National debt fears are where Democrats and Republicans are most aligned—more so than on inflation, healthcare, or even the jobs market

When split along political lines, Americans are finding it hard to agree on most things these days. Polarization has been rising for years, recently spilling over into increasingly partisan viewpoints and even outright hostility. So when an issue breaks through to concern Americans from all political stripes, it’s likely worth paying closer attention to.

Fears that the U.S. is digging itself deeper into debt and running up an ever-larger federal deficit is one of those rare topics where partisan stances converge. A poll from the Pew Research Center published Monday asked more than 5,000 Americans whether they considered specific issues a “very big problem” for the country. When asked about the federal deficit, 66% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans agreed, a more aligned view than Americans had on healthcare costs, inflation, or jobs.

The rare convergence in opinion comes as the nation’s debt has climbed to record levels and many nonpartisan fiscal monitors warn of growing fiscal strain. In March, the national debt exceeded $39 trillion, a mere five months after hitting $38 trillion. 

Watchdogs and budget experts warn the deficit’s current track is unsustainable, in no small part due to the tens of billions the government is spending on interest to service........

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