Policy Backgrounders

The US Political Outlook

July 07, 2023

CED’s recent Trustee Policy Summit included a series of sessions on the outlook of the US political landscape, characterized by heightened polarization, including the role of AI in politics and the important role of business in building public trust.

• The political climate is characterized by polarization. The economy is declining in importance as a campaign issue as Americans instead focus on hyperpolarized issues.
• It is too early to tell what the “main issue” of the 2024 campaign will be. A candidate who campaigns principally on that issue wins 80 percent of the time.
• AI deepfakes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, posing a major challenge to information in politics.