A growing sense of resentment is boiling over across the United States as a new NBC News survey reveals that 59% of registered voters believe the nation’s economic and political systems are stacked against them. This figure ties a record high first set in April 1992, marking a era of historic dissatisfaction that hasn’t been seen in nearly four decades of polling.
The data, collected between February 27 and March 3, paints a bleak picture of the American psyche. While 59% feel the system is rigged, only 38% disagree, and a tiny 3% remain unsure. The frustration extends even further when looking at the influence of the elite; a staggering 84% of voters agree that the “very rich and powerful are above the law.”
Within that group, two-thirds believe the situation has worsened over the last decade, suggesting that the divide between the average citizen and the well-connected is widening.
Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt, who conducted the survey alongside GOP pollster Bill McIntruff, noted that the results highlight “historic levels of anger and disgust.”
According to Horwitt, the data serves as a series of warning signs for national leaders, indicating that Americans are not just unhappy, but are actively “looking for change.”
This surge in cynicism follows a period of intense public scrutiny regarding the Justice Department’s release of millions of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Although the poll didn’t ask about the files directly, the timing suggests the controversy—which named various business leaders and politicians—may have influenced public perception of “special treatment” for the powerful.
While many figures, including President Donald Trump, have denied any wrongdoing and face no charges, the proximity of the scandal to the polling dates remains a notable backdrop.
The survey also highlighted a massive shift in partisan perspectives. For the first time, the “stacked system” sentiment is being driven largely by Democrats and independents.
Roughly 73% of Democrats now feel the system is against them—a 26-point jump since late 2022. Conversely, as Republicans have seen gains in the White House and Congress, their share of those feeling the system is rigged has dropped to 44%, down 21 points from the same period.
The NBC News poll reached 1,000 registered voters through a combination of phone interviews and text-based online surveys. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
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