DFP’s newsletter of our latest polls, memos, and memes. 

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We’re down bad (for Biden’s legislative agenda).

After President Biden’s comedy special (sorry, State of the Union), voters really can’t get enough of his legislative agenda. They’re simps. Honestly, it’s kind of embarrassing. Like c’mon, politicians love the chase. You gotta play hard to get.

Buuuut Data for Progress finds ([link removed]) that voters are just really into the Biden administration’s agenda. For example, 79% of voters support the Junk Fees Prevention Act, including 85% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 74% of Republicans. Seems like a loooot of support to us. We hope Biden got voters flowers for Valentine’s Day. Or at least we hope he got them the post-Valentine’s Day discounted chocolate that you got the guy you didn’t realize you were seriously seeing, but then he got you a Valentine’s Day gift, and oh shit were you supposed to get him something?!?

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Voters are also in favor of breaking up big tech firms. Like the breaking up you have to do with Discount Chocolate Guy who probably works for big tech. Sixty-four percent of voters support breaking up big tech, including 72% of Democrats, 62% of Independents, and 56% of Republicans.

So Biden, looks like you and your legislative agenda were the diamond ([link removed]) this social season. Let’s keep shining and roll this energy over into 2024.

Read the full blog and polling here ([link removed]) .

Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:

We’re exhausted because Social Security is about to be exhausted.

The 1940s seem like a pretty bad time to be alive for a lot of reasons (war, sexism, racism, anti-semitism — oh sweet, so nothing has changed) but damn, FDR really popped off with the New Deal. One of those progressive, game changing programs (for the time) was Social Security. Social Security is fab because it provides an income to retirees and disabled individuals; however, the trust fund is expected to be exhausted by 2037. Not ideal.

Obviously, we can’t just shrug and say “oh well!!” to those who depend on Social Security (@ Republicans), so members of Congress have proposed the Social Security Expansion Act. The bill would extend the solvency of Social Security for 75 years and increase benefits for all recipients by $2,400 per year. A solution, what a concept!! We love it!!

Data for Progress finds ([link removed]) 78% of voters are in favor of the Social Security Expansion Act, including 85% of Democrats, 75% of Independents, and 72% of Republicans.

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Some Republicans also have a solution to solve the Social Security problem, except it’s a really bad idea. President George W. Bush introduced the notion of privatizing Social Security back in the mid-2000s (classic Bush move) and current Republican senators like Ron Johnson have once again floated the plan ([link removed]) . This would obviously be pretty risky, since it leaves the incomes of retirees and disabled individuals at the whimsy of the stock market, which is famously something that's pretty up and down. Voters across party lines (74%) agree with keeping Social Security a federal program, including 80% of Democrats, 69% of Independents, and 73% of Republicans.

So Congress, we think it’s time to expand Social Security. Quite literally, the clock is ticking. We have until 2037 to ensure that the fund doesn’t run out, so let’s try to do something before then. No more procrastinating.

Read the full blog and polling here ([link removed]) .

If you hate your grandparents, buy them groceries.

As with many things in America, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program that sounds great on the outset but has a little kicker that makes absolutely no logical sense. SSI provides monthly benefit payments to about 5 million disabled people and older adults — that part is great! We love that! However, if an SSI beneficiary receives any help with food, their SSI benefit is cut by about one-third.

So if a recipient's family bought them a bag of groceries or if a rogue girl scout gave them free cookies, their monthly benefit would be cut from about $900 per month to $600 per month. $600 per month. You can’t live on that when an iced coffee is $8 with tip. $600 will barely get you through two weeks in 2023. Egg prices are rising! Haven’t you heard?!?

In polling from May 2021, Data for Progress and The Century Foundation found ([link removed]) that voters support eliminating cuts to monthly benefits from SSI beneficiaries who receive help from their family or friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Seventy-two percent of voters support eliminating the rule, including 83% of Democrats, 69% of Independents, and 62% of Republicans.

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We would love to live in a world where SSI beneficiaries can say yes to a cupcake or a Dirty Shirley without living in fear. It’s about damn time to eliminate that rule.

Read the full blog and polling here ([link removed]) .

DFP In The News

Jezebel: Doctors and Nurses Shouldn't Be Able to Report Your Pregnancy Loss to the Police ([link removed])

The Hill: Today’s Social Security debate will lead to real progress ([link removed])

FiveThirtyEight: Biden’s Administration Says It’s Not Shooting Down Alien Life. Americans Still Want To Believe. ([link removed])

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: As the U.S. reels from more mass shootings, a renewed push for reform on Capitol Hill ([link removed])

WQLN: Black farmers call for justice from the USDA ([link removed])

White Mountain Independent: Raising the U.S. debt ceiling ([link removed])

CleanTechnica: US Clean Energy Goals Hinge On Faster Permitting ([link removed])

On Social
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Meme of the Week
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