After 100 Days, Our Values Remain Resilient

by Elizabeth Johnsen, Vice President of Program Strategy and Impact, The Opportunity Agenda

This week marks President Trump’s first 100 days in office. In this time, it has become clear to us what his priorities are. As we’ve written about, the current administration has made hardline policy changes in Immigration, a major rehaul of the U.S. economy, massive cuts to the federal workforce, and numerous Executive Orders aimed at dismantling civil society. The harmful narratives that allowed for these policies—narratives rooted in the dehumanization of immigrants, a scarcity frame that pits communities against each other, and misinformation that distorts the true meaning of inclusivity, diversity, and equity—have taken center stage.

For those of us working to advance social justice, the administration’s first 100 days have felt nothing short of overwhelming. While we continue to work tenaciously—banding together in community, keeping our eyes on the mission, organizing and mobilizing—there is reason to have hope.

We’ve known that many of Trump’s policies would be unpopular, and now public opinion is bringing this truth to light. Recent polling from ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos and New York Times/Siena, which has received much coverage in the media, has shown reason for cautious optimism in our unwavering work to advance immigrant rights, economic opportunity, and civil society.

For instance, the ABC/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows that 53 percent of voters disapprove of how Trump is handling Immigration, and the New York Times/Siena poll shows that 51 percent disapprove. According to the latter, the reason for this is predominantly because voters feel the president has “gone too far” in his immigration policies and actions—the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia being one example. Only 32 percent of voters approve of his handling of the case, while 52 percent disapprove.

For those of us committed to advancing a narrative rooted in opportunity for all, this is reassuring news. Not only does it show that Americans seem to be more aligned with us on immigration than we might perceive, but it reveals a broader commitment to our values— the belief that all of us deserve the chance to pursue a better life and live in a world where we feel safe.

Because the administration’s harmful immigration narratives will persist, it’s up to us to amplify narratives that highlight the value of immigrants.  TOA’s core narrative, when it comes to immigrant rights, is that immigrants are critical to the vibrancy of American life. We believe the way to push back against the harmful anti-immigration trend is to frame the story in a way that reflects the many contributions immigrants make to our nation. We know that our diversity is our strength.

Beyond immigration, the polls show a glimmer of hope in other areas that we advocate for, such as economic opportunity.

Fifty-two percent of those polled in the New York Times/Siena survey said the administration was going “too far” with their cuts to the federal workforce. A majority of voters say Trump’s actions have made the economy worse, overall. A majority also think that his policies are “hurting them personally” and will continue to do so. This indicates that there may be a forthcoming wave of organizing and mobilizing around economic issues.

In response to questions about presidential overreach, such as Trump’s efforts to target and—in some cases—punish his ideological opponents, the polls revealed steadfast support for core American values such as Democracy, Opportunity, Voice, and other tenets that uphold civil society and the public good. Fifty-four percent of those polled by New York Times/Siena feel that Trump is going beyond the powers available to him as president, with almost no public support for a president defying the American norms of due process and separation of powers.

This is good news. It shows that, despite the daunting Executive Orders we face as a field, despite the ongoing policy threats to our communities, and despite the daily headlines, our core social justice values may be more resilient and deeply engrained in people’s hearts than we think. And that, for now, is reason to be optimistic.

As public opinion continues to shift and people remember the essential utility of social justice, TOA is here to help craft narratives rooted in our shared vision for the future. We hope you will join us along the way.