A recent poll from Pew Research shows Americans are increasingly less trusting of each other. Wisconsin, among its Midwestern peers Michigan and Indiana, fell out of the top 15 most trusting states, challenging the notion of “Midwest nice,” according to Pew Research.
Trust is crucial to building strong communities, and the decrease in social connection observed in this research is worrying for Wisconsin. Decreasing trust may be due to the increase in political polarization in the state that continues to intensify. This is evident in Americans’ views of those in other political parties. Americans increasingly describe conversation with those in other parties as “stressful or frustrating,” increasing from 50% of people in 2019 to 61% in 2023, according to Pew Research.
Polarization has also shifted forms in recent years. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace describes elite polarization as a disconnect between political leaders based on trust. We now face a new form, affective polarization, in which individuals not involved in politics become less trusting of their neighbors due to national and local tension.
The erosion of trust occurs when leaders deploy divisive language to engage their supporters instead of focusing on policy, according to Carnegie. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, the divisive language separates those who may have common values, which harms social trust.
While the lack of social trust among those of differing ideologies is an issue across the U.S., it may present itself more strongly in Wisconsin due to the state’s historical importance as a swing state. This identity makes politics a more present issue in the daily lives of Wisconsinites compared to other states.
The development of an “us vs them” mindset that comes with political polarization impacts communities even outside of election years. Misconstrued views about neighbors makes individuals more hesitant to reach out when help is needed or join groups in their communities, according to WPR.
Many suggestions have been made to bridge this divide, such as emphasis on cross cutting identities — which tie people together outside of politics and foster discussions of political issues to increase awareness of ideological standpoints, according to Carnegie. These suggestions may seem relatively easy to implement, but our current political climate introduces increased concerns.
While divide bridging efforts may help those who are not in a minority group to understand and put aside their party’s ideological differences, they will be ineffective when working with individuals who not only do not trust their neighbors but also feel politically threatened in their daily lives. According to Carnegie, while both sides dislike each other, only one party is actively involved in limiting voting rights.
Threats to democracy and personal security have continued to intensify with the 2024 presidential election and the Trump administration’s many direct attacks on minority groups that occurred since his inauguration in early 2025. The recent immigration issue significantly impacts social trust as it encourages neighbors to be suspicious of each other. Increased presence of ICE agents in cities around the U.S. deteriorates trust in local institutions such as police, according to National Public Radio.
Individuals are less likely to call the police as victims or witnesses of crimes, and they are less likely to help neighbors in need. The erosion of trust with local law enforcement as well as with neighbors is a direct result of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. Those on either side of these policies develop a larger level of affective polarization even if they are not immediately impacted by the policies.
The impact of these policies causes fear in the Madison community, according to WMTV. To combat the individualistic mindset these issues may create, Centro Hispano — a local Latino leadership group, continues to work to provide a sense of community. Centro focuses on creating a supportive space and sharing legal resources for those threatened with deportation. The Centro’s leadership provides hope that discriminatory policies intended to tear communities apart will not succeed.
There is also hope for improved trust through young people as they are more trustworthy of each other while being increasingly distrustful of institutions, such as Congress. 74% have “some” or “a great deal” of trust in their peers, according to Tufts. Embracing human connection while remaining weary of institutions’ role in communities may make rebuilding trust more difficult.
Trust may continue to be eroded as the Trump administration continues to push hateful rhetoric that encourages individuals to turn on their neighbors in the name of “patriotism.” But, patriotism does not lie in constant fear and hate of others, but instead, it is found in supporting our neighbors now to overcome the suspicion Trump’s hateful goals thrive on and create a fulfilling sense of community.
