Most Americans want Democrats focused on ending Iran war, lowering costs

What the report says

A Reuters/Ipsos poll reported by Al Jazeera shows that most Americans want congressional Democrats to focus first on ending the war with Iran, reducing living costs and pushing back on President Donald Trump’s trade policies when the new Congress convenes in January. According to the poll, 71 percent supported legislation to end the Iran war, 62 percent favored repealing Trump’s import tariffs, and about nine in 10 said lawmakers should prioritize the cost of living in their first 100 days.

The survey suggests that these concerns cut across party lines, though Democrats were far more supportive of the anti-war measure than Republicans. It also indicates that many voters want some level of cooperation between the incoming Congress and the White House, rather than a purely confrontational approach. By contrast, the report says impeachment against Trump is not a top public priority.

The article places the findings against a political backdrop in which Democrats are set to hold a Senate majority of 54 to 56 seats, depending on unresolved races, but still face the Senate filibuster and the possibility of a presidential veto. That means translating voter priorities into law could be difficult even with control of Congress.

Al Jazeera also notes an internal Democratic leadership debate, with Hakeem Jeffries expected to become House speaker and Chuck Schumer under pressure from some party members. The broader point, the report says, is that Democrats face expectations to turn election gains into policy results on the economy, foreign policy and accountability for the Trump administration.