For a week leading up to the election, MIG Reports data on voter conversations using "nation" versus "country" shows a chasm between conservative and progressive perspectives. While seemingly interchangeable, these terms reveal nuanced divides in how Americans conceptualize identity, values, and the nation’s future.

A Hidden Red Vote?

This divergence in language illustrates the ideological divide in how conservatives and progressives perceive the essence of American identity.

• Conservatives use “nation” as a unified ideal to defend, while “country” serves as a metric by which to judge current policies and governance.
• Progressives invoke “country” in a forward-looking critique, advocating for systemic reform, and view “nation” as a shared moral landscape.

These linguistic choices show distinct value differences and contrasting visions for the future of America. The polarized discourse mirrors growing complexities in American political identity today.

America the “Nation”

Conservatives

• Conservatives frame their language around ideas of tradition, loyalty, and protection.
• They use "nation" as a call to defend a unified American identity and preserve foundational values.
• This perspective includes a tone of urgency, rallying to safeguard the “nation” from cultural or political shifts they see as threats.
• There’s a nostalgic or protective tone, where the “nation” symbolizes an America they believe in.
• Those on the right associate American identity as intrinsic and immutable.
• The word “nation” encapsulates pride and a duty to uphold the sovereignty of America’s founding, often with an implicit expectation of cultural continuity.

Progressives

• Those on the left typically use “nation,” to emphasize a shared moral responsibility rather than a national identity.
• It's used to invoke a cultural identity based on ideology rather than tied to a vision of America as a sovereign nation.
• For progressive, “nation” is a collective aspiration, one that leans toward diversity and equality, rather than geopolitical entity with a certain set of values.
• The progressive use of “nation” often implies targeted language about the people of America within a more globalist worldview.

American the “Country”

Conservatives

• For conservatives, "country" often symbolizes the physical and political entity of the United States—its borders, laws, and governance.
• When they discuss "country," it’s frequently in contexts of sovereignty, security, and economic self-sufficiency.
• The term ties accountability and critique of governance failures, especially threats to American stability, like immigration or foreign policy decisions.
• Conservatives use "country" when discussing what needs defending—a place whose integrity must be protected against the erosion of traditional values.
• The tone is frequently critical when discussing policies that, in their view, compromise national unity or economic vitality.

Progressives

• For progressives, "country" is not only a political or geographic entity—it represents social movement toward DEI and systemic reform.
• The term is often used to critique social and economic policies they feel fail to support marginalized groups or uphold social justice.
• In their discourse, "country" becomes a symbol of an unreached potential, or an America that should be reimagined to serve equity and inclusion.
• Progressives see "country" as a reflection of the nation’s moral and social responsibilities and use it to emphasize the need for systemic changes
• Unlike conservatives, who see it as something to safeguard, progressives speak of "country" in terms of what needs improvement from within.

Following Trump’s hostoric win in the 2024 election, more people are expressing skepticism about the results of the 2020 election. At the time of this writing, total votes cast in 2024 have fallen more than 16 million short of the 155 million touted in 2020.

Conversations reveal a sense of confusion and growing questions about the validity of 2020 numbers. People are voicing distrust in democratic institutions, confusions, concern, and grievance. Some point out the drastic spike in popular vote totals for Joe Biden in 2020 as an unconvincing anomaly which has not been sufficiently explained.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but can we go back to what happened here? pic.twitter.com/FkScNHivuU

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 6, 2024

Suspicion and Distrust

• Between 50-70% of election-related discussions show a pervasive belief that the 2020 election was manipulated or "stolen."
• Sentiments are driven by old and new grievances around vote counting, absentee ballot handling, and perceived interference from influential political figures.
• Many people view the 2020 election indicative of a corrupted electoral system, amplifying calls for transparency and changes to voting regulations.
• This sustained distrust reflects wider skepticism of the institutions that continue to erode confidence in government institutions.

Idealizing Past “Truthful” Elections

• Conversations contrast the perceived flaws of the 2020 election with an idealized past when voters feel elections were simpler and more transparent.
• This nostalgic framing imagines a bygone era of “truthful” elections and democratic purity when voters trusted institutions.
• Trump’s presidency is often framed as a period when political integrity and fairness were stronger, contrasting perceived betrayals in the 2020 outcome.
• This idealization solidifies voters in a collective desire for “restoration” and perceived moral clarity.

Yes, let's do go back. American voters want and deserve to know precisely where 81 million "votes" appeared from and how all the official 2020 evidence collected via courts and states has never been properly analyzed, summarized and presented. It's a huge public topic. https://t.co/mYHb6WxVI5 pic.twitter.com/vm17MOXUWu

— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) November 6, 2024

Language of Fear and Urgency

• Rhetoric around the 2020 election incorporates language of fear and urgency, often placed in existential terms.
• Phrases like “the last free election” or “fight for our democracy” reinforce a belief that core American freedoms are at risk.
• This language intensifies the emotional resonance of the “stolen election” narrative, presenting it as a political concern and an existential threat.
• Framing magnifies the urgency for action, mobilizing those who doubt the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Collective Memory

• There is a noticeable trend of commenters referencing old grievances, such as the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election or other contentious moments in American political history.
• By positioning the 2020 election in this historical context, people highlight a legacy of electoral controversy, which serves to legitimize current doubts.
• Collective memory reinforces perceptions of a continuous struggle for transparency and fairness, battling systemic corruption.

Spiritual Appeals and Calls for Unity

• Suspicion drives calls for urgent intervention, with many framing the restoration of democratic integrity as a moral and spiritual duty.
• Americans call for unity through “prayers for America” or a “return to God’s values,” intertwining of faith and political viewpoints.
• For many, questioning the 2020 election a civic duty and a moral imperative.
• This spiritual framing fosters a sense of righteous indignation, mobilizing supporters around a higher cause and reinforcing their commitment to truth and transparency.

Over the last three election cycles, trust in political polls has dramatically deteriorated. Polling inaccuracies and media reporting on potential outcomes are destroying confidence and eroding public trust. After multiple elections where predictive numbers majorly failed to capture American sentiments, many are saying they’re done with legacy institutions.

You are the media now

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

Americans discuss Elon Musk’s alliance with Trump and his decision to buy Twitter (now X) in 2022 as death blows to mainstream media. Discussions of news media lies being revealed through citizen journalism on X bolster sentiments that America is ready to discard legacy platforms.

Unsalvageable Distrust Among Americans

Voters have long voiced distrust toward the media and political polls, but Trump’s shocking blowout victory only confirms those sentiments. Many point to inaccurate poll projections as evidence of anti-Trump and anti-conservative bias from the establishment regime.

Many see problems both in flawed methodology and elite resentment toward average Americans. Some voters even suggest mainstream polling is manipulated or used as a rhetorical tool to favor establishment narratives.

There is a reason why educated people vote blue. What we’re seeing is the uneducated population of America holding the rest of the country hostage. This is why there’s such a push to weaken education, ban books, and outlaw the teaching of Black history by the Republican Party.

— Sueanna Smith, PhD (@SueannaSmith3) November 6, 2024

• Distrust of Accuracy: Around 37% of voters say "polling manipulation" is a primary concern, believing poll results are skewed to fit media or political agendas.
• Partisan Divide: Conservative and right-leaning voters are more likely to distrust polling data, while liberal-leaning voters show more confidence.
• Broken System: Roughly 55% of conservatives say polling inaccuracies reflect deeper issues in the election process.

The sentiment exists among traditional conservative demographics, but now also resonates among Independents who distrust poll numbers. Many suggest traditional polling techniques may no longer capture the complexities of an evolving electorate.

MIG Reports Data

Amid many wildly inaccurate traditional polls, MIG Reports data proves to be highly competitive in tracking sentiment and trends among online voters.

MIG Reports data on the morning of Election Day showed Trump winning all the competitive battle ground states except VA and MN.

As of this writing, NYT election results show:

• Wisconsin +.88 for Trump
• Virginia +5 for Harris
• Pennsylvania +2 for Trump
• Nevada +5 for Trump
• North Carolina +3 for Trump
• Minnesota +4 for Harris
• Michigan +1.6 for Trump
• Georgia +2 for Trump
• Arizona +5 for Trump

Themes Emerging from Public Reactions

Voter sentiment surrounding polling isn’t just about accuracy—it’s an indictment of outdated and inadequate methodologies that fail to evolve with culture and technology.

• Demand for Transparency: Voters want greater transparency in polling methods. They seek clear explanations of how sample groups are selected, what adjustments are made for turnout assumptions, and how error margins are communicated.
• Media Narratives: Many say the media’s heavy reliance on polls—especially when those polls inaccurately project outcomes—only fuels distrust. They say media framing particularly underplays conservative viewpoints, causing an information bubble that misleads voters.
• Growing Cynicism: More voters are saying this election marks a shift away from mainstream reporting and polling metrics toward independent analysis. Many express hope that legacy institutions like the news media and political consultants will face extinction before 2028.

Polling and Voting Security

Many view predictive polling inaccuracies as connected to worries about election integrity and the voting system itself. Right-leaning voters often point to polling errors as evidence the electoral process may be similarly flawed, particularly regarding voting security.

• Mail-in Voting: 40% of right leaning voters continue to express doubts about the authenticity of mail-in ballots, which they perceive as prone to manipulation.
• "Red Mirage": Some discuss the concept of the “Red Mirage,” where initial in-person voting leans right only for mail-in ballots to shift later shift results to Democrats. This reinforces their belief that mail-in voting lacks transparency and amplifies polling errors.
• Voter ID: Up to 70% of Americans support voter ID laws, seeing them as a safeguard for election security. The absence of such standards across states feeds into skepticism about the election system’s integrity.

Proposed Reforms

Given the ongoing erosion of trust in polling and news reporting, many are calling for concrete reforms.

• Polling Transparency: Voters want pollsters to provide detailed breakdowns of how samples are chosen, the assumptions behind turnout models, and the adjustments made to reflect historical voting patterns.
• Adapting Methodologies: The call for modernized polling methods is growing. Many voters believe polling organizations should explore new techniques, like online panels, that better capture the evolving nature of the electorate.
• Media Accountability: There is strong support for media outlets to emphasize the provisional nature of predictions—though many also call for the death of mainstream media altogether.