The U.S. Political Divide is Big Business, but Bad Data.

Americans Aren’t as Divided as Washington and the News Media Tell US.

We’ve all heard it: America is bitterly divided. Red versus Blue. Urban versus Rural. Fox versus fact. (Ok, snark is my stock and trade.) But what if that’s only part of the story? What if most Americans actually agree on far more than the political media — or our elected leaders — would have us believe?

Answer: They do.

A growing body of research, from the Pew Research Center to YouGov, shows that Americans across the political spectrum share a surprising amount of common ground on key issues. From healthcare to voting access, there’s a quiet but powerful signal of consensus in all the noise.

Fact: We Agree on Many of the Big Issues

According to multiple surveys from YouGov and Gallup, here are ten key policy areas where 60% or more of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agree:

1. Improve Healthcare Affordability
   Over 70% of Americans agree that healthcare costs are too high and want to see changes to make care more affordable, including the majority of all parties (YouGov).
2. Protect Social Security
   A stunning 77% of Americans across party lines are concerned about the future of Social Security and want it protected and preserved (Gallup).
3. Reform the Criminal Justice System
   Americans from all political backgrounds support changes to improve fairness and reduce systemic inequality in the justice system (YouGov).
4. Require Photo ID to Vote
   While often framed as partisan, majorities in both parties and independents support requiring a valid photo ID to vote — as long as it’s paired with policies that ensure equitable access (YouGov).
5. Increase Accessibility for Disabled Voters
   Americans agree that elections should be secure and accessible, and there is bipartisan support for better voting accommodations for people with disabilities (YouGov).
6. Improve Food and Water Safety
   The basics still matter. Axios reports that Americans broadly support federal efforts to ensure the safety of what we eat and drink, with over 60% prioritizing this regardless of party.
7. Address Hunger and Homelessness, and Make America Affordable
   A Gallup poll shows that nearly 70% of Americans are concerned about rising homelessness and food insecurity and want solutions now. Their concern aligns with most Americans feeling the pain of the rising cost of living without a rise in wages and salaries.
8. Support Legal Immigration
   Despite heated rhetoric, 77% of Americans believe legal immigration is good for the country, a view shared by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike (Wikipedia summary of Pew findings).
9. Reform Government and Elections
   From term limits to campaign finance reform, there’s strong cross-party support for making government more accountable and transparent (YouGov).
10. Ensure Affordable Prescription Drugs
    Americans overwhelmingly agree that drug prices are out of control and want the federal government to step in. This issue unites the country more than divides it (Pew).

So Why Does Everything Feel So Divisive?

Because division is big business. Political operatives, media platforms, and social networks profit from outrage and fear. But that doesn’t reflect where most Americans stand. A 2024 Pew study found that most Americans are frustrated with both parties and increasingly identify as “exhausted” or “politically homeless.”

This so-called “exhausted majority” doesn’t make headlines, but it does make up the largest group of Americans.

The Real Divide: People vs. Power

What if polarization isn’t about ideology but access? What if most of us agree on the basics, but our political system is designed to reward the extremes?

From gerrymandering to closed primaries to filibuster gridlock — it’s not the people holding us back. It’s the incentives baked into the system.

We’re Closer Than They Want Us to Believe

Americans don’t agree on everything, but we agree on a lot. More importantly, we want solutions. The problem is that our political culture rewards performative conflict over pragmatic cooperation.

So, the next time someone says, “America’s too divided to fix anything,” we should ask, “Which America are you talking about?”

Because the hard data proves, we’re not polarized, just ignored.

Want to help push this conversation forward? Share this with someone who thinks we can’t agree on anything — and let the facts do the talking.