The Foreign Desk Is popularity in politics a thing of the past?
Aug 9, 2025
Join Tom Nichols, a staff writer at The Atlantic and democracy expert, alongside Lance Price, former communications chief for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Latika Burke, a prominent writer and national security analyst. They delve into the fading popularity of political leaders in today’s fast-paced, scrutinizing environment. The trio explores how social media reshapes public expectations and highlights civic literacy's role in political discontent. They also discuss the rise of leaders like Giorgia Meloni and the complexities of modern governance affecting public patience.
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Popularity Is Rapidly Eroding Worldwide
- Democratic leaders across countries now face persistent and widespread disapproval that erodes any honeymoon period.
- Andrew Muller frames this as a global phenomenon that forces the question: can lasting popularity still exist?
Governments Try To Please Everyone
- Tom Nichols argues governments often 'listen to you too much' and attempt to satisfy contradictory public demands simultaneously.
- That tendency forces policy trade-offs and inflates public expectations, making durable approval elusive.
Rising Expectations And Social Media Distortion
- Nichols describes hedonic adaptation: rising standards make citizens harder to please over time.
- He warns social media amplifies the most negative voices and warps politicians' sense of priorities.
