The NPR Politics Podcast: Poll Reveals Most Americans View Democracy as Under Serious Threat

Episode: Poll: Most Americans Think Democracy Is Under Serious Threat
Release Date: July 2, 2025

Introduction

In the July 2, 2025 episode of The NPR Politics Podcast, hosted by Deepa Shivaram, senior political editor Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson delve into the latest findings from the NPR-PBS News-Marist poll. The episode explores widespread American concerns about the state of democracy, confidence in political leadership, immigration policies, and President Donald Trump's economic standing. This comprehensive summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented during the episode.

1. Americans' Concerns About Democracy

Deepa Shivaram introduces the central theme of the episode: a significant majority of Americans perceive democracy as being under serious threat.

• Poll Findings:
  • 75% of respondents believe democracy is under serious threat (01:30).
  • Breakdown by party:
    • 90% of Democrats
    • 80% of Independents
    • Majority of Republicans
  • 75% also view politically motivated violence as a major problem.

Domenico Montanaro elaborates on these findings:

"Three quarters of people say that democracy they believe is under serious threat. That included almost nine in ten Democrats, 80% of independents, and a majority of Republicans. [01:30]"

2. Shifts in Perception Over Time and Party Lines

Deepa seeks to contextualize the current poll results by comparing them to previous data.

Domenico responds:

"Well, it's similar to what we found in April of this year, but it's different from 2023, when 87% said that they felt that there was a serious threat to democracy. [02:04]"

He explains that the slight decrease is primarily due to Republicans feeling less threatened under President Trump compared to when Democrat Joe Biden was in office.

"Republicans being 31 points different, I think that shows you that they really feel good about where things are right now with Donald Trump, for the most part. [02:54]"

Mara Liasson probes whether these perceptions are merely proxies for party affiliation:

"Does that mean these questions are really a proxy for party id? [03:21]"

Domenico acknowledges the influence but emphasizes broader concerns:

"I think there's a broad range of what people define democracy as, and I think it's really, you know, a temperature check for the health of the country. [03:59]"

3. Confidence in Political Leadership

The podcast shifts focus to Americans' trust in their political leaders.

Domenico shares unsettling statistics:

"President Trump has just a 43% approval rating. Republicans in Congress are just at 35%, which is actually the highest in the time that Marist has been asking this question. [04:12]"

He highlights a significant divide within the Democratic Party, citing the election of a young Democratic Socialist, Zoran Mamdani, in a New York mayoral primary as evidence of internal rifts.

"We have younger progressives who don't really like how they've seen their party... Older Democrats see his vision of a democratic socialist America as not one that can win nationally. [05:41]"

4. Immigration Policy: A Divisive Issue

The episode delves into the complexities of immigration policy under President Trump.

Domenico outlines key poll insights:

"64% of people say America's openness to people from all over the world is essential to who we are as a Nation... 62% of Republicans agreed that if America is too open, it risks losing its identity as a nation. [09:27]"

He emphasizes the nuanced public opinions on various aspects of immigration:

• Violent Crimes: Broad consensus on deporting those convicted.
• Nonviolent Crimes: 58% support deportation.
• Students Overstaying Visas: A significant national split.
• Industry Workers: 55% oppose deportations.

Mara Liasson comments on Trump's fluctuating stance:

"We saw Trump following those shifting feelings on immigration almost like he was a metronome... Support for immigration in general went up over the course of his first term, and it might do the same in the second. [10:50]"

Domenico adds that despite Trump's declarations, policy implementation remains inconsistent:

"He said this weekend that he wants to see a, quote, temporary pass for farmers and hotel owners. But we haven't seen that trickle down to the Department of Homeland Security... [11:13]"

5. Economic Approval Amidst Political Challenges

President Trump's handling of the economy is another focal point of the discussion.

Domenico reveals a decline in economic approval:

"Foreign policy was 41%. Economics, he was at 39% economic approval... It's really the worst rating of any of the three things that we'd asked about when it came to immigration. [11:41]"

He contrasts current economic sentiments with those during Trump's first term, noting a significant drop in approval ratings.

Mara Liasson raises a critical question about Trump's economic policies:

"Will a weak dollar and high tariffs bring back the golden age of the American economy, as Trump says it will, or will the vast majority of economists be right and say that this could lead to a fiscal crisis and inflation? [12:15]"

6. Implications for Future Elections

The episode concludes by examining the potential impact of current political sentiments on upcoming elections.

Mara discusses Trump's position and the Republican base:

"But yes, the big question is, is Trump a kind of unique figure?... What I thought was really interesting and I wanted to ask Domenico, you know, his overall Approval rating is 43%. That's very static... [13:44]"

Domenico explains Trump's established support base:

"85% of the people who voted for Trump in 2020 voted for him in 2024, according to the Pew Research center... [14:24]"

He underscores that Trump's high floor and low ceiling limit his ability to improve his approval ratings, while also reinforcing his loyal base.

Conclusion

The episode of The NPR Politics Podcast provides a thorough analysis of American sentiments regarding democracy, political leadership, immigration, and economic policies. The NPR-PBS News-Marist poll underscores a deeply divided nation, with significant disparities in how different political affiliations perceive the threats to democracy and the performance of their leaders. As the political landscape evolves, these insights offer a valuable lens through which to understand the challenges and dynamics shaping the future of American governance.

Notable Quotes:

• Domenico Montanaro:
  "Three quarters of people say that democracy they believe is under serious threat. That included almost nine in ten Democrats, 80% of independents, and a majority of Republicans. [01:30]"

• Mara Liasson:
  "Does that mean these questions are really a proxy for party id? [03:21]"

• Domenico Montanaro:
  "I think that shows you that they really feel good about where things are right now with Donald Trump, for the most part. [02:54]"

• Domenico Montanaro:
  "They have very little confidence in their political leadership... Only 44% of Democrats approve of the job the Democrats are doing in Congress. [04:12]"

• Mara Liasson:
  "Will a weak dollar and high tariffs bring back the golden age of the American economy, as Trump says it will, or will the vast majority of economists be right and say that this could lead to a fiscal crisis and inflation? [12:15]"

For more detailed discussions and insights, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode of The NPR Politics Podcast.