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NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki recently walked viewers through a striking new NBC poll: far fewer Americans say they are “extremely proud” to be American than in years past. That’s the immediate news. The poll peels back the curtain on a steady decline in national pride and points straight to partisan splits and a collapse of trust in key institutions as the culprits.
Key findings from the NBC poll
The poll shows only about a third of Americans now say they are “extremely proud” to be American. Combine “extremely” and “very proud” and the share sits in the mid‑50s. That is a big slide from the early 2000s, when strong pride readings were roughly in the 70% range. The poll was run for NBC by two outside firms, one Democratic and one Republican, so the numbers reflect real divisions rather than party spin.
Partisan fault lines and shaken institutions
Kornacki’s breakdown makes the obvious point: pride is partisan. Republicans report very high levels of pride. Large numbers of Democrats report little or no pride at all. Layer on top of that growing distrust in institutions — the news media, Congress, the federal government, religious groups and even the Supreme Court — and you have a recipe for a weaker civic bond. If Americans don’t trust the institutions that hold our system together, they won’t swell with pride at the flag.
Why this matters for conservatives — and what to do about it
For conservatives, this decline should be a wake‑up call and an opportunity. Lower national pride makes it harder to defend the rule of law, national sovereignty and free speech — the pillars conservatives talk about. If Republican leaders want a renewal of pride, they need to show they can restore faith in institutions, secure the economy, and stop the cultural elites from driving wedges between citizens. Policies that deliver safety, prosperity and respect for free expression will do far more for patriotic feeling than virtue‑signaling from coastal think tanks.
Steve Kornacki’s segment is more than a sobering chart. It’s a warning that pride is not automatic — it is earned. If the trend continues, Americans will feel less tied to the country and more cynical about its leaders. Conservatives should take the poll seriously: rebuild trust, stand for the nation, and don’t let the elites hollow out the one thing that still unites most of us. Otherwise, at this rate, we’ll have to start selling “Made in America” stickers just to spark a little nostalgia.
