The Point: Americans are most divided over this one institution

View this email in your browser   July 16, 2021  | by Lauren Dezenski Americans are most divided over this one institution It's no secret that America's partisan divide runs deep. And among all 14 of the country's major institutions, Americans' political affiliations have the biggest impact on their confidence in the presidency, according to a recent Gallup poll.   There's a whopping 49-point difference between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to confidence in the presidency. Among Democrats, 61% say they have confidence in the president, while a meager 13% of Republicans say they have confidence in the highest office in the land.    The poll gauged confidence in America's major institutions like the police, Congress, the criminal justice system and organized religion. All have partisan splits, but none as great as the divide over the presidency.   Here's how Gallup's Megan Brenan puts it:   Confidence in the presidency has become increasingly linked to the party affiliation of the president, with supporters of the president's party much more confident than supporters of the opposition party, consistent with the greater party polarization in presidential job approval ratings. Between 1993 and 2004, the average party gap in confidence in the presidency was 34 points. Since then, it has averaged 50 points.   That tracks! This stark polarization is playing out in other aspects of our lives. Just look at a state-based map of vaccinated Americans next to the 2020 presidential election results. There's a real connection between Trump-supporting states and lower rates of vaccination compared with Biden-supporting states with higher rates of vaccination.   But that polarization goes far, far beyond Covid-19. Some red states are passing laws to restrict voting rights while blue states move in the opposite direction. Other red-state governors have sent National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border as immigration continues to be a hot-button issue on the state level. Then there's legislation to counter the GOP's lighting-rod social issues like critical race theory and transgender representation in sports.    This poll is just the latest example that Americans with different political affiliations have increasingly divergent views on ... just about everything.   The Point: This goes to show President Joe Biden faces major (and worsening) inertia in his efforts to unite the country. He has a lot of work to do specifically to overcome that lack of confidence from Republicans.   -- Lauren QUOTE OF THE DAY "If Man Crush Monday makes you get vaccinated, go for it." -- Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a video encouraging Covid-19 vaccines, with pop star Olivia Rodrigo. The singer explained the phrase "Man Crush Monday" to Fauci, after one tweet wished the doctor a "Happy man crush Monday." THE WEEK IN 14 HEADLINES As Texas Democratic legislators fled the state to try to block a voting measure in the state Capitol in Austin, President Biden made an impassioned pitch for voting rights, but it's not clear his words alone will break Capitol Hill's impasse over the filibuster. Biden's administration later reversed a particularly noteworthy piece of former President Donald Trump's time in office: showerhead rules.    Monday Biden calls on Cuban regime to 'hear their people and serve their needs' amid rare protests Texas House Democrats leave state to block Republicans from passing voting restrictions Biden's bipartisan infrastructure deal could face key Senate GOP defections Tuesday Biden gives an angry cry for action on voting rights but stops short of calling for filibuster reform Jill Biden will travel to Japan for the Olympics Biden tries to hold the center as Democrats clash over police and public safety Wednesday Republicans winning money race as they seek to take over House in 2022 Biden takes on multiple crises without key confirmed officials at the helm Biden administration launching operation to help relocate Afghans who helped United States Thursday Biden touts 'historic' effort to reduce child poverty through expanded child tax credit Exclusive: Stephen Breyer says he hasn't decided his retirement plans and is happy as the Supreme Court's top liberal  Donald Trump and Kevin McCarthy meet in Bedminster as 1/6 committee hearing looms Friday US intel assessments on Afghanistan warn of 'accelerating pace' of Taliban hold on country Biden administration moves to reverse Trump-era showerhead rule LAUREN'S GOOD READS Who is spending upward of $8,500 for tickets to the Donald Trump/Bill O'Reilly tour? Politico's Daniel Lippman investigates.   What is a "day of kindness?" So glad you asked.   Where can weather patterns offer deeper explanation? Classic artwork. I love this story from The Washington Post.   When did corporate America resume donating to Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying the election? Six months later, The Washington Post has the receipts.   Why did Lindsey Graham say he would "go to war" to defend Chick-fil-A? CNN has more.   How are married men voting? The New York Times digs into this overlooked voting bloc. SONG OF THE SUMMER 🌞 INTERLUDE With irreverent yet super relatable lyrics ("And I throw my cellular device in the water / Can you reach me? No, you can't") Lorde's "Solar Power" is fast becoming one of my favorite songs of the summer, and I'm not the only one. Thanks to Point reader Malvika Khadiya for this latest Song of the Summer suggestion! Have one of your own? Drop me a line: lauren.dezenski@cnn.com TOP TWEETS 1. Caitlyn Jenner's bid for California governor is increasingly confusing 2. Well done, Jason Sudeikis  3. Jimmy John's and the NY gov race  4. Is this also "pure emotional intelligence"? 5. Not great, Bob! 6. I truly love to see (and hear) it 7. Here for all the dam puns  8. Goals 9. Heart, melted ONE BIG THING Meet Generation Apollo: the children of those brave Americans who first went into space and those who helped get them there. This is the first of a two-part story by CNN's Samantha Bresnahan on the history of the space race as seen by 11 children of Apollo astronauts and flight directors. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Create your CNN Account Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox.   Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303   Copyright © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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