In just over a month, President Trump has issued more than 70 executive orders, and his actions have filled over 150 entries in the Times Trump tracker. There are days when the sheer volume of news is overwhelming—for both journalists and everyday readers.
This sense of being swamped is exactly what the “flooding the zone” strategy aims for: to bombard the public with so much activity that critical updates slip by unnoticed or cause people to disconnect from the news altogether.
But, interestingly, that hasn’t quite been the case. According to a fresh survey by YouGov, many Americans are still keeping track. A significant portion reported being aware of 14 out of 17 major news stories from Trump’s first month in office.
Conducted between February 14 and 18, the survey highlights that the public is mostly informed about the U.S.A.I.D. shutdown, Musk’s fraud claims, government layoffs, and Trump’s ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The news that seemed to fly under the radar? The Justice Department’s controversial move to drop a case against New York’s Mayor Eric Adams.
It appears news consumption has taken a partisan slant, with Republicans more likely to be updated on issues like the Israel-Hamas cease-fire, the transgender athlete ban, and Ukraine negotiations. Meanwhile, Democrats tended to follow stories like the disobedience of federal judges’ orders and efforts to dismiss charges against Adams.
There are further signs that people are indeed engaged. House Republicans are facing their constituents back home, who are angry about Congress’s perceived inaction. Additionally, consumer confidence has plummeted due to growing fears of tariffs and economic instability.
If attention is being paid and dissatisfaction is on the rise, why hasn’t there been a bigger public outcry this past month?
One possibility is that, although people are informed about these events, they’re still sorting through their feelings about them. It might take some time for voters to decisively separate Trump actions they can tolerate from those they find problematic.
Another reason might be the impact of recent history—after January 6, two impeachments, and multiple legal challenges, people might feel there’s little more to add to their grievances against Trump. This time, it’s less about taking to the streets with anger and more about seeking effective leadership moving forward.
