POLL: Most Americans Say There's a 'Deep State,' Believe It's a 'Major Problem'

The poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that views among partisan and ideological groups, interestingly, are quite similar on the existence of a deep state, while vastly different on the question of media vs. administration falsehoods.

In a rare show of bipartisan suspicion, 45 percent of Democrats think there's a deep state at work, as do 46 percent of Republicans. It nips up to 51 percent for independents. Ideologically, the story is similar: Forty-seven percent of liberals, 48 percent of conservatives and 52 percent of moderates see a deep state afoot. The main difference is by age; deep state seers peak at 59 percent among young adults (age 18-29) and drop to 37 percent among seniors.

There's little differentiation elsewhere; percentages in the 40s to 50s across groups see a deep state, with the motivating factor for that opinion not apparent in this survey's questions. That includes no significant differences by education, often a dividing line on political issues.

Analysis: The "deep state" is President Trump’s most compelling conspiracy theory https://t.co/WfqpaQBx5D

— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 27, 2017

President Trump has many conspiracy theories. And it turns out there's one of them that people in both parties buy into, bigly: the deep state.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows about half of Americans (48 percent) believe in the concept of a deep state — i.e. “military, intelligence and government officials who try to secretly manipulate government policy” — and 35 percent dismiss it as a conspiracy theory.

The belief is very bipartisan. While 45 percent of Republicans believe it exists — perhaps believing it is undermining Trump even as we speak — 46 percent of Democrats also believe it exists — perhaps hoping it is undermining Trump even as we speak.

But it may not be a partisan thing, after all. Independents are slightly more likely to believe in the deep state, with 51 percent believing it's a real thing.

At the same time, many who believe in the deep state don't necessarily believe it's a big deal. Twenty-eight percent overall believe it's a “major problem” — including 29 percent of Democrats and 25 percent of Republicans. Another 14 percent say it exists but is a minor problem, and 6 percent say it's either not a problem or aren't sure.

The concept of a “deep state” — a shadowy network of agency or military officials who secretly conspire to influence government policy — is more often used to describe countries like Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, where authoritarian elements band together to undercut democratically elected leaders. But inside the West Wing, Mr. Trump and his inner circle, particularly his chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, see the influence of such forces at work within the United States, essentially arguing that their own government is being undermined from within.

It is an extraordinary contention for a sitting president to make.