Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels
By New Way News Newsroom, Entertainment Desk — Published September 14, 2026
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- The Background & Context
- Why This Matters
- Reactions & Analysis
- What Happens Next
- Frequently Asked Questions
A striking new poll reveals a deepening partisan divide over what makes Americans proud. Democrats show pride in the nation’s entertainment industry and pop culture at higher rates than they express pride in the U.S. military, according to survey data released ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary. The findings underscore a cultural rift that extends far beyond politics, touching on fundamental questions about national identity and shared values.
The poll, conducted by AP-NORC as part of the America 250 initiative, paints a picture of two Americas viewing their country through vastly different lenses. While Republicans overwhelmingly express pride in traditional institutions like the armed forces, Democrats increasingly find sources of national pride in cultural exports—movies, streaming services, television, and the broader entertainment landscape that shapes global perceptions of American life.
This divergence comes at a moment when the United States prepares to mark its semiquincentennial in 2026. The data suggests that even as the nation approaches this milestone, consensus about what defines American greatness remains elusive. The gap between how Democrats and Republicans view sources of national pride has widened into a chasm that reflects broader tensions in American society.
Key Takeaways
- New polling data shows Democrats express more pride in pop culture and entertainment than in the U.S. military
- Republicans demonstrate significantly higher levels of pride in the United States overall compared to Democrats
- The survey was conducted by AP-NORC as part of preparations for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026
- The findings reveal a stark partisan divide over sources of national pride and American identity
- Entertainment, movies, streaming, and TV emerge as key pride points for Democratic respondents
- The data underscores broader cultural and political polarization affecting American society
The Background & Context
America’s entertainment industry has long served as a global ambassador for the nation’s values, creativity, and cultural influence. From Hollywood’s golden age to today’s streaming revolution, American movies and television have dominated worldwide markets and shaped international perceptions of the United States. The industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars annually and employs millions of Americans.
Yet the military has traditionally occupied a special place in American civic life. For generations, the armed forces represented one of the few institutions commanding bipartisan respect and pride. Service members have been honored across the political spectrum as defenders of freedom and national security. Military strength has been viewed as foundational to American identity.
That consensus appears to be fracturing. Recent years have seen increasing polarization around virtually every aspect of American life, from public health to education to corporate behavior. The military itself has become caught up in culture war debates over diversity initiatives, vaccine mandates, and recruitment practices. Meanwhile, the entertainment industry has faced its own controversies over representation, content standards, and political messaging.
The timing of this poll is significant. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, Americans are being asked to reflect on what unites them and what makes their country distinctive. The AP-NORC survey aimed to capture these sentiments, measuring pride across various domains of American life. The results suggest that Democrats and Republicans are increasingly living in separate cultural universes with different heroes, different sources of meaning, and different visions of what America represents.
Why This Matters
This partisan divide over sources of national pride carries profound implications for American democracy and social cohesion. When citizens cannot agree on what institutions deserve respect and admiration, building consensus on policy becomes exponentially harder. The military, in particular, has historically served as common ground—a shared source of pride that transcended political differences.
The shift has practical consequences. Military recruitment has faced significant challenges in recent years, with all branches struggling to meet enlistment goals. If one major political party’s base expresses less pride in the armed forces, that could affect the pool of potential recruits and the military’s relationship with civilian society. The all-volunteer force depends on broad public support and a sense that military service is honorable and valued.
For the entertainment industry, the findings offer both validation and warning. Democrats’ pride in pop culture reflects the industry’s success in creating content that resonates with progressive values and diverse audiences. Shows and movies exploring social justice themes, LGBTQ+ stories, and diverse perspectives have found enthusiastic audiences. Yet this same content has sometimes alienated conservative viewers, contributing to the partisan divide.
The data also raises questions about how Americans will commemorate the 250th anniversary. Will the celebration be genuinely national, or will it fracture along partisan lines? Can organizers find common ground that speaks to both those who take pride in military might and those who celebrate cultural creativity? The challenge of crafting a unifying message has grown steeper.
For everyday Americans, this divide affects social relationships and community life. When neighbors and colleagues hold fundamentally different views about what makes the country admirable, finding common purpose becomes difficult. The erosion of shared pride in institutions weakens the social fabric that holds diverse communities together.
Reactions & Analysis
The poll results have sparked debate across the political spectrum. Conservative commentators have seized on the findings as evidence of Democratic disconnection from traditional American values. They argue that pride in the military should be non-negotiable and that entertainment, while enjoyable, represents a lesser form of national achievement compared to the sacrifice of service members.
Progressive voices counter that the military has been used to justify controversial foreign interventions and that questioning military policy is patriotic, not disloyal. They argue that cultural influence—the soft power of movies, music, and television—has done more to spread American ideals globally than military force. In this view, pride in entertainment reflects appreciation for creativity, diversity, and freedom of expression.
The broader pattern of Republicans expressing more overall pride in the United States than Democrats reflects a recurring theme in political polling. Republicans typically report higher levels of patriotism and satisfaction with American institutions across multiple surveys. Democrats often express pride in American ideals while criticizing the nation’s failure to fully realize those ideals, particularly regarding racial justice and economic inequality.
Political analysts note that these differences reflect genuine philosophical divides about what patriotism means. Is it loyalty to the country as it exists, celebrating its achievements and institutions? Or is it commitment to the country’s founding principles, demanding that reality match the rhetoric? Both camps claim the mantle of true patriotism while viewing the other as misguided.
What Happens Next
As America moves toward 2026 and the semiquincentennial celebration, these divisions will test the nation’s ability to come together. Planning committees face the delicate task of creating commemorations that acknowledge different perspectives while finding unifying themes. The challenge is formidable given the depth of partisan polarization.
The military will likely continue efforts to maintain broad public support despite political divisions. Defense leaders have emphasized that the armed forces serve all Americans regardless of political affiliation. Yet navigating cultural controversies while maintaining readiness and recruitment remains a significant challenge for military leadership.
The entertainment industry shows no signs of retreating from socially conscious content, despite conservative criticism. Streaming platforms and studios increasingly view diverse storytelling as both moral imperative and business strategy, given demographic trends. This will likely sustain the partisan gap in attitudes toward pop culture as a source of pride.
Political leaders face pressure to bridge these divides, though incentives for polarization remain strong. Campaign strategies often depend on mobilizing base voters by emphasizing cultural differences rather than seeking middle ground. Until electoral incentives change, the partisan gap in sources of national pride may persist or widen.
The data suggests that younger Americans, who have grown up with streaming services and global pop culture, may view entertainment differently than older generations who came of age when military service was more common. Generational replacement could reshape these attitudes over time, though predicting the direction is difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific aspects of pop culture do Democrats take pride in?
The poll indicates Democrats express pride in the entertainment industry broadly, including movies, television, and streaming content. This encompasses Hollywood’s global influence, the creative output of American artists and producers, and the cultural impact of American media worldwide. The entertainment sector represents both economic success and cultural expression that resonates with progressive values around diversity and social themes.
Does this mean Democrats don’t support the military at all?
Not necessarily. The poll shows Democrats express less pride in the military compared to pop culture, but this doesn’t mean they oppose or disrespect the armed forces. Many Democrats support robust military funding and honor service members while questioning specific policies or military interventions. The data reflects relative levels of pride rather than absolute opposition or support.
How does this partisan divide affect military recruitment?
The military’s recruitment challenges are complex and multifaceted, but declining pride in the armed forces among one political constituency could affect the pool of potential recruits. If fewer young people from Democratic-leaning families view military service as honorable or desirable, recruitment becomes harder. However, many factors influence enlistment decisions beyond partisan political attitudes.
Will the America 250 celebration be affected by these divisions?
The partisan gap in sources of national pride presents significant challenges for organizers planning the 250th anniversary commemoration. Creating events and messaging that resonate across political divides requires acknowledging different perspectives on American greatness. The celebration’s success may depend on finding themes that transcend current divisions and appeal to shared values rather than partisan priorities.
The poll’s findings offer a sobering snapshot of American polarization as the nation approaches a historic milestone. Whether Democrats and Republicans can find common ground on what makes America worth celebrating remains an open question. The answer will shape not just the 250th anniversary festivities, but the country’s ability to function as a unified nation in an increasingly divided era.