Policymaker priorities in 2025 reflect a convergence of urgent domestic concerns and forward-looking oversight. The economy has re-emerged as the dominant issue, with sharp increases in concern over inflation, cost of living, and trade. Healthcare has also regained prominence, while national security makes its first appearance among leading concerns, even as partisan divisions shape the framing of each challenge. After dipping in 2024, the share of policymakers ranking the economy among their top concerns surged from 31% to 50%, restoring it to pre-2024 levels. Inflation and cost of living dominate economic pressures, but partisan perspectives diverge on secondary priorities with Democrats emphasizing tariffs and trade, meanwhile Republicans highlight federal spending.
Beyond domestic concerns, attention is also shifting toward sectors poised to define the next decade. Fintech is viewed both as the fastest-growing industry and one of the most in need of federal oversight, illustrating the balance between innovation and regulation. Artificial intelligence has overtaken cryptocurrency as the top technology requiring additional regulation, underscoring rising unease over its rapid deployment and societal impact. Meanwhile, the ways policymakers consume information and communicate remain fractured along party lines. While credible news outlets, research, and government sources dominate decision-making inputs, Democrats and Republicans diverge sharply in their preferred social media platforms, shaping how policy messages are delivered and received.
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