CNBC surveyed voters on what they fear most about the other party. Republicans fear Democratic Socialist policies. Democrats fear Trump testing the bounds of the office.
Two sides. Two fears. One shared hobby of being afraid on a schedule.
The economy is still a key issue in the 2026 election. Voters said so. Then they said they were more worried about the other guy.
Think about that. Americans were asked about their money and answered with feelings about the other team. Their portfolios are down, up, or sideways. Nobody knows. They are busy being scared of a Democratic Socialist.
Here is my technical read. Fear is a trendline. It goes up when you check it. It goes down when you stop. Democrats fear the president. Republicans fear the socialists. Retail traders fear red candles. All of them are staring at screens.
I have charted this survey. Support sits at the 50-day moving average of nothing. Resistance sits at Thanksgiving dinner.
Will the fear move markets? No. Markets move on rate decisions, earnings, and a guy named Kevin forwarding a rumor in a group chat. Your anxiety about the Oval Office is a rounding error.
CNBC ran the poll. CNBC will cover the results. CNBC will then cut to a man in a vest explaining what it means for the S&P 500. It means nothing. It meant nothing in 2018 and in 2022. It will mean nothing in November 2026.
Both parties say the other side is the real threat. They agree on one thing. You should be terrified, and you should keep your cable subscription.
The retail trader fears both parties equally. Then he buys call options on whichever one wins, expiring Friday.
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