Americans are split on the legitimacy of climate change and the trustworthiness of governmental and international actors who claim to address it. Patterns of skepticism, belief, and moral indignation manifest in linguistic style, political orientation, and the logic undergirding each camp’s narrative.

Get a load of this. . .

Tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest in Brazil are being felled for the construction of a new four-lane highway to alleviate the anticipated traffic congestion during the annual UN climate conference, COP30, which will take place in… pic.twitter.com/7Nn6zviBa4

— Chris Martz (@ChrisMartzWX) March 12, 2025

Divided About the Climate

When conversations are explicitly filtered for climate-specific content, American discourse shows ideological stratification. Around 65% of the discussion approaches climate change as a vehicle for elite exploitation. Mostly populist and MAGA-aligned voices, they use highly confrontational language, derision, conspiracy framing, and appeals to personal liberty. They often dismiss climate policies as scams designed to enrich corporate interests and subjugate the middle class through taxation and regulation.

Roughly 35% of Americans in this space advocate for robust international and domestic responses. Their tone is firm but sober, leaning on scientific consensus and ecological urgency. This group frames climate efforts as a moral and practical necessity for future generations, invoking themes of stewardship, collective action, and systemic reform. They interpret contradictions in their rhetoric as human failings within a righteous cause, not as invalidations of climate policy itself.

Bill Gates: "[Covid-19] came from bats, so it's going to keep happening, particularly with climate change, where we're invading a lot of habitats." 🤡 pic.twitter.com/OFeh96GyP1

— Wide Awake Media (@wideawake_media) March 26, 2025

Dual Narratives in Unfiltered Discourse

In general conversations not initiated by climate topics, but where climate discourse emerges organically, there is an almost symmetrical split. 40-45% endorse proactive climate measures, espousing pragmatism and a belief in regulation. They appeal to shared benefit, global coordination, and economic sustainability.

Another 40-45% focus on perceived double standards like international delegates flying globally to discuss carbon reduction. Sarcasm and rhetorical questioning dominate this lane, with users invoking cultural and class resentment. They view climate hypocrisy as emblematic of elite detachment from national priorities and working-class realities.

This group’s discourse aligns with a colloquial, populist tone, while the pro-policy side leans technocratic and earnest. A smaller 10-15% use climate conversation with election-related themes, creating hybrid narratives of dysfunction, partisanship, and disillusionment. Overall, trust in institutions is eroded, regardless of environmental views.

Ambient Critique in General Political Conversations

Within the general discourse, climate change is peripheral but symbolically potent. Around 10% of discussions reference climate-related hypocrisy as part of their grievances against government spending and globalism. These critiques mention climate summits as proof of elite waste and misaligned priorities. Many use climate references as rhetorical ammunition in debates over entitlement reform, inflation, and political character.

The dominant tones in this setting are sarcastic, distrustful, and emotionally charged. Although not centrally preoccupied with environmental policy, many Americans use climate hypocrisy as a stand-in for government detachment and ideological overreach. Only a minority engage with climate as an urgent threat.

I finally figured out who is responsible for climate change. It’s the big round hot thing up in the sky. pic.twitter.com/pVQB5XsfEg

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 27, 2025

While a sizable segment of Americans supports coordinated action to remedy climate threats, their voices are increasingly drowned out by those who view climate politics as elitist theater—another stage on which the American people feel misrepresented, overruled, and economically exposed.

In late March 2025, a series of viral videos and tweets featuring babies being affectionately embraced in public settings sparked widespread reaction across American social media. The scenes—set against the backdrop of Japan’s well-known demographic decline—prompted responses ranging from admiration to politicized critique.

MIG Reports analysis parses four thematic clusters: general discussions, peripheral discussions, family-oriented or cultural discussions, and political or abortion discussions. Each lens reveals how Americans interpret and project meaning onto a moment of cultural tenderness.

Japan's birth rate is very low so they rarely see babies 🥹 pic.twitter.com/A0EtJazLnP

— NO CONTEXT HUMANS (@HumansNoContext) March 29, 2025

Family-Oriented and Cultural Discussions

The most emotionally resonant responses to the viral baby video came from those viewing through a familial or cultural lens. Approximately 70% of discussion is positive sentiment, using words like “heartwarming” and “uplifting” to describe the displays of affection. The tone is rich with descriptive, emotive language—about 65% of commentary expresses empathy, cultural solidarity, and admiration for public nurturing behaviors.

This group views the video as a reflection of traditional values and generational responsibility, seeing it as a powerful counter-narrative to Japan’s aging society. While the majority celebrate the emotional resonance of the images, around 20% take an analytical posture, suggesting such public acts may serve as intentional social signaling to combat demographic strain. A small but notable 10% engage with the content through irony or humorous cultural comparison, offering a reflective but more distanced tone.

Political and Abortion Discussions

Political discussions are more conflicted and polarized. Many acknowledge the emotional appeal of the video, but 65% of political discussions quickly pivot to political arguments. About 70% of the discourse uses constitutional, ideological, or value-laden language to discuss contentious domestic issues like abortion, family policy, and social welfare.

Roughly 60% of the language in these conversations is assertive or combative, with frequent use of irony and emotionally charged rhetoric. Around 55% make economic comparisons between Japan and the United States, questioning whether American policy failures undermine family values or demographic resilience. The overall sentiments regarding demographic issues are frustration, impatience, or critique, with only a minority expressing hopefulness or admiration.

General Discussions

General discussions show the most balanced spectrum of reactions. Roughly 65% respond with praise and emotional affirmation, admiring the compassion and communal spirit depicted in the video. Around 20% take a neutral observational tone, while 15% convey skepticism or concern, often suggesting such gestures—while beautiful—might be symbolic rather than substantive responses to deeper societal issues.

Commentary in this group uses cultural, economic, and political reasoning. About 50% are anecdotal and cultural comparisons, 30% take economic perspectives, and 20% analyze the imagery through a political lens. This segment voices both admiration for Japan’s public warmth and dissatisfaction with perceived American shortcomings in areas like social cohesion, policy reform, and demographic planning.

Peripheral Discussions

The peripheral discussions are less politicized with 80% of the language overtly affectionate. Some emphasize human connection, cultural beauty, and shared values. Only about 5% are critical or dismissive, the smallest group of comments.

While overwhelmingly positive, the conversation is not devoid of deeper concern: many recognize the imagery as both a hopeful symbol and a subtle indicator of broader demographic and policy challenges. Still, the overall tone is soft, nurturing, and emotionally direct, distinguishing this group as the least ideologically driven.

In the last year, the price of eggs has been an indicator of the overall economy for many Americans. Some argue the price fluctuations are due to more than economic conditions citing the Biden admin’s chicken killing program. However, for many voters, economic strain hits hardest on things like food.

MIG Reports data shows online discussion around egg prices often follows partisan leanings, with both sides using the cost of eggs as a narrative tool.

Egg Prices as a Proxy for Inflation Anxiety

Online, Americans often invoke egg prices—alongside gas and grocery costs—as proof of either economic recovery or decline. Discussion reflects a growing divide between official inflation narratives and the lived experience of voters.

While inflation has reportedly ticked down to 2.8% in February 2025, consumer confidence is extremely low as trust in government plummets. Voters are conflicted between what they see in their bank accounts, what “experts” are telling them, and which politicians they support.

To many Americans, the CPI might claim improvement—but if egg prices remain high, any recovery feels like fiction. During Biden’s administration, conservatives were particularly critical of economic reporting. Now, during Trump 2.0 left leaning media outlets and politicians are taking over the critical narrative.

MAGA Cites Dropping Egg Prices

Prior to the election, conservatives complained about egg prices which they said were skyrocketing due to ill-advised Biden policies. Now, many are citing falling prices under the Trump administration and calling out Democrats for their sudden silence.

Egg prices continue to fall below $3 pic.twitter.com/y1nlbXYXbj

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 26, 2025

The right frames price drops as signs of progress, suggesting egg production is recovering and causing prices to fall. Online discussion shows Democrats have lost control of the economic narrative. Americans increasingly reject “good news” that doesn’t reflect their personal experience—but many say the good news under Trump is real.

Democrats Claim Broken Promises

On the left, comments are more likely to deny price drops, claiming it’s either not true or not a significant decrease. They tie food prices directly to Trump policies, calling them reckless and misguided.

Hold up... The egg prices the Trump regime bragged about lowering came from $1 billion in taxpayer-funded egg imports from around the world, only further devaluing the dollar and raising inflation?

That is not a win, it's an economic sleight of hand. pic.twitter.com/ZPa4RsxDjj

— Jason Bassler (@JasonBassler1) March 26, 2025

Democrats accuse the Trump administration of angling to take away their Social Security checks and cutting SNAP benefits for children. This, they link to overall economic strain on everyday Americans who are suffering from poor governance.

For Trump critics frustration about inflation, food prices, and economic mismanagement dominates sentiment. They lament declining support for progressive fiscal strategy and call for leadership accountability.

Media Bias in Economic Narratives

Americans also blame the media for the stark divide in partisan views of the economy. Republicans see publicly funded media outlets—NPR, PBS, and others—as “government-paid leftist propaganda.” Terms like “defund NPR” and “abolish PBS” are recurring mantras across conservative digital spaces.

This rejection of traditional media directly intersects with economic skepticism. When these outlets report on food prices or economic impacts, many Americans simply don’t believe it. Voters don’t trust legacy media outlets delivering a partisan message.

This media distrust fuels the perception that “eggflation” is a problem serving mostly to further ideological agendas. Media skepticism is rampant on both sides as voters don’t believe the story being told, depending on who is telling it.

For Republicans, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Mainstream outlets have lost authority with a large portion of the public, but partisan biases are still a barrier to reaching new audiences.

Who Will Win the Narrative?

Symbolic metrics like egg prices will likely shape economic messaging in 2025 as Democrats look for attack angles against Trump 2.0. Democrats risk losing economic credibility by ignoring or minimizing voter sentiment. However, the right risks backlash if their promises do not end in Americans feeling their quality of life is improving.

Eggs become a kind of populist shorthand: You can’t afford breakfast, and they don’t care. That’s a narrative with staying power—but both sides are trying to use it. This message is especially potent among Independents and working-class voters and the question now becomes: who will they believe?