California’s Political Landscape: A Summer Disappointment

California’s political scene is shaping up to be disappointing this summer.

This isn’t really surprising, especially with the ongoing pressures from the Trump administration. While Los Angeles is reaching out to the federal government for assistance, our governor seems to be in a precarious position.

According to a recent poll from UC Irvine, a significant number of residents feel things are off track, with a striking 2-to-1 majority expressing discontent.

So, why the frowns?

“We’re so divided as a country that many feel there’s no shared goal, and some are stirring up chaos based on their beliefs,” remarked John Gould, who directs the social ecology program at UC Irvine. “Additionally, a large segment of the population perceives the economy to be worse now than it was four years ago, two years ago…even just a year back.”

Governor Gavin Newsom isn’t exactly helping improve the overall mood either.

A survey conducted by the Government Institute at Berkeley indicated that voters aren’t particularly confident in the direction he’s leading. This could be fueling his focus on a potential 2028 presidential run.

Just 14% of those surveyed expressed “a lot of trust” in Newsom to act in the public’s best interest, while 28% admitted to trusting him “somewhat.” A sizable 53% felt he couldn’t be trusted at all.

This isn’t a solid foundation for an electoral race, but there’s a certain allure to the thought of being in power.

When it comes to Congress, feedback from the Berkeley survey remains bleak.

Confidence in state lawmakers stands at only 44%, which, while not glowing, is better than the perception of tech firms in California. A mere 4% of respondents believed that businesses acted in the public interest, with 60% expressing no trust at all. I find myself in that latter group as well.

This mistrust extends beyond state officials to federal institutions.

A nonpartisan study from the California Institute of Public Policy reveals that residents are growing increasingly disillusioned with all three branches of the federal government.

One-third of Californians approve of President Trump’s performance and the conservative Supreme Court, while only 20% think Congress is doing a good job.

Partisan views certainly shape these opinions; the majority of voters are registered Democrats, likely impacting their feelings towards the Republican-dominated Washington. Yet, this skepticism crosses traditional party lines.

Overall, 80% of adults expressed that they don’t fully trust the federal government to act responsibly. Almost as many asserted that they are skeptical of the government.

This lack of trust isn’t a new phenomenon.

“It is concerning, but yes, it’s not a new concern,” said Mark Bardassaa, who leads research at the Institute of Public Policy. “This has been an issue for decades.”

Back in 1958, when the National Election Survey first asked about trust, about 75% of Americans felt they could rely on the federal government to do the right thing most of the time. Since then, especially following crises like Watergate and the escalation of the Vietnam War, that confidence has steadily diminished. A recent Pew Research Center survey showed just 35% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents maintain trust in the federal government, with only 11% of Republicans expressing similar sentiment.

A recent poll has raised even more alarm about the state of our democracy.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed in Berkeley believe “American democracy is under attack,” and 26% indicated it is “being tested.” Just one in ten feels there’s no threat to democracy.

America has seen its share of intense political strife over the years. However, during the Trump era, constant misinformation related to the 2020 election and challenges to the rule of law have heightened concerns about democracy’s stability.

Eric Sickler, who co-supervises the Berkeley Government Institute, noted that people seem less confident now than in the past during crises. “Even in previous eras of discontent, you didn’t see this level of fear. It’s startling that 64% believe American democracy is under attack, while only 10% say it’s safe,” Sickler commented.

Perhaps this is just a passing phase that might clear up come autumn?

“I’m not optimistic in the short to medium term,” Sickler added. “The challenges we face have taken years to grow. They started before Trump, but they’ve intensified recently. We’re heading toward a political landscape without limits on what those in power will attempt to achieve.”

For Californians, there are always scenic escapes like mountains, beaches, and deserts to find solace amid political turmoil.