Rarely does one poll stare so deeply into the soul of a nation and tell its story.

• But a new Wall Street Journal-NORC poll exposes generational and political divides that echo loudly and transformatively across our culture, politics and governance.

Why it matters: Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, the pollster on earlier editions of this survey, told The Journal that the combined toll of political division, COVID and the lowest economic confidence in decades appear to be having "a startling effect on our core values."

"Patriotism, religious faith, having children and other priorities that helped define the national character for generations are receding in importance to Americans," The Wall Street Journal's Aaron Zitner writes (subscription).

• "Tolerance for others, deemed very important by 80% of Americans as recently as four years ago, has fallen to 58%."

The findings: NORC at the University of Chicago polled 1,019 adults this month by web and phone (margin of error: ±4%).

• 🛍️ Asked to describe the state of the nation's economy, 1% (not a typo) chose "excellent."
• 🎓 56% said a four-year college degree is "not worth the cost because people often graduate without specific job skills and with a large amount of debt."
• 🎒33% said they have very little or no confidence in public schools.

Look at the tectonic shifts from a Journal/NBC poll 25 years ago, in 1998:

• 🇺🇸 Patriotism is very important: Dropped from 70% to 38%.
• 🙏 Religion is very important: Dropped from 62% to 39%.
• 🍼 Having children is very important: Dropped from 59% to 30%.
• 🙋 Community involvement is very important: Dropped from 47% to 27%.
• 💰 Money is very important: Rose from 31% to 43%.

The bottom line: The poll quantifies a generational and political divide that shows a rot at the very soul of our nation.

• Full results (no paywall).

Nashville joined America's sad roll call of cities stricken by a school shooting yesterday when six people — including 9-year-olds — were killed in about 14 minutes of horror at The Covenant School in Green Hills.

• "I was hoping this day would never ever come here in this city," police chief John Drake said.

Mayor John Cooper called it Nashville's "worst day."

• "In this dark hour let us support each other. Let us all go and hug our children a little closer tonight," Cooper said.

The shooter, who police said was a former student armed with multiple firearms, was killed during a confrontation with police, Axios Nashville's Adam Tamburin and Nate Rau report.

• Police said three 9-year-olds were killed: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. The adult victims were identified as Mike Hill, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Cynthia Peak, 61.
• Koonce was the head of the school. The other adult victims were identified as a custodian and a substitute teacher.

In response to a reporter's question, police confirmed Hale identified as transgender but provided no further details at the press conference.

• The police chief told reporters that the shooter had detailed maps of the school and there's evidence the shooter had conducted surveillance.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee launched a fund, Caring for Covenant. Donations will go to the school to support those affected.

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Social media is getting pricier for users who want to unlock special features and privileges.

• Why it matters: Users who once believed they were contributing their time and creativity are now being asked to pay up by cash-hungry platforms, Axios Media Trends expert Sara Fischer reports.

Elon Musk tweeted yesterday that beginning April 15, only tweets by verified users will show up in Twitter's default main feed of "For You" recommendations. Verification, formerly a service Twitter offered public figures, is now available only to $8-a-month subscribers.

• The new strategy "is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle," Musk argued. "Voting in polls will require verification for same reason."

Between the lines: Musk has tried to shift more of Twitter's business toward subscriptions amid ad pullbacks.

• In addition to charging users to be verified, he also began charging companies for access to Twitter's API, or backend interface, something many used to be able to access for free.

🔭 Zoom out: Other social networks are looking to make more money from subscriptions and licensing.

• Meta launched its version of a paid verification subscription service in the U.S. last week. Snapchat introduced a new consumer subscription last year.
• Snapchat last week launched its first enterprise software business, licensing its augmented reality software and tools to companies.

🥊 Reality check: Musk has tweeted new Twitter policies and promises that have fallen by the wayside or remain unfulfilled.

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The Louvre was closed yesterday when its workers took part in the wave of French protests against the government's unpopular pension reform plans.

• Dozens of Louvre employees blocked the entrance (above), prompting the museum to announce it would be temporarily closed, AP reports.

The nationwide demonstrations got so violent President Emmanuel Macron postponed this week's planned state visit planned by King Charles.

The head of Building Back Together, a "dark money" group designed to highlight President Biden's accomplishments, is leaving the organization, Axios' Hans Nichols has learned.

• Why it matters: The departure of executive director Danielle Melfi signals a new mission for the nonprofit organization — which accepts unlimited contributions from anonymous donors — as President Biden prepares to announce his re-election campaign.

Instead of paid media campaigns, BBT will focus more on helping progressive groups draw attention to the Biden administration's push to implement its climate, semiconductor and infrastructure programs Congress approved last year.

• Mayra Macias, who has led a progressive advocacy group called the Latino Victory Project, will serve as BBT's interim executive director.

🧮 By the numbers: In 2021, BBT raised $40 million and spent about $28 million on ads, according to tax documents obtained by Politico.

🖼️ The big picture: Ahead of an expected campaign announcement later this spring, Biden is embarking on a three-week roadshow today, designed to convince Americans that the trillions of dollars of projects he signed into law will produce good-paying jobs for the next generation of American workers.

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Sally Susman, Pfizer's chief corporate affairs officer, writes in a book out today that no matter your role or sector, being a smart communicator is essential in this loud, crowded and complex world.

• "Communicators are solving problems in a rapid-fire environment, across multiple channels and with an array of stakeholders — the seat is very hot," Susman tells Axios Communicators author Eleanor Hawkins.

In "Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World," Susman says her comms "power tools" are intentionality, candor, curiosity, creativity, gratitude, preparation, humor and reflection.

• Susman shows how these tools guide her personally and professionally — including the COVID vaccine rollout, and her experience coming out in the 1980s.

The bottom line: Having worked with nine CEOs across three companies — American Express, Estée Lauder and Pfizer — Susman has proven that effective communications can grow business.

• "Because of the increased scrutiny and the elevated stakes, communications can no longer be considered a soft skill," she writes. "The ability to lead and drive the public conversation is a rock-hard competency."

💭 Eleanor's thought bubble: The most common gripe we hear from comms pros is that their true value is overlooked.

• Susman has successfully positioned her teams as trusted partners and key strategic assets.

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Female physicians who get married and have children will earn about $3 million less than their male counterparts, Axios Vitals author Tina Reed writes from a new study in JAMA Health Forum.

• Researchers found female physicians earn between 21% and 24% less per hour than their male counterparts regardless of whether they were married or had children.

Zoos are trading security tips as vandalism and theft hit facilities across the country, Axios Detroit co-author Anna Frank writes.

• What's happening: The Detroit Zoo dodged a security scare when it saw someone potentially "casing the facility," the Detroit Free Press reports.

🦉 State of play: Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl, has become a New York celebrity after vandals helped it escape an enclosure at the Central Park Zoo.

• At the Dallas Zoo, two emperor tamarin monkeys were stolen before being found in a nearby house.
• A dozen squirrel monkeys were stolen from a zoo in Louisiana in January.

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