Gallup polls Americans on security, safety, and the perceived threat of terrorism

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     Lisa Hamons, front, a social worker for San Bernardino County, is hugged by Yolanda Richardson during a candlelight vigil for shooting victims  in San Bernardino, Calif. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

    Lisa Hamons, front, a social worker for San Bernardino County, is hugged by Yolanda Richardson during a candlelight vigil for shooting victims in San Bernardino, Calif. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

    NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller sits down for his weekly conversation with Gallup’s Frank Newport to talk about trends in American opinion.

    The San Bernardino mass shootings have, at least in the short term, changed the worries of Americans.

    The new update on Americans’ views of the most important problem facing the country shows that terrorism has jumped up to the top problem mentioned, above dysfunctional government, the economy or jobs.

    Americans’ perceptions that more terrorist events in the U.S. are likely have jumped;  now , they are as high as they have been in a number of years.

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    Americans’ confidence in the government to protect its citizens from future acts of terrorism is as low as it has been since 9/11.

    Even before his Muslim policy comments, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had the most negative image of any candidate among all Americans by far.

    And Americans’ satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. took a hit over the weekend, dropping to its lowest point of the year.

    Click the audio player to listen to the interview.

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