Key findings about Americans’ declining trust in government and each other
Americans say the public’s trust has been declining in both the federal government and in their fellow citizens. But most say this can be turned around.
Politics
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Trust and Distrust in America
Many Americans think declining trust in the government and in each other makes it harder to solve key problems. They have a wealth of ideas about what’s gone wrong and how to fix it.
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Republicans have doubts that colleges, K-12 schools are open to range of viewpoints
Republicans are less likely than Democrats to see colleges and K-12 public schools as open to a range of viewpoints.
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Americans say the nation’s political debate has grown more toxic and ‘heated’ rhetoric could lead to violence
Many Americans say the tone and nature of political debate in the United States has become more negative in recent years.
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Democrats’ Ratings of Party’s 2020 Field: Better Than in 2016, Similar to 2008
Democratic voters report high levels of satisfaction with the Democratic candidates as a group. The election also is attracting more interest than past elections did at similar points in the cycle.
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Pew Research Center Presidential Elections Trends Topline
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Growing share of Republicans say U.S. risks losing its identity if it is too open to foreigners
Today, 57% of Republicans say that if the U.S. is too open to people from around the world, “we risk losing our identity as a nation.”
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About one-in-five adult Twitter users in the U.S. follow Trump
Republican and Republican-leaning adult Twitter users are more likely than Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents to follow Trump.
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A growing number of American teenagers – particularly girls – are facing depression
Depression is rising among American teenagers, and teen girls are particularly likely to have had recent depressive episodes.
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U.S. public has little confidence in social media companies to determine offensive content
Americans have complicated views about the role social media companies should play in removing offensive content from their platforms.
