The U.S. economy is improving. Yet, President Joe Biden’s approval rating remains stagnant or even declines, with Biden consistently trailing Donald Trump by about two percentage points since October. This has left many wondering: When will Biden start to benefit from a growing economy?

The problem is that they’re asking the wrong question. The once reliable connection between economic performance and presidential approval seems to have broken down. In fact, this link has likely been broken for over two decades. Biden’s 2024 prospects are no longer tied to the economy.

This is troubling for American democracy, because it suggests that presidential incumbents can perform well and still see no benefit in public approval. This undermines a key principle: accountability.

The disconnect between economic conditions and presidential approval stems from shifts in partisanship and the media. As the country has become more politically polarized, and media consumption more fragmented, political reality has split into three distinct worlds: the Democratic Reality, the Republican Reality, and the Politically Disengaged Reality.

Democratic Reality: In this world, Democrats are seen as the virtuous ones, and Republicans are the villains. When a Democrat like Biden is in office, the Democratic Reality holds that the administration deserves credit for positive developments in the economy and the broader world. Any bad news is viewed as beyond Biden’s control, and while criticism may surface, it’s generally accepted that Biden is doing his best in tough circumstances. In this reality, Biden’s approval remains high, irrespective of the economy’s ups and downs.

Republican Reality: In the Republican Reality, Democrats are the adversaries, and Republicans are the heroes. With Biden in the White House, America is seen as in peril, though the specific threat varies by the day. Any negative developments are Biden’s fault, while any positive news is chalked up to being in spite of his administration. This reality is structured around the premise that Biden’s disapproval is justified, with little room for nuance. In this world, Biden’s approval will always be low, regardless of the economy.

Politically Disengaged Reality: This is the reality for those who are not deeply involved in politics—often younger people or those who feel disconnected from the political system altogether. For these individuals, news about politics is peripheral, with pop culture, sports, and other interests taking center stage. Many in this reality see politics as hopelessly corrupt and broken, and while they may occasionally vote, they do so with skepticism and frustration. For them, positive economic news is irrelevant, and if they do notice improvements, they rarely credit Biden for it.

This fragmentation of political realities is a far cry from earlier eras, when political divides were less sharp, and many voters were willing to cross party lines. Back then, the media landscape was less fragmented—most people read a local newspaper and saw the same political news, even if they interpreted it through different partisan lenses. Today, with social and geographical segregation amplified by media fragmentation, it’s easier than ever to construct a personal political reality, tailored to one’s preferences. It’s also easier to simply ignore the news altogether, as political stories, especially bad ones, dominate the discourse.

The result? People’s views on the economy and politics are now largely shaped by their pre-existing opinions. If you support Biden, you’re likely to see the economy positively. If you oppose him, you’ll focus on any perceived failings, regardless of economic data. This polarization means that news about the economy doesn’t penetrate the divided worldviews—nothing seems to matter anymore. It’s as if the collective response is: “Shrug.”

The era of shared media, where most people consumed the same news, is unlikely to return anytime soon. If anything, our best hope lies in the creation of more overlapping political realities, perhaps through the rise of new parties. With only two entrenched partisan realities, compromise becomes impossible, and politics becomes a zero-sum game. But with multiple perspectives in the political landscape, citizens might begin to understand that the world is complex and nuanced. In a democracy, we don’t have to agree on everything, but we must be able to acknowledge the multiplicity of perspectives that shape our reality. Only then can we move beyond a fractured system where compromise is the casualty.