The Government Shutdown: A Growing Concern for Americans

The government shutdown is causing more and more worry among Americans. Many people think Congress isn't even trying to fix the problem. This worry is especially strong among those with lower incomes, who are more concerned about how the shutdown will affect them personally. Politically, no one seems to be winning. Democrats, Republicans, and President Trump are all getting more negative reviews for how they're handling the situation. Democrats are more worried about the economic impact than Republicans. Other government services, like air travel, are also causing concern. Most people disapprove of how the people in charge are handling the shutdown, and these feelings have gotten more negative over time. Looking at the people within each party, both Republicans and Democrats are getting majority approval from their own sides. But the Republican base is even more supportive of their party than Democrats are of theirs. Some of this support might be because Democrats who don't approve aren't following the news as closely. Another reason could be financial. Democrats generally worry more about the shutdown's effects on the economy and themselves. The Democrats who do approve are also more likely to say their own financial situation is good, so they might think they can handle any impact. But overall, Congress isn't seen as working to end the shutdown. Americans are especially worried because the economy is still uncertain. Ratings of the economy have been bad for years, and people's expectations for the coming year are mixed at best. Support for tariffs remains negative, and views of the job market are also negative. There's also concern that AI will take jobs. But perhaps most of all, prices are still seen as rising. Few expect prices to come down in the next few months. Those who expect continued higher prices and have a more negative outlook on the economy are particularly concerned about the economic effects of the shutdown. One year after his election victory, most Americans do perceive Mr. Trump as trying to fulfill his campaign promises, even though many say it's a different approach than they expected. On the policy front, Mr. Trump and the Republicans' approaches to both economic and immigration policy are favored over the Democrats' in a straight-up comparison.