Part 9/11:
The trend is striking: while the American people have never been more united on key issues—especially anti-war sentiment, racial progress, and distrust of institutions—they remain deeply divided from their political and media elites. Data from recent Gallup surveys shows plummeting trust in government, media, law enforcement, and judiciary. This erosion of trust hints at a broader populist backlash, which many analysts associate with movements like the Tea Party and figures like Donald Trump.
The public mood is one of alienation and disdain for the permanent political class, which is increasingly perceived as disconnected and illegitimate. This sentiment feeds into the rising populist wave and the resurgence of Trump as the champion of the "everyday" Americans.