Additional Coverage:
- Reality check: How divided is America, really? (newsbreak.com)
**Reality Check: Just How Divided is America?**
It’s often said that America is a deeply divided nation. According to Pew Research, when Americans were asked to describe today’s politics in one word, “Divisive” was the top choice.
Indeed, conservatives and liberals often clash over the same longstanding issues—gun control, gay marriage, government regulation, and taxing the rich. However, it’s important to note that there are still many issues on which we find common ground.
For instance, most of us share concerns about several topics: 88% of Americans worry about artificial intelligence, 58% fear being scammed, and 76% are anxious about kids spending too much time on their phones.
Regardless of political affiliation, there’s widespread appreciation for the National Park Service (76%), NASA (67%), and the U.S. Postal Service (72%). Conversely, there’s near-universal disdain for certain things: 89% disapprove of people having affairs, 84% oppose cloning humans, and 91% dislike North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Additionally, many of us participate in common activities: 80% of Americans watch fireworks on the Fourth of July, 92% leave tips for restaurant servers (or claim to), 83% keep their phones close at hand, and 75% decorate their homes for the holidays.
We also stand united in our belief in fundamental freedoms: 90% of Americans support free speech, 88% value privacy, and 84% support religious freedom. Furthermore, 91% believe in equal treatment under the law.
Despite the heated rhetoric from TV pundits and social media, studies repeatedly show that our perceptions of each other’s beliefs are often exaggerated. For example, a 2018 study found that Republicans think 37% of Democrats are union members when the actual figure is 11%. Similarly, Democrats believe that 33% of Republicans earn more than $250,000 a year, whereas the truth is just 2%.
In essence, we are not as divided as we might think.
And that’s the reality. I checked!
**Produced by** David Rothman. **Edited by** Chad Cardin.
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**Visuals:**
*David Pogue from CBS News “Sunday Morning”. *
Watch the full video [here](https://amp-static.cbsnews.com/amp/embed/video/?feature%5Bconsent%5D=0&setDevice=mobile&v=631cf5f2b4e8db7f9bc428589402864d1725831536&usprivacy=null#tVd5b9y4Ff8qA%2F3ZWiNStwZYpI6dYNPNYSSbokC0GPDSiLUukNSMZxN%2F9z7qmCvBpjEa%2BIBEvvv4vafPDulN21Vk76yM6sWVI%2FVNW1Wk05JWwlkVpNJwysVWMnh16pZKOL9ytpKL1ll9dqQRtXZWnz47Zt9Zkm3L4V5yeIwzRliWMjdLw8ANOaFuJiLsRknCQpzghIYp0Nbdw3tRvLIc%2BKZW5g0u%2F%2FXiT%2FGuLP9t%2BG%2F%2FLOs3L9%2B8ev16%2B86sgbpVciObF1wa2TbA0ms41FW%2FgWclSCXN3mWlYPdu2e5cLq2l3JXaJbVQkhHXElV7YDLSWB%2Bd9yPX4sZyrRa%2FtrvFxLaQenE9sl0tRr7lcunYgNwDIzwUfVU9Sc4zYGakaRs4q35%2FqgQja6ENqTtnhRM%2FSlGEkwQhBBb2iowRwnF0fH1NqKhAE%2FJXYQQCqvG9ATcgaTXZCG2zqm0ySmM6vcq93CNaC6ODJaO6ETsNGo1kS9bWuVf2NPdk7qnc85Ef5h7K4C%2FNPepHDEex7yYpxW6IksDNqC9ckmCOaYiKJIxzz5R9TRsiq9yLQ%2FQQxCj3EiGiIItTEULdFIiSgEaUIB4nESEsLEDZWZ7nHLO2b4zauzjz0fI%2F3ebZ9pc4wKyICp%2BGIuU0KTLKQj%2BN0ixEfhqHtlLLb7mKf66r2E%2FRQ%2BKDrwXJeEGTKIxYIDIi4sxnKSWURBktgkL8P319vHI6BZ0sdh9VdeZ0p1q%2BhMYdunp2fXR6esm9LbhdVvAQ4CRFSbweXmqijVDLOujTIyr8LMn%2BTxFdtKomBkSTrqugv2yb5N6DW3di8%2FH9a6DoL8K12%2B3O9Q0mXKbqL%2BEn9yxI6ld111pbDkgLaCzZgKu2LH0S44CkxE2ilLsYC9%2FNOPZdhHBaiJQgRNER%2FXTfcLJ361Y1stnY0pZCEcVKQPdP0%2B1ivv0DioEo0Zjfrca3YB1I%2BDDSvPlawvP9SPLpkgbkgD9w8QeUl%2BikbjmQYTBKED0ANLYWik0NusaLvoMy1PrgM%2FBfMwYnz6uW3R%2FASH%2FUQn3oqWZKUsEP5LprG92qma4UD9e3oiB9ZXOIruDHGU6fH0%2BD7CqMrqIMLgi30S124%2F91JZv7s9wmBUqS5XZZ7GpVLxthABJ47m2gaS3gQszIMO9s%2FCpibPEAvy0FCpm9dx4hDEYRdm%2BDAzqgPjRrlRieoYADhCKUxgD%2BIfDdPP%2FwdqoiOw9iOPqbdQteGr3WZr0Rk%2FTxhHRrYmP6NveuDzTMurhlGB9OtLmQba3ajAN7RA4pJidoBbZW0nJYxY828C%2Fh4cWcyjHKjHS2L%2FQ3sNL%2FK6yc%2BSB83xntS8Lp%2BqGu%2FjfUrvuHO9V2Qpn9b2JvWyVMBCcRsCYcR2EWZtgPAhLEziN4WQtDhrkGqTFis7fPcFa2fOx70fAhRlMnFYKYXlmYtWNTWIXTdgPOQfnZUj7uD7aqOgkPByB4KAF3GCxSgo1ocmADxL%2BQDUhwUTJSv2gIrF98ah6iIKyVuO7BXmXXpE9O6BPBIhG7gmDYrCjHbgbhcmmSMXCehGmaDa15yjp3MCdg5qJrN704oRn2Ly78KGI8cAX3iRsWOHGziGAXZbCy4ThANAqOFt319BZcsNGHeQhELkoNDlfwi9DfEYL%2Fl%2BbbAjrVf7ieV6AJQxdsXIHK8xWIfL0CzfxzfhoDYV5Pp868u07XkOoBd2%2FF1lo9NPRmvrQ1vLb77PrYzlAScHK5bcLRr9Ki9rdg1d5%2BGBN%2FAOXFEZTt9YnCWc0A%2FK9%2BAPTNCW5%2FpaSStbQYEE4K3w1L82w%2FVaThdxN6DTqnDl5b2jPvDyvqHTHlUOLjYP3RUXeQc7l6fDVLnyYfHoZBpo85cc9G3UZMsXqqhvXdUcZk8OqpsuYauJ2%2Fqw4h%2F%2FLly%2BEby1LdKVjK1f69llOa5Ay2cGlxkKh7YcDLm6rt%2BTu1GT%2Bj0G2AfWhlP3r5MkoydB1m6Da8%2Fcc1bykUgy2Ry8HkTJPJmUbTSVJ%2BaDQB2pHzQXQq6XF06zyOk683w7w5OTQ2rH1tLRSNbVi78tmeVW0hqxPaIRiPFua5JHetHrp1arJKED71%2BXdrD2AcMNyH3RLwoxFqzO%2BQmNyDfoFvraXS%2BtnQXr9EaF5Mvyv4SQvi4%2BN%2FAQ%3D%3D).
Read More About This Story:
- Reality check: How divided is America, really? (newsbreak.com)