 to 25 in the wake of U.S. airstrikes on Iran and the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, found that 89% of Democrats, 80% of independents, and 57% of Republicans believe the future of democracy is threatened. The recent shootings may have been fresh in respondents’ minds: 73% called politically motivated violence a major problem in the U.S., compared to the 23% that called it a minor problem. Democratic state Rep.

Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were tragically killed in the attacks on June 14. Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times and hospitalized. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll reveals that nearly 73% of Americans believe democracy in the United States is at risk, citing political violence and deep partisan divisions as the main threats. The concern spans party lines, with 89% of Democrats, 57% of Republicans, and 80% of independents expressing worries about the stability of American democracy. The survey highlights a rare consensus amid a politically polarized nation.

Confidence in political leaders remains low. Only 43% of respondents approve of President Donald Trump’s administration, and approval ratings for Congress are even lower—27% among Democrats and 35% among Republicans. The survey also shows stark differences on immigration policy, with Republicans more likely to support deporting undocumented immigrants, even those working in critical industries. The poll indicates particular anxiety among white college-educated women and Baby Boomers, groups that express the highest concern over political violence. This unease is likely fueled by recent events marked by protests, threats, and escalating political tensions. Notably, 83% of Americans agree that presidents should obey court orders, reflecting ongoing debates about executive power during the Trump administration.

A new study from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda finds that Americans are deeply concerned about the state of U.S. democracy and that growing divisions within the Republican Party deepen partisan divides over how the Constitution should guide presidential authority and the balance of power. The report draws from a national survey of 4,500 Americans, earlier polling, and three focus groups with Republican participants. It builds on prior SNF Agora research documenting Republican disagreement about the legitimacy of the 2020 election. It shows that these differences now extend to views of presidential power, constitutional limits, elections, and trust in government. The research identifies three distinct groups within the Republican Party:

"Americans share deep concern for our democracy, but we do not all have the same reasons," said Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda. "Republicans in particular are divided between those who support unfettered presidential power and those who believe checks and balances are essential to the integrity of our constitutional order. These differences represent a deep cleavage in the Republican Party with consequences for the future of American democracy." Across parties, most Americans express concern about U.S. democracy: Seventy-four percent of U.S.

residents say American democracy is weaker than five years ago, according to an ABA poll released in advance of Law Day on May 1. Among those who thought that democracy was weaker, 31% said the primary cause was misinformation and disinformation, while 29% said the primary cause was political parties, according to the sixth annual American Bar Association... The survey results are from a telephone poll of 1,000 people in English and Spanish. It wasn’t clear whether the respondents were blaming one political party over the other and what kind of misinformation that they had in mind. But it was clear that they value fair and free elections; 50% said that was the most important part of a democratic government. Another 30% said the most important part was the balance of power.

A majority of the respondents, however, had fears about election fairness. Fifty-five percent said they had concerns about the integrity of the November 2024 general election. Among those who did, 36% said their primary concern was meddling with the vote-counting process, 23% said their primary concern was voter fraud, 21% said it was voter suppression, and 10% said it was... The survey also asked respondents whether they supported four different voter measures. The respondents supported voter ID requirements (80%), allowing convicted felons to vote after their release (74%), early voting (73%) and absentee voting (71%). WASHINGTON, D.C.

— Eight in 10 U.S. adults agree on a variety of issues that reflect core aspects of U.S. democracy. These include that using violence to achieve political goals is never OK; that elected leaders should compromise to get things done; and that having a mix of races, religions and cultures benefits the nation. Americans also express a desire to limit the political influence of wealthy individuals and businesses and believe there is a difference between facts and opinions. These findings are the first from the Kettering Foundation/Gallup Democracy for All Project and are based on a multimodal (web and mail) survey of over 20,000 U.S.

adults, conducted July 7 to Aug. 25. This is a five-year project designed to measure Americans’ views of how well democracy serves the U.S. and Americans from a variety of different backgrounds. The full report details how Americans largely agree that democracy is the best form of government but do not believe it is functioning well right now. As part of the survey, Americans were shown five pairs of contrasting perspectives on how democracy and U.S.

society should function and were asked to choose which perspective comes closer to their view. Large majorities of all key subgroups of Americans reject violence, favor compromise and embrace a multicultural society. There are modest differences in some of these views by party, age and education. For example, Democrats, independents and college graduates are somewhat more likely than Republicans and non-college graduates to see multiculturalism as a strength. Older Americans and Democrats are more likely than younger Americans and Republicans to endorse compromise. Age differences are even more pronounced when it comes to rejecting the use of political violence, with senior citizens most opposed and young adults the least.

This relationship will be explored in more depth in an article to be released next week. Another question in the survey, asked on a five-point agree/disagree scale, finds that eight in 10 Americans strongly agree (39%) or agree (41%) that everyone, regardless of their views, has the right to free,... Just 5% disagree, and 15% are neutral. Ahead of the July 4 holiday and the country’s 249th birthday, three-quarters of Americans say democracy is under serious threat, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. Nearly three-quarters also see politically motivated violence as a major problem. The findings come at a time of great political volatility.

In the midst of Donald Trump’s second term as president, the country is polarized and sharply divided. The U.S. is grappling with what it means to be American, who is essential to its story, who belongs, who doesn’t and which direction the country should take — all while Americans are expressing very little... Marist interviewed 1,381 adults from June 23-25. Respondents were reached via text message or online. The survey was available in both English and Spanish.

The poll has a +/- 2.9 percentage point margin of error. The survey was weighted to reflect the demographic breakdowns in the U.S. Census.

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