In a recent poll conducted by CBS News and YouGov, it was found that a majority of Americans do not believe that former President Donald Trump should have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions he took while he was president. Over six in 10 respondents disagreed with the argument for immunity, including solid majorities of Democrats and independents. However, when it comes to the context of the Jan. 6 investigation and charges, most Republicans feel that Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution. This includes majorities of both MAGA identifiers and non-MAGA Republicans. Furthermore, most Republicans view the indictments and investigations of Trump as an attack on people like them, with the vast majority considering them an unfair attempt to stop his 2024 campaign. On the other hand, most Democrats and independents believe that the indictments are upholding the rule of law.

The survey, which was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,157 U.S. adult residents between January 3-5, 2024, also revealed that the sentiments surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol have shifted over the years. While there was immediate and overwhelming bipartisan disapproval of the attack, the minority who approve of the events has been growing, reaching its highest level to date. This is largely driven by a softening disapproval among Republicans, particularly those who identify as part of the MAGA movement. In fact, MAGA Republicans are nearly twice as likely as non-MAGA Republicans to outright approve of the actions of the rioters. Additionally, a significant portion of Republicans endorse the conspiracy theory that those who entered the Capitol were mostly people pretending to be Trump supporters, and they would support their pardons.

There are also divergent views on what law enforcement was doing on Jan. 6. Democrats are more likely to believe that law enforcement was exclusively trying to stop the protest, while nearly half of Republicans think that law enforcement was trying to encourage the protest, either exclusively or along with trying to stop it. The descriptors used to describe the events of Jan. 6 have also become more partisan over time. Democrats view it as an “insurrection” and an attempt to "overthrow the government" and keep Trump in power, while Republicans see it as "defending freedom" and "patriotism."

Looking ahead, two-thirds of Republicans continue to support Trump's suggestion to grant pardons to those involved in the Jan. 6 attack. The country is divided on the idea of removing Trump from the ballot if states believe he committed insurrection, with mostly Democrats in favor and a narrow majority overall wanting to keep him on election ballots. Additionally, there is a sense of unease among many Americans about the prospects of a peaceful transfer of power in the country, with half expecting violence from the side that loses in future elections. The majority of Americans also believe that U.S. democracy and the rule of law are under threat.

In terms of the economy, most Americans continue to rate it negatively, but sentiment has slightly improved in recent months. The longer-term outlook appears more stable, and there has been an increase in the number of Americans noticing lower gas prices. The share of Americans describing the economy as at least fairly good has reached its highest level in nearly two years. Additionally, Americans are less pessimistic about the economy in the next year, with more expecting it to hold steady or even grow. Gas prices have also provided some relief, with fewer Americans reporting increasing prices and more saying prices are going down or staying the same. However, President Biden has not seen much improvement in his overall approval rating or his rating on handling the economy.

Concerns about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border have increased among Americans, with a majority now believing that the Biden administration should be tougher on immigrants trying to cross it. Most Americans view the border situation as very serious, and nearly half now consider it a crisis, driven primarily by Democrats and independents. As a result, President Biden's approval on handling the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped, and his approval on handling immigration in general is at an all-time low. Support for transporting migrants to northern cities has also decreased among both Democrats and Republicans, with most Americans now disapproving of the practice. There are concerns across partisan lines about resources and the ability to handle more people, with Democrats expressing more concern about the well-being of the migrants and Republicans expressing more concern about national security. Additionally, many Americans have reported an increase in the number of immigrants arriving in their local area, particularly in cities, and those who have noticed this increase are more likely to view the situation as a crisis.

While Americans overwhelmingly believe that asylum-seekers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border should get a hearing, most do not want them to remain in the United States. A majority believes that these applicants should leave the U.S., including some who think they should have no opportunity to come back. There is a divide on how to address the current surge in migrants at the border, with some believing that the asylum system should be made more efficient and others focusing on keeping migrants from crossing the border in the first place. This divide is largely tied to political beliefs, with Democrats citing increased dangers and worsening economic conditions in the migrants' home countries, while Republicans blame rule changes by the Biden administration and insufficient border security.

Many Americans also express concerns about the long-term effect of these migrants on American society, with relatively few believing that they will make society better and nearly half thinking that they will make it worse. Those who believe that the migrants will make society worse tend to lean Republican and oppose providing housing and services for the migrants in their local areas. They believe that the U.S. should focus more on securing the border rather than streamlining the application process.

Overall, the survey highlights the deep divisions among Americans on issues related to Trump's legal immunity, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, the economy, and immigration. Partisanship plays a significant role in shaping these views, with Democrats and Republicans holding starkly different opinions on these matters.