How views of the problems facing the nation have shifted over time
% who say ___ is a very big problem for the country today
Inflation
The role of money in politics
The affordability
of health care
The ability of Dems/Reps
to work together
The federal budget deficit
Drug addiction
Gun violence
Violent crime
Climate change
International terrorism
Illegal immigration
Domestic terrorism
Unemployment
...
The Pew survey reveals a nation deeply divided not just on solutions but on the very definition of what constitutes a crisis. The top-ranked issues—money in politics and healthcare affordability—reflect systemic distrust in institutions and economic anxiety, themes that transcend partisan lines but are interpreted through ideological lenses. The stark partisan splits on issues like gun violence (68% of Democrats vs. 27% of Republicans) and climate change (63% vs. 14%) suggest that these concerns...