Opinion | The U.S. Financial system, the Southern Border, Oct. 7: How 13 Biden and Trump Voters Noticed 2023

One thing unusual occurred throughout our current Occasions Opinion focus group, the 18th and ultimate considered one of 2023. After we requested the individuals (13 Democrats, Republicans and independents) how they felt concerning the financial system, we didn’t hear the identical refrain of complaints that our different teams fairly constantly intoned all yr. Our individuals have been not at all cheery, however a number of have been upbeat, and even the Trump voters within the group weren’t aggrieved concerning the financial system — a lot in order that our focus group moderator, Frank Luntz, seemed slightly shocked and mentioned, “OK, this isn’t that unhealthy. In actual fact, that is moderately good.”

Our intent with this focus group was to deliver collectively individuals who voted for Joe Biden or Donald Trump in 2020 and discover areas the place they agreed or disagreed concerning the yr we simply went by way of. The standard partisan divisions fell away in a number of locations: Along with seeing some upsides on the financial system, a number of of the Biden and Trump voters expressed concern about ongoing support to Ukraine, fear concerning the U.S. border with Mexico and a want for Mr. Biden to not run for re-election. The group was extra divided over Israel and Gaza and over the prosecutions of Mr. Trump.

We requested what the individuals would say to Mr. Biden if he had been listening to the group. Angela, a 56-year-old Black lady from Califonia who supported him in 2020, mentioned, “Thanks in your a few years of service in politics. Go house. Get pleasure from your spouse. Get pleasure from your life.” Sean, a 39-year-old white man from Georgia who voted for Mr. Biden final time, mentioned, “You bought to let any individual else step in. He’s not going to have a very good run at this level.”

After we requested what they might say to Mr. Trump, Betsy, a 42-year-old white lady from Colorado who backed him in 2020, mentioned, “Please bow out. You’re the most effective get-out-the-vote machine for the Democratic Get together.” On the similar time, there have been extra Trump and Biden voters who mentioned at this level that they thought Mr. Trump would win in November than individuals who mentioned they thought Mr. Biden would win.

And requested what they thought the nation would seem like and be like in 2030, there was a mixture of optimism and pessimism, however the reactions didn’t break down strictly alongside partisan strains. The most important fear of all was not concerning the nation’s politics however concerning the well being of our tradition and the values of youthful People.