Democrats and Republicans often misperceive each other

Just after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a New York Times / Siena poll found that Americans believe polarization is the second most serious challenge facing the nation. (The economy came in first.) As recently as one year ago, fewer than 1% of registered voters cited polarization as a national problem; this year, 13% said it was the most important problem facing the nation. Additionally, strong majorities agree that “America’s political system … is too politically divided to solve its problems.”

Not only do Americans believe we’re bitterly polarized; they worry that we’re condoning political violence and that we cannot agree on basic facts. When Republicans were asked to name the nation’s biggest problem, their first choice was the economy but their second was “Democrats.” When Democ