As a Democrat who immersed himself in political news during the presidential campaign, Ziad Aunallah shares a sentiment many Americans feel in the wake of the election: he’s tuned out.
“People are mentally exhausted,” said Aunallah, 45, of San Diego. “Everyone knows what is coming and we are just taking some time off.”
This shift in political engagement is evident not only in conversations but also in media consumption. Television ratings and a recent survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research demonstrate that many Americans are scaling back their intake of political news. According to the poll, about two-thirds of American adults have recently felt the need to limit their media consumption concerning politics and government due to information overload.
This trend stands out more clearly in politics compared to other news topics. Fewer Americans are limiting their exposure to news about overseas conflicts, the economy, or climate change, but politics stands as a distinct exception.
For Sam Gude, a 47-year-old electrician from Lincoln, Nebraska, political news was overwhelming before the election. “The last thing I want to watch right now is the interregnum,” said Gude, a Democrat who isn’t particularly fond of President-elect Donald Trump. Gude’s sentiments reflect a growing number of individuals who are disengaging from political coverage.
Poll Results Show More Democrats Stepping Back from Political News
The poll, which was conducted in early December, revealed that approximately 7 in 10 Democrats report taking a step back from political news. While Republicans, buoyed by Trump’s victory, are less likely to distance themselves from political coverage, nearly 6 in 10 Republicans say they’ve reduced their news consumption as well. The number of independents pulling back from political news mirrors that of Republicans.
The poll results also highlight stark contrasts in the viewing habits of Americans, particularly when it comes to TV networks that have dominated political coverage. From election night to December 13, MSNBC saw a drastic drop in prime-time viewership. The network averaged 620,000 viewers, a 54% decrease from its pre-election numbers, according to Nielsen. CNN also experienced a decline, with an average of 405,000 viewers, a 45% drop compared to its earlier ratings.
Conversely, Fox News, a popular network for Trump supporters, saw an uptick in viewership. Its post-election prime-time audience averaged 2.68 million, an increase of 13%, according to Nielsen. Since the election, 72% of viewers tuning into these three major cable networks in the evening have been watching Fox News, a significant jump from 53% before election day.
The trend of a post-election slump for fans of the losing candidate is not new for networks with heavily partisan followings. MSNBC, for instance, experienced a similar drop after Trump’s election in 2016, just as Fox News did in 2020. In that case, many Fox viewers were upset by the network’s early call of Arizona for Joe Biden, leading some to seek alternative news outlets.
MSNBC faced a similar backlash following its coverage of Trump’s victory last month. Several viewers of the show “Morning Joe” were angered when hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski visited Trump shortly after his win. Despite this, MSNBC’s morning show ratings have only dropped by 35% since Election Day, a smaller decline than the 54% drop in prime-time viewership.
CNN, though experiencing a slump in television ratings, has pointed out that its streaming and digital viewership have remained steady, signaling that its digital presence continues to hold relevance.
Will Political Interest Rebound When Trump Takes Office?
There is some optimism that political interest will rebound once Trump takes office. MSNBC, for example, finds some comfort in past patterns: when a new administration begins, opposition supporters often flock to cable networks, reigniting viewership.
“I’ll be tuning back in once the clown show starts,” said Aunallah. “You have no choice. Whether or not you want to hear it, it’s happening. If you care about your country, you have no choice but to pay attention.”
However, there are uncertainties about how smooth this rebound will be. MSNBC’s drop in viewership has been steeper than it was in 2016, and it remains to be seen whether opponents of Trump will engage with the news as intensely as they did during his first term. Furthermore, cable television is losing ground, with more people cutting the cord, a trend that MSNBC has attempted to counter in recent years.
Americans Want Less Political Talk from Public Figures
The poll also indicates that Americans are tired of excessive political talk from public figures. After an election season marked by celebrity endorsements, including Taylor Swift’s, the survey found that a majority of Americans disapprove of celebrities, large companies, and athletes weighing in on politics.
Kathleen Kendrick, a 36-year-old sales representative from Grand Junction, Colorado, who is a registered independent, has noticed this shift. “You get a story but only part of a story,” said Kendrick. “It would be nice if you could get both sides, and more research.” Kendrick, like many others, craves more depth in news coverage and seeks out news sources that provide well-rounded perspectives.
Gude shares a similar sentiment, expressing frustration with the focus on Trump in news coverage. “If the network wants to expand its audience, then you have to talk about issues, and you have to stop talking about Trump,” he said.
Gude’s frustration reflects a growing concern about the narrow focus of political coverage. As he points out, “It’s kind of their own fault that I’m not watching. I felt they spent all this time talking about the election. They made it so much of their focus that when the main event ends, why would people want to keep watching?”
MSNBC Faces Corporate Shifts Amid Audience Decline
Adding another layer to MSNBC’s challenges, parent company Comcast recently announced that it would spin off some of its properties, including MSNBC, into a new company. This move will bring in new corporate leadership and sever MSNBC’s ties with NBC News, creating uncertainty about the future direction of the network.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, many Americans who have tuned out political news are looking for news sources that offer more thoughtful, balanced reporting. If networks hope to re-engage these viewers, they may need to focus on providing in-depth coverage that goes beyond sensationalism and partisan politics.