In a recent survey conducted by CBS News and YouGov, Americans were asked to assess the state of the country today, and the majority described it as "divided." The answers "declining" and "weak" followed closely behind, while "strong," "prospering," and "united" were chosen by fewer respondents.

Interestingly, both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the country is divided, with Republicans expressing particular criticism towards President Biden and the current state of affairs. They were more inclined to select "declining" and "weak" to describe the state of the nation. On the other hand, while Democrats seemed more optimistic, only a few chose to describe the state of the country as "strong."

Overall, the survey indicates that a majority of Americans continue to believe that things are not going well in the United States today. However, Americans expressed a desire to see the president speak to the nation more frequently, suggesting an eagerness for increased communication and unity.

One of the pressing issues on the minds of Americans is the state of the national economy. Although most respondents rated the economy poorly, there was an increase in those who regarded it as good, with 39% expressing a positive outlook. This is the highest percentage since the fall of 2021, indicating some improvement. Additionally, fewer people expect a recession compared to last year's State of the Union address.

Furthermore, the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border remains a concern. The majority of Americans view it as either serious or a crisis, with almost half describing it as a crisis. President Biden and congressional Republicans received negative ratings for their handling of the situation, despite a slight improvement in the president's approval rating on the matter as the economy shows signs of improvement.

Speaking of President Biden's approval rating, it has remained relatively steady over the past two years, standing at 42% in the February poll. While there has been a slight increase in approval regarding his handling of the economy, most Americans still disapprove.

The CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted from February 28 to March 1, 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 2,159 U.S. adult residents. The sample was weighted based on gender, age, race, education, and past voting patterns, with a margin of error of ±2.8 points. Some of the findings mentioned in this article are from a previous CBS News/YouGov survey conducted from February 12 to 14, 2024.

As President Biden prepares for tonight's State of the Union address, these results shed light on the concerns and opinions of the American public. It will be essential for the president to address the country's divisions, the state of the economy, and the ongoing border issues to address the current sentiment among Americans.