A full 67% of people in a new Axios|SurveyMonkey poll describe themselves as very or somewhat angry about the way things are going in the country today. A majority of people (62%) say they find themselves feeling angry about current events and the news more often than they did five years ago, and a similar number (58%) say the people around them—their friends, family, and co-workers—seem more angry about the news, too.
More than half (59%) say things in this country are now headed in the wrong direction. Republicans are alone in thinking that things are headed in the right direction. Every demographic subgroup by age, race, gender, and education tilts towards thinking things are going in the wrong direction.
Television and the internet are tied as main news source
Equal numbers of people (38% each) cite television and the internet as their main source of political news and information, with just eight percent pointing to social media and even fewer saying radio (six percent), newspapers (five percent), or talking with others (four percent).
Though few people list social media as their main source of political coverage, plenty still get political news from social media on a regular basis—and particularly on Facebook. Nearly four in 10 people (36%) say they follow political news coverage on Facebook on a daily or almost daily basis, nearly as many who say they watch FOX News daily or almost daily (38%), and more than the number who say they watch CNN daily or almost daily (32%).
The percentage of people who get daily political coverage on Facebook easily beats the percentages for the New York Times (19%), MSNBC (18%), the Washington Post (16%), NPR (16%), and the Wall Street Journal (12%).
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Question text:
Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?
Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
How comfortable are you expressing your views on politics with people who you know?
How often are you talking with others about politics these days?
Compared to five years ago, would you say you now talk about politics with others…
Compared to five years ago, do you feel more, less, or about as comfortable talking about politics with others?
When you talk politics do you generally find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with people you talk with?
When you do talk about politics with people you disagree with, do you generally find it to be…?
Would you say you are very angry, somewhat angry, not very angry or not angry at all about the way things are going in the country today?
About how often do you hear or read something in the news that makes you feel angry?
Compared to five years ago, do you find yourself feeling angry about current events and the news …?
Compared to five years ago, do the people around you - friends, family, co-workers, seem more or less angry about current events and the news?
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Things have changed so much that I often feel like a stranger in my own country.
How often are you reading or watching news coverage about politics these days?
Compared to five years ago, would you say you now watch news coverage about politics…
Which one of the following is your main source of political news and information … ?
Do you follow political news coverage by any of the following media organizations on a daily or almost daily basis? (Select all that apply.)
Do you follow political news coverage on any of the following social media sites on a daily or almost daily basis? (Select all that apply.)
Thinking about the content posted on social media, which comes closer to your own view?
*voters
