Poll: Young Americans say they're fearful about the future of the country

with his White House facing a series of challenges both at home and abroad. President joe Biden's once solid public approval numbers have hit a slump. A new poll by the Associated Press Norc Center for Public Affairs Research shows Biden's approval rating dropping to 50% the lowest of his presidency. The survey also shows that just 34% of americans now say the country is headed in the right direction. That's down from about half who said that during biden's early months in the White House, to the extent that he had any kind of warm feelings or optimism in relation to his presidency or benefit of the doubt perhaps that people might have been wanted it to give to him. That's gone now. The falling numbers follow a chain of crises for the president from a tumultuous withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan to criticism of his handling of thousands of migrants converging on the southern border and a resurgence in covid cases. They also come amid a showdown with Congress that threatens to derail biden's domestic agenda. He looks like he can't even get democrats enough democrats to fall in line uh to get this thing over the finish line. And so it just makes the entire democratic operation look a little incompetent fairly or unfairly, uh and and biden is going to take the biggest heat for that. The White House shrugs off the recent downturn in polling numbers as a side effect of the country's challenging times. I think the country is going through a lot right now. There's a great deal of anxiety. We understand that, but our objective is to keep pushing his agenda forward and keep making their lives better. And, uh, you know, look at that over the long term. One of the brighter spots for Biden is his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. While public approval on the issue is still down from where it was. As recently as july, some 57% of americans approve of the president's performance on the Covid crisis, kelly Daschle, the Associated Press.

Most American adults younger than 30 are concerned about the U.S. and its democracy, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School. The poll was conducted in late October and early November.Related video above: AP-NORC Poll: Biden's approval slumps amid crisesYoung adults say, 55% to 44%, that they're more fearful than hopeful about the future of America — a shift from earlier this year, when most said they were hopeful. Only about one-third now describe the U.S. as a healthy or even "somewhat functioning" democracy, with 52% saying it's a "democracy in trouble" or that it's failed altogether.Young Republicans are especially pessimistic: 70% say American democracy is in trouble or failed, compared with 45% of young Democrats who say the same."After turning out in record numbers in 2020, young Americans are sounding the alarm," IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe said in a statement. "When they look at the America they will soon inherit, they see a democracy and climate in peril — and Washington as more interested in confrontation than compromise."Neither the worries about democracy nor the partisan contours they take are unique to the youngest generations. In a September CNN poll, 56% of American adults of all ages said that the nation's democracy was under attack, with that number rising to 75% among Republicans.Young Americans give President Joe Biden a modestly negative job approval rating, the Harvard IOP poll finds, with 46% approving and 51% disapproving. That's down since March of this year, when an earlier survey found that 59% approved and 38% disapproved. Currently, they give Biden better ratings for his handling of coronavirus (51% approve) and education (48%) than for his efforts addressing the economy (38%), crime (37%) or gun violence (34%).A third of young adults say that they think the Biden administration is generally headed in the right direction to have a successful presidency, with 38% saying it's off on the wrong track, and 28% that they're not sure.Asked to choose three of the top accomplishments that would define a successful presidency to them, 58% of young Americans say strengthening the economy ranks among their top issues, with 45% saying that a successful presidency would entail bringing the country together, and 42% saying that it would involve improving health care. Fewer picked addressing climate change (33%), reducing economic inequality (32%), improving public education (28%), ensuring social justice (25%) or improving America's international standing (20%) as one of their top priorities.One-third of young adults describe themselves as being "politically engaged or politically active" — a finding that marks an increase from 2009, when only 24% of adults under 30 described themselves that way. Fewer than four-in-10 in the latest poll say they will definitely vote in next year's midterm elections.The Harvard IOP poll surveyed 2,109 adults aged 18-29 from Oct. 26 through Nov. 8. Data was collected by Ipsos Public Affairs using KnowledgePanel, a nationally representative online panel. The margin of sampling error for the total sample is +/- 3.08%.

Most American adults younger than 30 are concerned about the U.S. and its democracy, according to by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School. The poll was conducted in late October and early November.

Related video above: AP-NORC Poll: Biden's approval slumps amid crises

Young adults say, 55% to 44%, that they're more fearful than hopeful about the future of America — a , when most said they were hopeful. Only about one-third now describe the U.S. as a healthy or even "somewhat functioning" democracy, with 52% saying it's a "democracy in trouble" or that it's failed altogether.

Young Republicans are especially pessimistic: 70% say American democracy is in trouble or failed, compared with 45% of young Democrats who say the same.

"After turning out in record numbers in 2020, young Americans are sounding the alarm," IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe said in a statement. "When they look at the America they will soon inherit, they see a democracy and climate in peril — and Washington as more interested in confrontation than compromise."

Neither the worries about democracy nor the partisan contours they take are unique to the youngest generations. In a September CNN poll, 56% of American adults of all ages said that the nation's democracy was under attack, with that number rising to 75% among Republicans.

Young Americans give President Joe Biden a modestly negative job approval rating, the Harvard IOP poll finds, with 46% approving and 51% disapproving. That's down since March of this year, when an found that 59% approved and 38% disapproved. Currently, they give Biden better ratings for his handling of coronavirus (51% approve) and education (48%) than for his efforts addressing the economy (38%), crime (37%) or gun violence (34%).

A third of young adults say that they think the Biden administration is generally headed in the right direction to have a successful presidency, with 38% saying it's off on the wrong track, and 28% that they're not sure.

Asked to choose three of the top accomplishments that would define a successful presidency to them, 58% of young Americans say strengthening the economy ranks among their top issues, with 45% saying that a successful presidency would entail bringing the country together, and 42% saying that it would involve improving health care. Fewer picked addressing climate change (33%), reducing economic inequality (32%), improving public education (28%), ensuring social justice (25%) or improving America's international standing (20%) as one of their top priorities.

One-third of young adults describe themselves as being "politically engaged or politically active" — a finding that , when only 24% of adults under 30 described themselves that way. Fewer than four-in-10 in the latest poll say they will definitely vote in next year's midterm elections.

The Harvard IOP poll surveyed 2,109 adults aged 18-29 from Oct. 26 through Nov. 8. Data was collected by Ipsos Public Affairs using KnowledgePanel, a nationally representative online panel. The margin of sampling error for the total sample is +/- 3.08%.

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