Trust, Facts & Democracy

Dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions.

48% of US adults say the government should restrict false information online, even if it means losing some freedom to access/publish content.

In the U.S., concerns about political corruption are especially widespread. Two-in-three Americans agree that the phrase “most politicians are corrupt” describes their country well.

Donald Trump's four-year tenure in the White House revealed extraordinary fissures in American society but left little doubt that he is a figure unlike any other in the nation’s history.

A median of 62% of adults across the 14 countries surveyed this summer generally believe most people can be trusted.

Here are five facts about how much Americans have heard about the QAnon conspiracy theories and their views about them.

59% of Americans say made-up information that is intended to mislead causes a “great deal” of confusion about the 2020 presidential election.

Many Americans are heading into the 2020 election with a sense of uncertainty that goes beyond their traditional concerns over who will win.

Americans are following the president's statements on the COVID-19 pandemic less closely than a few months ago.

For years, public trust in the federal government has hovered at near-record lows. That remains the case today, as the United States struggles with a pandemic and economic recession.