Media Says Americans are Dooming, Americans Are Not
April 18, 2025.png)
Key Takeaways
- The media is reporting drastic declines in consumer sentiment amid economic uncertainty and Trump’s bold economic strategy.
- While there is a 35% segment of concerned and even hopeless Americans, 35% express hope and 30% remain measured or neutral about the future.
- MIG Reports data of American sentiment today compared to several months ago shows mixed emotion but a slight growing optimism.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
55,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
3 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
April’s media coverage paints a grim picture of the American economy. Axios reports an 11% drop in the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index—the fourth straight month of decline. CNN echoes, citing inflation expectations at a 40-year high and widespread economic despair cutting across demographics. According to the establishment narrative, President Trump’s tariff policy is responsible for crushed confidence, rattled markets, and spooked consumers.
But MIG Reports data shows real-time voter conversations are telling a more layered story. Online discourse shows frustration but also resolve, adaptation, and even pockets of optimism. In contrast to the media’s portrayal of national helplessness, voters are split in their fundamental view of what drives economic security.
Media Narrative: A Disastrous “Confidence Collapse”
Mainstream outlets have tethered April’s consumer confidence plunge directly to Trump’s tariff policies. Axios suggests these moves are pushing the U.S. toward “historic inflation,” while CNN frames the response as universal panic.
The headlines are creating a unified narrative that consumers are worried, inflation is spiraling, and Trump’s economic unpredictability is to blame. There’s no recognition of voter nuance, policy debate, or the deeper roots of economic anxiety. The public is cast not as participants, but as casualties of a reckless experiment.
.png)
Online Discourse is Polarized but Purposeful
MIG Reports analysis shows recent online comments are far more complex in their reactions:
- 35% express hope: They view tariffs as leverage to force fairer global trade terms and restore U.S. manufacturing.
- 30% maintain a neutral stance: They focus on real-time data without clear emotional framing.
- 35% are in despair: They see Trump's economy as driven by malpractice, raising costs and eroding middle-class security.
.png)
This is not uniform gloom. It’s a contested terrain, where nationalism, economic survival, and distrust of elite narratives intersect. MIG Reports analysis prior to the election showed negativity, particularly among younger voters. According to online sentiment, Americans are worried but not significantly more than they have been in recent months.
Strategic Tariffs vs. Regressive Tax
Supporters frame Trump’s 90-day tariff pause (excluding China) as a calibrated move. They cite market rebound as proof of strategy, not chaos. Meanwhile, Democrats accuse Trump of insider trading.
Critics say Trump's tariff policies function as a backdoor sales tax. Price hikes on essentials—like auto parts and eggs—fall hardest on families. Many accuse the administration of flip-flopping for market timing, citing Trump’s “buy now” messages as signals of insider manipulation.
An insider trading scandal is brewing.
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 10, 2025
Trump's 9:30am tweet makes it clear he was eager for his people to make money off the private info only he knew. So who knew ahead of time and how much money did they make? pic.twitter.com/AJbtEq372n
Still, even among critics, there’s recognition that Trump's tactics might work.
Congressional Failure and Institutional Distrust
At the same time, voters are livid with Congress for abdicating its constitutional role in trade policy. Across ideological lines, many now accuse legislators of enabling executive overreach while enriching themselves through insider trading.
While this has been a complaint on the right for many years, in the wake of Trump’s controversial policies, people on the left are beginning to adopt the cry. This causes some conservatives to accuse Democrats of shaping their policy positions on opposition to Trump, rather than pragmatism, logic, or values.
Either way, there's growing momentum behind dramatic institutional reform on:
- Term limits
- Bans on congressional insider trading
- Restoration of tariff authority to Congress
Outside of the tariff conversation, this isn’t anti-Trump sentiment but anti-elite and corruption. In many instances, economic discussions merge with institutional criticism.
Media vs. Voters: Who's Really Out of Touch?
Media outlets are painting a picture of the sky falling. Voters, however, are as divided as ever. While they acknowledge inflation and market swings, they resist the narrative of helplessness. Many see the media as stoking panic for political ends.
The Axios-CNN consensus treats voters as consumers of fear. But the digital public sphere shows Americans seeking agency, searching for reasonable analysis, and demanding accountability—not only from Trump, but from the entire governing class.
In swing-state discussions, Trump still garners strong support, even among those nervous about the economy. Economic pain hasn’t translated into political abandonment. Instead, it has amplified demands for structural correction and realignment.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)