• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’? Poll Reveals What Americans Say Is the Biggest Threat to Democracy

‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’? Poll Reveals What Americans Say Is the Biggest Threat to Democracy

October 19, 2022
No, Yellowstone Is Not Up For Sale, Senator Leading Charged Public Lands Bill Says

No, Yellowstone Is Not Up For Sale, Senator Leading Charged Public Lands Bill Says

June 21, 2025
SETH ORANBURG: CLARITY Now: Congress Must Bring Truth to Crypto Markets

SETH ORANBURG: CLARITY Now: Congress Must Bring Truth to Crypto Markets

June 21, 2025
JD FOSTER: The Senate Should Pass The Recissions Package Quickly

JD FOSTER: The Senate Should Pass The Recissions Package Quickly

June 21, 2025
DAVID BLACKMON: Trump And Wright Move To Speed Nuclear Expansion

DAVID BLACKMON: Trump And Wright Move To Speed Nuclear Expansion

June 21, 2025
LARRY ELDER: On Iran, Democrats, Except Fetterman, Have Gone Underground

LARRY ELDER: On Iran, Democrats, Except Fetterman, Have Gone Underground

June 20, 2025
Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law Requiring Ten Commandments In Schools

Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law Requiring Ten Commandments In Schools

June 20, 2025
MANISHA SINGH: No Great Expectations Of The Group Of Seven

MANISHA SINGH: No Great Expectations Of The Group Of Seven

June 20, 2025
Court Decision Could Spell Disaster For DC Law Allowing Noncitizens Ability To Vote

Court Decision Could Spell Disaster For DC Law Allowing Noncitizens Ability To Vote

June 20, 2025
Industries Long Addicted To Illegal Labor In Withdrawal As Trump Cracks Down

Industries Long Addicted To Illegal Labor In Withdrawal As Trump Cracks Down

June 20, 2025
Obama-Appointed Judge Allows Harvard To Continue Enrolling Foreign Students

Obama-Appointed Judge Allows Harvard To Continue Enrolling Foreign Students

June 20, 2025
Trump Admin Gives California Ultimatum To Cut Trans Ideology From Classrooms

Trump Admin Gives California Ultimatum To Cut Trans Ideology From Classrooms

June 20, 2025
‘The View’ Hosts Blame Sunny Hostin For Harris Losing Election With Viral Question 

‘The View’ Hosts Blame Sunny Hostin For Harris Losing Election With Viral Question 

June 20, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Saturday, June 21, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home Commentary

‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’? Poll Reveals What Americans Say Is the Biggest Threat to Democracy

by Bradley Cortright
October 19, 2022
in Commentary
235 17
0
‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’? Poll Reveals What Americans Say Is the Biggest Threat to Democracy

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 17: Voters turn out to cast their ballots as early voting begins on October 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Early voting in Georgia starts October 17th to November 4th, 2022. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats have been trying to make threats to democracy a significant issue.

A poll released earlier this week by The New York Times and Siena College asked respondents if they believe democracy is currently under threat. A majority of voters agreed democracy is under threat.

But an article published on Tuesday by The Washington Post’s Philip Bump highlighted a curious aspect of the poll.

“As it turns out, 84 percent of respondents said yes, the mainstream media posed a threat to democracy, including 6 in 10 who said it posed a major threat,” Bump wrote.

He added, “That was the highest percentage of any of the 10 options the pollsters presented — in part because it was one of the few options for which there was bipartisan support.”

Ouch.

That’s got to hurt for the Post, which changed its slogan to “Democracy Dies in Darkness” in 2017. And it has to hurt for journalists and commentators who view themselves as the gatekeepers of democracy working to prevent Republicans from turning the U.S. into an authoritarian country ripped out of the pages of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

The @washingtonpost has a new slogan. And it's…awesome. pic.twitter.com/VFNbSRPtjG

— ProPublica (@propublica) February 22, 2017

To pour salt on the wound, this poll result was not from Breitbart or some conservative outlet that disdains the “mainstream media.”

And finally, it must be a disappointment for President Joe Biden, who delivered a dark speech labeling so-called “MAGA Republicans” an “extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”

Additionally, the poll found sharp divides between what Democrats say poses a major threat to democracy, and what a combination of voters of all ideologies point to as a major threat.

For Democrats, the first major threat is former President Donald Trump, followed by the Republican Party, the Supreme Court, the Electoral College, the mainstream media, and finally, the federal government.

By contrast, voters not broken down by party affiliation say the mainstream media is the number one major threat, followed by Trump, Biden, the federal government, the Democratic Party, and voting by mail.

This is not to say that undermining faith in the electoral system and suggesting that the 2020 election was stolen is not dangerous.

But Democrats might want to keep this poll in mind while they’re screeching about Democracy™.

If they think warning about threats to democracy is going to help blunt their midterm losses, they might be in for a surprise.

Because according to this survey, most voters do not view the same people or institutions as “major” threats to democracy as they do.

Tags: 2022 midterm electionsDonald TrumpJoe Biden
Share196Tweet123
Bradley Cortright

Bradley Cortright

IJR, Senior Writer He's written for Independent Journal Review since 2019.

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th