The NBC News Decision Desk Poll finds 44% of adults prioritize the economy or health care, but Democrats most commonly cite threats to democracy — a preference concentrated among white, college‑educated Democrats. A Vanity Fair profile of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, based on 11 interviews, quoted her acknowledging internal policy disagreements and prompted strong pushback from the White House. Other notable items: recent jobs data show a net decline in October and modest gains in November with unemployment at 4.6%, enhanced ACA subsidies are unlikely to be extended, and U.S. strikes killed eight alleged narco‑terrorists.
Poll Shows Democrats Prioritize ‘Threats to Democracy’ — Driven by White, College‑Educated Voters; Susie Wiles Profile Draws Pushback
The issue that's animating a key slice of the Democratic base: From the Politics Desk
As the 2026 battleground begins to take shape, Democratic leaders are emphasizing affordability and access to health care. A new NBC News Decision Desk Poll, conducted with SurveyMonkey, finds that 44% of U.S. adults name either the economy or health care as their top concern — a share that tops 50% among independents.
Who in the Democratic Coalition Is Most Worried About Democracy?
For independents and Republicans, economic issues and health-care access outweigh other concerns. Democrats, however, most often cite threats to democracy as their highest priority. That preference is driven largely by white Democrats: 53% of white Democrats say threats to democracy matter most to them, compared with 25% of Hispanic Democrats and 22% of Black Democrats. The split widens with education: among white Democrats who hold at least a bachelor’s degree, concern about threats to democracy is roughly three times as common as concern about the economy and health care combined.
What This Means Politically
White, college-educated voters have grown as an influential bloc within the Democratic Party since Donald Trump’s rise. Their heightened focus on democratic institutions and culture-war issues reflects sustained concern about Trump and his allies. That emphasis can create tension with other parts of the coalition that respond more to bread-and-butter economic appeals. Heading into the 2026 midterms, this divide may not hurt turnout — white, college-educated Democrats have demonstrated strong motivation to vote against the GOP — but it could complicate the party’s post‑2026 strategy once Trump is no longer the defining political antagonist.
Susie Wiles Profile Sparks White House Backlash
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles became the focus of intense coverage after Vanity Fair published a two‑part profile based on 11 interviews conducted over nearly a year with the White House’s cooperation. The piece portrays the 68‑year‑old as more candid in private than her public persona, quoting her describing “huge disagreements” over policy and acknowledging internal tensions.
Wiles reportedly said there were “huge disagreements” on tariffs, that the administration needs to “look harder” at its deportation process, and that she had to “get on board” with President Trump’s decision to issue broad pardons related to Jan. 6, which she initially thought should be limited to non‑violent actors.
The report prompted coordinated pushback from the White House and Trump’s political allies, who argued the profile left out essential context rather than disputing the quotes themselves. Wiles criticized the story on social media: “Significant context was disregarded and much of what I, and others, said about the team and the President was left out of the story.” President Trump, in an interview with the New York Post, called the reporting inaccurate and defended Wiles, saying “she’s fantastic” and expressing continued confidence in his chief of staff.
Other Key Headlines
- Jobs: The U.S. lost 105,000 jobs in October and added 64,000 in November, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.6%.
- ACA Subsidies: Speaker Mike Johnson (R‑La.) said he will not call a vote to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, making their expiration at month’s end likely.
- Strikes at Sea: U.S. strikes in the eastern Pacific killed eight alleged “narco‑terrorists,” according to defense officials.
- Legal Fight: The BBC will defend itself against a $10 billion defamation suit filed by former President Trump over a documentary that highlighted his Jan. 6 speech.
- Information Corrections: An NBC News review found instances where administration officials released information after several violent incidents that later proved false or misleading and required correction.
- Executive Orders: The Washington Post reports President Trump has signed 221 executive orders less than a year into his second term — a faster pace than during his first term.
- Coming Up: President Trump is scheduled to deliver a live address to the nation tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET.
This edition of the Politics Desk newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and originally published on NBCNews.com. For questions or feedback, contact politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com.
