WHAT THE DATA SAY: 61% see positive impacts of diversity

TRUMP ENTERS OFFICE WITH OPTIMISM

Our monthly study with the Center for Americans Political Studies at Harvard University shows that President Joe Biden left office with his lowest approval rating in two years, while President Trump re-enters the White House with a majority of Americans having optimistic initial views.

• 56% believe Trump has been trying to unify rather than divide the country after the election (Democrat: 23%, Republican: 88%, Independent: 55%).
• Of the cabinet picks, more favor rather than oppose Marco Rubio (+10), Mike Huckabee (+10) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+9). Yet Americans are split on Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as leaders.
• Of Trump's policies, deportations of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (71%) and ending the Israel-Hamas conflict are most popular (66%). Withdrawing from NATO (24%) and renaming the Gulf of Mexico (28%) are least popular.
• Americans say their greatest hopes for the new Trump administration are that he will end inflation (66%), improve national security (46%), revitalize the American economy (41%) and restore American values (39%).
• Americans' say top fears are Trump behaving like a dictator (44%), political gridlock (38%), damage to American international reputation and relationships (36%), and damage to federal government and agencies (36%).
• Regarding the LA fires, 54% believe authorities could have been better prepared (Democrat: 38%, Republican: 70%, Independent: 54%).
• 57% believe California Governor Gavin Newsom is guilty of mismanaging resources and making the fires worse, while 60% believe the same of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

MOST AMERICANS STILL SUPPORT DIVERSITY

With all the backlash to DEI, Americans still see the benefits of diversity, according to our new Harris Poll survey with Axios Vibes.

• Most demographic groups say DEI has benefited their career rather than hindered it.
• While 41% support efforts to roll back diversity initiatives, the majority - nearly six in 10 - oppose such efforts or are unsure.
• 61% recognize the positive impact of diverse teams on organizations.
• 75% want to see more work on diversity to ensure everyone is advancing.
• 39% of Democrats have benefited from DEI, compared with 26% of Republicans.
• These findings are consistent with past research, which highlighted the DEI acronym as more of an issue than people walking away from the values themselves.
• See also: Minority groups more pessimistic heading into new Trump era: Axios Vibes poll

AI = FOBO

Two thirds of employees have anxiety about their professional relevance due to technological change, according to Harris Poll's second annual ETS Human Progress Report launched this week at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos.

• The fear of being obsolete (FOBO) is an issue for 60% of employees today.
• Yet 63% globally feel optimistic about their country's upskilling/reskilling opportunities to counterbalance FOBO.
• 86% of global employees agree that certifying their skills improves their chances of securing a better or higher-paying job.

CEO'S AND COMMS LEADERS LACK CONFIDENCE

A substantial gap exists today in global confidence in business, based on Harris Poll's latest Business Confidence Index with the Page Society.

• Only 26% of leaders globally are confident that companies can positively address societal issues.
• A 25-point gap exists between the public ranking of and confidence in addressing the most critical issues (in rank order): 1) economic stability and growth, 2) job creation and workforce skills development, 3) corruption, 4) environment, 5) research and technological innovation, and 6) mental health issues.
• The top 2025 business risks, according to communications leaders, include: 1) anti-woke/resistance to ESG/DEI and activist campaigns; 2) polarization and low trust, including dis/misinformation; 3) declining faith in institutions; 4) Trump policy shifts, including economic, regulatory and foreign policy, and 5) geopolitical challenges of rising populism, instability and international conflicts.

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