Poll: Americans believe they aren’t being taught enough about democracy
For Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and other bold-face names struggling to bring about a new nation, an educated and informed citizenry was essential to the success of the American experiment.
Nearly 250 years later, Americans largely feel that the country has achieved the ideals set forth by the Founding Fathers despite expressing doubt and pessimism about the future, according to a new national NBC News poll sponsored by More Perfect, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing democracy. While the survey revealed deep divisions, particularly around class and party politics, Americans found rare consensus in their dissatisfaction with the country’s commitment to teaching how those founding principles apply today.
The poll of 3,000 adults nationwide found that 80% think the United States puts too little emphasis on civic education, or the teaching of government and democracy. A majority (51%) said the country’s focus on civic education is much too little.
This sentiment cuts across ideological and generational lines: 87% of progressives and 84% of MAGA Republicans say there is too little educational focus on civics. And though the poll exposed enormous gaps between how older and younger Americans feel about nearly every issue, Americans of all age groups were united in the belief that civic education was lacking.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the people who felt most strongly that teaching in this area was insufficient were those who most closely follow public affairs — 84% of those highly-engaged Americans said the nation’s focus on civic education was too little, versus 69% of those who do not follow public affairs.
At the same time, Americans showed a distrust in institutions, including their government. Just 12% of adults nationwide said they have confidence in Congress, and only 18% said they have confidence in the federal government. Views of local government were slightly higher, but only 27% expressed confidence. The national news media also received poor marks, with only 11% citing confidence.
The bright spot for institutional trust is that just more than a third of Americans expressed confidence in colleges and universities. Similarly, 30% expressed confidence in public schools, a level of confidence that has remained relatively unchanged since 2000.
Americans are also evenly split on a question that goes to the heart of constitutional democracy — checks and balances versus concentrated executive power.
When asked whether the country needs strong executive leadership to try to solve problems directly without the input of Congress and the Supreme Court, 48% of adults said they agreed with that position, while 48% said that it was dangerous.
Fifty years ago, in a comparable 1976 Gallup bicentennial poll, 49% said the U.S. needed strong leadership and 44% said strong leadership is dangerous. Since then, the question has been replicated over the years on other high-quality surveys, and the findings consistently showed 6 in 10 Americans believe the country needs strong leadership.
While there are some divisions by subgroups in the latest findings — women, young people, college graduates were more likely to say strong leadership is dangerous, while men, senior citizens, those with education levels at high school or less were less likely to say so — Americans overall are 4 points more likely to say strong leadership might be dangerous compared to 50 years ago.
The new NBC News poll results also showed that half of Americans think the nation’s form of government, based on the Constitution, has stood the test of time and remains sound for the challenges ahead, up 4 points from the results of a Roper national survey of adults taken in 1976.
On the contrary, 18% said that changing times have completely outmoded our system of government and we might as well accept the fact that, sooner or later, we will have to have a new form of government — up 4 points from the Roper poll conducted 50 years ago.
Still, the poll finds a surprising source of optimism. Most people believe they hold the same core values as other Americans and share priorities for their own lives as individuals.
A 54% majority of adults surveyed said that most Americans share the same core values but disagree about politics and issues, compared to 44% who said that most Americans have fundamentally different core values.
Americans across every demographic group, including partisanship, say family and freedom are the two values most important in their own lives.
The NBC News poll surveyed 3,000 adults May 29-June 7 via a mix of telephone interviews and an online survey sent via text message. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Stephanie PerryStephanie Perry is the manager of exit polling at NBC News.
John LapinskiJohn Lapinski is director of elections at NBC News.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
