Newsom is frequently cast in public discussion as being out of touch and ineffective in his handling of California’s crime issue. Discussion online spiked as a result of a video clip where Newsom says he was blamed for a shoplifting incident to his face. People find his story either ironic or fitting. Californians say Newsom’s story shows a failure to address crime and shoplifting effectively.
On the topic of “crime,” Gavin Newsom’s approval score dropped to a 7-day low of 27%.
His approval bounced back to 44% on the day of his comments as discussion volume surged.
Following his shoplifting comments, discussion volume related to crime and Newsom doubled.
Newsom’s support overall, including the topic of “crime,” reached a 7-day low of 40%, including the day his shoplifting comments became public.
What People Are Saying
Online discussions show that people are expressing strong negative sentiment towards Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, regarding the state's crime situation, especially in relation to shoplifting.
People argue that Newsom's approach to handling crime in California is inefficient and ineffective.
Californians express frustration and disappointment, citing an increase in taxes, high homelessness, rampant drug use, and uncontrolled crime rates as key issues.
Many people feel these problems are direct results of Newsom's leadership and policies.
There is a deep dissatisfaction with increasing instances of shoplifting and the overall crime rate in California.
There's a sentiment that excessive amounts of tax money are not being used effectively, with some alleging corruption and misuse of funds.
Many are blaming Newsom for creating an environment that is seen as favoring criminals.
Larger Contributing Issues
Many Californians see the crime increase as one problem among many other larger issues. Overall, the online sentiment towards Gavin Newsom in relation to crime in California is highly critical.
There are suggestions that Newsom's policies are driving people out of California
People accuse Newsom of being detached from reality and failing to acknowledge the impact of his policies on small businesses.
They also argue that insurance companies are pulling out of California due to the rise in crime.
Californians express a desire for stronger law enforcement, stricter policies towards criminals, and more effective solutions for homelessness and drug addiction.
There is a belief that economic decline and problems like a failing school system and increased cost of living are causing people to leave California.
A frequently expressed belief is that California has become excessively liberal under Newsom's leadership, with some labeling it as “communist.”
Positive sentiments are few and far between, suggesting Newsom is facing significant public backlash over his policies.
Crime and the Border
A primary concern Californians discuss about the border is Newsom's perceived support for “open borders,” which they believe has led to an influx of illegal immigrants in the state. Many people attribute the high crime rates in California to Newsom's alleged failure to effectively control the state borders.
People express anger and frustration towards Newsom, with some labeling him as a “dangerous person” and a “traitor” to California.
They accuse him of condoning illegal immigration and even facilitating criminal activities, such as human trafficking and drug trafficking.
There is also widespread belief that Newsom's border policies have resulted in a surge of crime in the state.
Critics believe that illegal immigrants contribute to the high crime rates in the state, with some even suggesting that Newsom's administration has turned California into a “criminal haven.”
Many say Newsom’s neglect of important issues in favor of supporting illegal immigrants is a testament to his inability to effectively govern the state.
Online discussions about union support for Donald Trump and union leadership support for Joe Biden reveal a spectrum of opinions. Some posts accuse UAW union bosses of not representing their members and claim that Biden has worked against the interests of auto workers. These posts often argue that the union leadership has sided with the Biden administration, which they believe has harmed working-class Americans.
American workers seem divided in their support for Trump's and Biden's policies, with some expressing strong support for Trump's policies and others strongly supporting Biden's policies. However, the general sentiment towards the Biden administration's union policies seems negative, with many comments calling for his impeachment.
Raises Trump's Support:
Hiring union workers.
Strong stance on border issues.
Support from the Republican party.
Perceived financial acumen due to billionaire status.
Opposition to mass migration.
Lowers Trump's Support:
Perceived disregard for the working man.
Alleged history of not paying workers.
Perceived prioritization of billionaires over workers.
Accusations of using border issues for campaign reasons.
Negative sentiment from union leadership.
Union Approval - Trump vs Biden
Raises Biden's Support:
Policies believed to create jobs.
Enforcing strong labor standards.
Proposals for clean energy.
Perceived willingness to negotiate on issues like border control.
Support from union members.
Lowers Biden's Support:
Accusations of ignoring border crisis.
Perceived lack of strong stance on border issues.
Lack of significant discourse on his union policies.
Perceived partisan politics.
Absence of notable union endorsements.
Wages and Salaries
Under Trump's Administration
Some dissatisfaction with what they perceived as globalist control over union leadership
Criticism of UAW President's negative comments about Trump, with suggestions that this reflected a broader trend of union leadership being out of touch with their members' interests
Supporters of Trump's policies argued that his promises of Rust Belt revitalization were being undermined by union leaders aligned with the Democratic Party.
Under Biden’sAdministration
Substantial support for his policies, particularly those perceived as promoting social and racial justice.
These supporters often used the term "woke" in a positive context, arguing that being aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues, especially issues of racial and social justice, was a crucial part of supporting Biden's policies.
Also criticism of Biden's policies, arguing that a focus on "woke" politics was alienating certain sections of society and that this could harm support for unions
Some concerns that Biden's policies were putting American citizens at risk, particularly in relation to immigration.
Union Trends
Union membership rate of public-sector workers (32.5%) continued to be more than five times higher than the rate of private-sector workers (6%).
The highest unionization rates were among workers in education, training, and library occupations (32.7%) and protective service occupations (31.9%).
Percentage of Workforce Union Membership Over Time
With the holiday shopping season approaching, consumers appear conflicted about risking their usual shopping plans amid rising crime rates nationwide.
What the Data Says
Media Intelligence Group reports that public discussions reveal an emerging apprehension and caution regarding shopping dangers.
Reports of increased theft and organized retail crime in many major cities have been generating headlines all year.
Various reports also revealed that retailers lost more than $112 billion in 2022 due to crime.
Major brands like Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, Macy's, and others have closed store locations because of increasing theft.
Now, the danger of in-store criminal activity has people expressing their hesitation to shop during what has traditionally been the heaviest shopping season of the year.
Some people argue that positive economic indicators like 2.0% and 2.1% GDP growth in Q1 and Q1 of 2023 point to a hospitable environment for spending.
However, concerns also persist about inflation's toll on families’ spending power, making purchases challenging.
What Americans are Saying
The MIG report suggests caution rather than fear is the prevailing mood among Americans.
Shoppers seem alert to potential dangers but not fully deterred.
Many do say they’ll think twice before venturing out or spend less time browsing in stores.
Meanwhile corporations seem quiet in the public forum but are likely keeping a close eye on shrinking revenues.
People are hesitant due to increased risks of theft and organized retail crime.
Some express fear about potential mass shootings in places like malls and shopping centers.
And most Americans feel uncertain about the overall economy affecting their spending power.
Media Denial
At the same time, many media outlets push back on the narrative that retail crime is significantly increasing nationwide based on available data.
Many headlines suggest that retailers may be overstating or sensationalizing the issue.
Some journalists express a desire for “more objective” data collection on retail crime trends before concluding there is a major national surge occurring.
Despite media pushback, these pressures may cause retailers to see decreased profits through the end of 2023.
A recent Media Intelligence Group (MIG) report on public sentiment regarding the US economy reveals a nation split along partisan lines. Supporters praise the administration for allegedly reducing unemployment and achieving GDP growth. But critics blame Biden for rising inflation and interest rates that threaten the middle class.
One sentiment that crosses the political divide is that many people feel their financial situations are becoming strained in the current economy. The report highlights Americans worries about the impact of continuously climbing interest rates on mortgages and car loans.
Today auto loan defaults are surging, and mortgage rates hover around 7.5%. Households are struggling with the higher threshold for borrowing. Despite the administration touting positive economic indicators like a 4.9% GDP growth in Q3 2022, many of the voting population still express fear and uncertainty. MIG data shows that Joe Biden's approval rating dropped to a concerning 35% during the second week of October.
Biden critics point to inflation reducing real incomes and an accumulating public debt burden as indicators of economic mismanagement. But Biden supporters credit policies like the Inflation Reduction Act for spurring investment and job creation. In general, sentiment appears aligned with political affiliations but the overall sentiment towards the economy in 2023 is negative.
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