State of the Union 2026: Where Americans stand on key issues facing the nation
Ahead of the State of the Union, here’s a look at U.S. public opinion on key policy issues, drawn from recent Pew Research Center surveys.
Science Issues
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Science Issues
Publications
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6 facts about obesity and weight loss drugs in the U.S.
About half (53%) of Americans say they hear or read about Ozempic, Wegovy and similar drugs extremely or very often.
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What the data says about Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges
Only about 6.9% of the total U.S. population buys health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
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Do Americans Think the Country Is Losing or Gaining Ground in Science?
Republicans and Democrats agree that it’s important the U.S. is a world leader in science, but sharply diverge on how the U.S. is faring.
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Striking findings from 2025
Here’s a look back at 2025 through 12 of our most striking research findings.
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How Do Americans View Childhood Vaccines, Vaccine Research and Policy?
A majority of Americans say childhood vaccines are effective at preventing illness, but slightly fewer are confident that the vaccine schedule is safe.
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Have changes to CDC guidelines influenced Americans’ COVID-19 vaccine decisions?
A majority of U.S. adults (59%) say they don’t want to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
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What we know about energy use at U.S. data centers amid the AI boom
Data centers accounted for 4% of total U.S. electricity use in 2024. Their energy demand is expected to more than double by 2030.
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Support for expanding nuclear power is up in both parties since 2020
About six-in-ten U.S. adults now say they favor more nuclear power plants to generate electricity, up from 43% in 2020.
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Americans’ Views on Who Influences Health Policy and Which Health Issues To Prioritize
About seven-in-ten Americans say insurance companies have too much health policy influence, but partisans disagree on the CDC’s role.
