Sometimes wake-up calls are important. As American politics shows us, the fight against climate change has its advocates and its detractors. But polls show most people are concerned. Most people say they want action.

In her story today, Stephanie Hanes reveals the limits to that sentiment. It’s not that people don’t care. It’s that they care about other things more, and they’re also not super excited about making sacrifices, surprisingly enough. It’s a reminder that Election Day is often the best gauge of what voters really want, not of what they say.