College Students Express Anxiety About Future, Fueling Political Disengagement

A sense of despair about the future is contributing to political anxiety among college students, according to recent coverage. Frankie Llerandi, a 21-year-old Michigan State University student, has been unable to secure an internship in three years of study, a challenge reflecting broader difficulties students face in transitioning to adulthood. This anxiety is fueling a restlessness with the national political system, with students expressing concern that it is no longer capable of improving their lives or interested in addressing their needs.

Both left-leaning and right-leaning outlets report on this growing sense of anxiety, though the focus differs. Left-leaning coverage emphasizes the systemic issues driving student concerns, framing it as a lack of responsiveness from the political system. Right-leaning coverage highlights the individual struggles of students like Llerandi, focusing on the practical challenges of finding employment. Not in dispute is the rising level of anxiety among students about their future prospects.

While the sources establish a correlation between student anxiety and political disengagement, they do not detail the specific policy preferences of these students, nor do they quantify the extent to which this anxiety will translate into altered voting behavior. The long-term impact of this disillusionment on future political participation remains an open question.

Where they differ

• PBS Newshour emphasized the systemic nature of the problem, framing the anxiety as a response to a perceived lack of political responsiveness.
• The Washington Times focused on the individual experience of Frankie Llerandi, highlighting the difficulty of finding an internship as a concrete example of student struggles.

What is not yet known

• The specific policy preferences of anxious college students are not detailed.
• The extent to which this anxiety will impact future voting behavior is not quantified.

Background

• Donald Trump served as President and remains a politically active figure, campaigning for other Republican candidates [background knowledge].
• Midterm elections occur two years into a President’s term and are often viewed as a referendum on their performance [background knowledge].
• A 2026 poll showed voters favored Democrats on issues like cost of living and healthcare, but lacked confidence in both parties’ ability to solve problems [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-04].
• Michigan State University faculty, including Ted Schwaba, have conducted research linking personality traits to genetic variants and acknowledging environmental factors [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-08].

Our reading

Our reading is that a growing sense of anxiety about future prospects is contributing to political disengagement among college students, with different political outlets framing the issue through distinct lenses. The left focuses on systemic failures while the right emphasizes individual struggles, but both acknowledge the core problem of rising student anxiety. This suggests a broad recognition of a problem, even if the proposed solutions or interpretations differ significantly.

What to watch

• Whether the policy preferences of anxious college students become clearer through further reporting or polling [various outlets].
• Any measurable change in voter turnout or voting patterns among 18-24 year olds in upcoming elections [election results data].
• Whether institutions respond to the concerns raised, such as increased internship opportunities or changes to political engagement programs [university/government announcements].

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