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Back to To the Point

To the Point

American 'Distrust, Discontent' toward Government

A BBC World Service poll shows America's influence in the world as positive for the first time since 2005. President Obama is getting the credit. But in the US, pollsters are finding the highest level of distrust in Washington in 50 years. Is Obama getting the blame? Almost 80% of Americans say they don't trust Washington to do what is right.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

A BBC World Service poll shows America's influence in the world as positive for the first time since 2005. President Obama is getting the credit. But in the US, pollsters are finding the highest level of distrust in Washington in 50 years. Is Obama getting the blame? Almost 80% of Americans say they don't trust Washington to do what is right. Just 22% says it's right "most of the time." Since the second term of Dwight Eisenhower in 1958, confidence in the federal government has been on the decline. Andrew Kohut is President of the Pew Research Center.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Darrell Satzman

    Producer

  • KCRW placeholder

    Karen Radziner

    Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

  • KCRW placeholder

    Andrew Kohut

    Pew Research Center

    NewsNationalPolitics
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