Partisan gap in flying‑safety perceptions

A growing partisan split now shapes how Americans perceive airline safety and fear of flying: Republicans report much higher confidence (88% rate safety good/excellent) and lower fear (55% no fear) than Democrats (72% and 44%, respectively), a gap that was minimal a year earlier. The same poll shows partisans assign blame for a partial shutdown asymmetrically and prefer funding government while excluding ICE, tying risk perceptions to partisan accountability and policy preferences. — If polarization extends to risk perceptions like travel safety, it can change behavior, shape regulatory trust, and make operational crises (like TSA staffing) into partisan issues that influence election messaging and funding bargains.