Americans broadly negative about the state of the nation, but most see a better year ahead
A majority of U.S. adults (61%) are optimistic that the new year will be better than the year that just ended.
Publications
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Biden Starts Year Two With Diminished Public Support and a Daunting List of Challenges
Americans’ views of the economy remain negative; most say prices have gotten worse while job availability has improved.
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Key facts about U.S. immigration policies and Biden’s proposed changes
Since Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration has acted on a number of fronts to reverse Trump-era restrictions on immigration.
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Trust in America: Do Americans trust the police?
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms.
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Trust in America: Do Americans trust their elections?
The complexity of the overall system, varying rules on how and when you can vote, and whether the candidate you support wins or loses all impact trust in the election process.
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A look back at Americans’ reactions to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol
A year later, here’s a look back at how Americans saw the events of Jan. 6 and how some partisan divisions grew wider over time.
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Younger Americans still more likely than older adults to say there are other countries better than the U.S.
Young people in the United States express far more skeptical views of America’s global standing than older adults.
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Younger U.S. adults less likely to see big differences between the parties or to feel well represented by them
Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults (59%) see a great deal of difference between the two major political parties, up from 55% just two years ago.
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U.S. public divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much or too little time in prison
Americans are closely divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much, too little or about the right amount of time in prison.
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Republicans and Democrats alike say it’s stressful to talk politics with people who disagree
The share of Americans who say having political conversations with those they disagree with is “stressful and frustrating” has increased.
