A Guide for Advocates: What Americans Think and How to Talk to Them About It

Navigator Research:

Welcome to NAVIGATOR — a project designed to better understand the American public’s views on issues of the day and help advocates, elected officials, and other interested parties understand the language and messaging needed to make and win key policy arguments. This inaugural edition features findings from a national online survey of 1,009 registered voters conducted April 3-5, 2018 and qualitative findings from an online discussion board of 25 voters who are not strong partisans, conducted March 22-23, 2018.

Topic #1: Americans believe the economy is improving but have real concerns about the nation’s economic future, underscored by real and personal financial concerns. The American people respond best to relatable language on people’s economic futures and how the wealthy are getting wealthier.

Topic #2: Americans believe corruption is endemic among politicians in Washington, but there are some real differences they see between the parties in Congress and key ways Americans want to hear about the corruption issue. What are Americans most concerned about when it comes to corruption? Donors. Donors. Donors. Overwhelmingly, Americans believe that politicians, especially Republican politicians, only serve the interests of wealthy campaign donors.

Topic #3: Many think President Trump is a different kind of President. Do Americans think it’s good to “shake up Washington,” or bad to be “constantly breaking norms”? Trump is very different from past presidents, but that’s not necessarily a good thing, and Americans are deeply concerned about his abuse of power.