Elite Critics Mismatch with Mass Opinion

Public figures can remain broadly popular with ordinary voters while being repeatedly denounced by the hyper‑engaged commentariat; this mismatch persists across the ideological spectrum and is driven by inflated expectations, tribe‑signalling, and the incentives of punditry. Recognizing the pattern helps explain why media narratives often depart from polling and why legacy debates become epistemically noisy. — If commentators and elites repeatedly amplify an out‑of‑step narrative, they can distort democratic accountability, mislead voters, and amplify polarization despite majority-level approval of incumbents or former presidents.