 |
PEW The economy is the chief concert of the AANHPI communities, copping immigration. |
ANALYSIS
The latest 2026 data from AP-NORC (via Amplify AAPI) paints a stark picture of the Asian American mood as we settle into the new year: we are bracing for an economic storm and losing faith that Washington has the umbrella to cover us.
If you’re feeling the pinch at the checkout counter, you aren’t alone. A massive 72% of AANHPI adults say the economy is their number one concern for 2026. Specifically, 49% are laser-focused on inflation, a rate far higher than the general US population. With 85% of us expecting new tariffs to drive up the cost of everyday goods, the anxiety over "sticker shock" is becoming a defining part of the AANHPI experience this year.
A deepening "Trust Deficit"
The persistent drumbeat of deriding government agencies coming from Donald Trump and his syncophants has weakened confidence in the institutions -- Congress, the courts, a free press -- that are supposed to provide a path to the American Dream and the very concept of democracy itself.
The most jarring takeaway is how little we expect from the federal government. Only 10% of AAPI respondents feel confident that the government will actually fix anything in 2026. This isn't just "politics as usual"—it’s a growing "trust deficit" that has jumped 10 points since 2024. Whether it’s the 44% worried about health care costs or the 41% eyeing immigration policy, there is a sense that the people in power aren't listening.
The latest 2026 data from AP-NORC (via Amplify AAPI) paints a stark picture of the Asian American mood as we settle into the new year: we are bracing for an economic storm and losing faith that Washington has the umbrella to cover us.
Top policy priorities for 2026
Economic Issues: 72% of AAPI adults identified at least one economic issue as a top government priority for 2026.
Inflation & Cost of Living: Approximately 49% cited inflation as a key priority—significantly higher than the 33% of the general U.S. population who said the same.
Health Care: 44% want the government to prioritize health care. Roughly 60% are "extremely" or "very" concerned about rising health care costs in 2026.
Immigration: 41% listed immigration as a priority, though views vary by party (57% of Republicans vs. 32% of Democrats).
Economic sentiment and outlook
Pessimism: 58% of AAPI adults believe the national economy will get worse in 2026, while 60% expect the overall state of the country to decline.
Personal Finances: While generally more positive about their own situations than the country's, about one-third expect their personal finances to worsen in 2026. This is particularly true for lower-income households (earning under $50,000), 46% of whom expect a decline.
Tariffs: 85% of respondents expect new tariff policies to increase the price of consumer goods, contributing to widespread economic anxiety.
Views on government and identity
Low Confidence: Only 10% are confident the federal government will make progress on important issues in 2026. Seventy percent have little to no confidence in government progress, an increase from 60% in late 2024.
Democracy and Freedoms: 80% view a democratically elected government as vital to U.S. identity. However, 57% consider the current U.S. democracy to be "poorly functioning."
Threats to Liberty: A majority see significant threats to freedom of speech (58%) and freedom of the press (57%).
FYI:The nationwide study was conducted by The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data from September 2-9, 2025, using the Amplify AAPI Monthly survey drawing from NORC’s Amplify AAPI® Panel designed to be representative of the U.S. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander household population. Online and telephone interviews were offered in English, the Chinese dialects of Mandarin and Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean with 1,027 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders aged 18 and older living in the United States. The margin of sampling error is +/- 5.0 percentage points.
Emerging threats and specific group concerns
Campus Free Speech: Among younger AAPI adults (under age 30), 70% are extremely or very concerned about restrictions on free speech on college campuses and potential federal cuts to university research.
Religious Freedom and Profiling: Roughly 34% of AAPI adults see major threats to freedom of religion. In 2026, particular concern has been raised by Muslim American communities regarding Project Esther, a surveillance initiative they fear promotes religious profiling and erodes civil liberties.
Freedom of Assembly: Nearly 7 in 10 AAPI adults believe the right to peacefully assemble is currently at risk.
Individual Liberty over "Christian Culture": AAPI adults are significantly more likely than the general population to prioritize individual liberty and a democratically elected government as essential to U.S. identity, rather than "Christian culture."
 |
WIKI COMMONS AANHPI are joining protests against harsh Trumpian policies. |
View from the Edge
As bad as 2025 has been with the Trump regime's normalization of racism, the coming year could get even worse as the America Dream fades for people of color.
If Minnesota and the year's first month so far is any indication, the Trump regime is feeling its oats and empowered to double down on using cruelty, harshness and unfairness to tamp down any opposing viewpoints.
On the flip side, there hope is bubbling among folks as ordinary people including that great "undecided" group hiding between the MAGAists and Democrats are starting to wake up to the Trump regime's ultimate goal: a movement to an authoritarian regime quietly controlled by the corporate class.
The November Midterm elections will be a turning point for the United States as ordinary people get a chance to choose the direction of the United States by saying: "Enough!" to the harsh and unconstitutional policies pushed by the Trump regime; "Enough" to the white supremacists and Christian Nationalists who want to preserve the status quo power structure; "Enough" to the billionaires who continue to grow their fortunes at the expense of the middle class; "Enough" to ignoring the Constution and the rights meant to apply to all of us; "Enough" to the divisive rhetoric and policies that have us fighting each other and return to the pursuit of the common good, community and compassion.
Enough!
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
No comments:
Post a Comment