7 facts about Americans’ views of money in politics
72% of U.S. adults say that there should be limits on the amount of money individuals and organizations can spend on political campaigns.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Trust in Government
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Trust in Government
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Americans’ Dismal Views of the Nation’s Politics
Americans’ views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. By contrast, just 10% say they always or often feel hopeful about politics.
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In Divided Washington, Americans Have Highly Negative Views of Both Parties’ Leaders
Americans express highly negative views of President Joe Biden, congressional leadership in both parties and Congress more broadly. Views of the economy remain overwhelmingly negative, and there has been a sharp rise in the share who say the country cannot solve many of its important problems.
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Americans’ Views of Government: Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role
65% say most political candidates run for office “to serve their own personal interests.”
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Americans’ Trust in Scientists, Other Groups Declines
Trust in scientists and medical scientists has fallen below pre-pandemic levels, with 29% of U.S. adults saying they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public. This is down from 40% in November 2020 and 35% in January 2019, before COVID-19 emerged. Other prominent groups – including the military, police officers and public school principals – have also seen their ratings decline.
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Increasing Public Criticism, Confusion Over COVID-19 Response in U.S.
Americans are increasingly critical of the response to COVID-19 from elected officeholders and public health officials. Positive ratings of public health officials, such as those at the CDC, have fallen 10 points since August. And 60% of U.S. adults say they’ve felt confused as a result of changes to recommendations on how to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Fewer Americans now say Trump bears a lot of responsibility for the Jan. 6 riot
Americans remain deeply divided about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the ongoing congressional investigation into what happened.
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Public’s Views of Supreme Court Turned More Negative Before News of Breyer’s Retirement
Today, 54% of U.S. adults say they have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, while 44% have an unfavorable view. And 84% say justices should not bring their political views into decisions.
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Trust in America: How do Americans view economic inequality?
Amid rising inequality, many Americans feel that the U.S. economic system is unfair and generally favors powerful special interests.
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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.
