More Than Half of Americans Think the First Amendment Provides Too Many Rights
"Evidently, one out of every two Americans wishes they had fewer civil liberties," said one researcher. "This is a dictator's fantasy."
Public Opinion
Biden's Final Flip-Flop
The president's decision to drop out after insisting he never would continued a pattern established by a long career of politically convenient reversals.
The Best of Reason: Why Did Americans Stop Caring About the National Debt?
Both parties—and the voters—are to blame for the national debt fiasco.
Why Did Americans Stop Caring About the National Debt?
Both parties—and the voters—are to blame for the national debt fiasco.
Trump's Abortion Dilemma
The "most pro-life president in American history" cannot please hardline activists without alienating voters.
Biden Decries a 'Failed Approach to Marijuana' but Sticks With It
Rescheduling does not resolve the conflict between federal pot prohibition and state rejection of that policy.
The Truth About 'Rural Rage'
Our research was cited in a new book on “white rural rage.” But the authors got the research wrong.
Pros and Cons of Conformism—Rejoinder to Bryan Caplan
Two libertarian experts on public ignorance continue a debate about conformism.
Poll: Almost a Third of Americans Say the First Amendment Goes 'Too Far'
The survey also found that two-thirds of respondents believe that America is on the "wrong track" when it comes to free speech.
Dispatch From Israel: Inside the Hope Machine
Conversations with a coalition of Israelis who aren’t willing to wait for the government to get their loved ones back after October 7
A Qualified Defense of Qualified Conformism
Some thoughts occasioned by economist Bryan Caplan's new book "You Will Not Stampede Me: Essays on Non-Conformism."
Don't Put too Much Stock in Survey Finding that 67% of 18-24-Year-Olds Say Jews are "Oppressors"
The much-cited Harvard-Harris poll question has flawed wording,and is at odds with other, better surveys.
Americans Don't Much Like Federal Agencies
Yet another year of low ratings for the apparatus of the D.C. leviathan.
Trump's Abortion Triangulation Makes Political Sense but Belies His 'Pro-Life' Pose
The former president is right to worry that supporting restrictions on abortion could hurt him in the general election.
Americans Aren't Buying 'Bidenomics'
Plus: Idaho can't enforce ban on transgender girls playing on female sports teams, Minneapolis may mandate minimum wage for ride-share drivers, and more...
Confidence in Higher Education Reaches New Low
According to Gallup, those with a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education has declined 21 points since 2015.
New Poll: Bad News for Biden, Good News for Trump
Plus: France wants to target porn websites without involving the courts, Republican senators agree with House colleagues about the debt ceiling, and more...
Pro-Lifers Pushed Too Far and Doomed 2 Abortion Bans
Americans’ opinions are more nuanced than headlines suggest, leaving little room for total bans.
Poll: Most Americans Don't Think a College Degree Is Worth the Cost
56 percent agreed that "people often graduate without specific job skills and with a large amount of debt to pay off."
Are Americans More Antisemitic Than They Were Four Decades Ago?
The ADL's annual audit of "antisemitic incidents," which counted a record number last year, is apt to be influenced by changes in methodology and reporting behavior.
Poll: One-Fifth of Americans Say Government Is Our Nation's Top Problem
Plus: Democrats doubt Harris' ability to win, an end to pandemic emergency status, and more...
Survey: Americans Want K-12 Schools To Prioritize Practical Skills, Not College Prep
New survey results show that "Americans believe the K-12 education system should redirect its focus on what it means to successfully prepare American students—equipping them with practical skills that prepare them for life."
New Poll Shows Cratering Support for Total Abortion Bans Among Republicans
New data from the Public Religion Research Institute show a dramatic decline in Republican support for making abortion illegal in all cases. How this will effect voter behavior remains to be seen.
Do the Supreme Court's Low Approval Ratings Show it is Undergoing a "Legitimacy Crisis"?
The Court's popularity has indeed fallen. But its relatively low approval ratings are neither unprecedented, nor worse than those of the other branches of government.
Americans View Marijuana Much More Favorably Than Alcohol
Plus: college majors shifting, Klobuchar's media bill, and more...
For Many Americans, Cancel Culture Is Self-Inflicted
People not only conceal their true beliefs, but often mouth opinions they don’t hold.
Most Texans Want To Legalize Marijuana. Why Doesn't Greg Abbott Listen to Them?
The governor, like Republican politicians in other red states where support for legalization is surprisingly strong, does not seem to think it is risky to defy public opinion.
The Defeat of a Kansas Ballot Initiative Shows That Red-State Voters Don't Necessarily Favor Abortion Bans
The amendment lost by a surprisingly wide margin in a state where Republicans far outnumber Democrats.
Poll: Tech Regulation Should Focus on Privacy and Security—Not Breaking Up Big Tech Companies
Plus: Arizona prisons censor The Nation, Facebook's feed changes, and more...
Most Americans Think Government Is Corrupt, a Third Say Armed Revolution 'May Be Necessary' Soon
Plus: Hawley's illiberal nationalism, Santa Monica's housing obstructionism, and more...
70 Percent of Republicans and Democrats Agree: The Other Side Are 'Bullies'
A new poll from the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics found that 73 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats think the other side are authoritarian bullies.
John Roberts and the Path SCOTUS Did Not Take on Abortion
Although the chief justice's incrementalism did not sway his colleagues, his observations about the meaning of a "right to choose" could be relevant in state legislatures.
Pro-Life Identification Falls to Lowest Level Since 1996
Plus: Michigan prisons ban Spanish and Swahili dictionaries, a win against New York's ban on "unauthorized" legal advice, and more...
Dr. Oz Warns That Legalizing Marijuana in Pennsylvania Would Aggravate Unemployment by Weakening 'Mojo'
The Republican Senate candidate is echoing decades of anti-pot propaganda, but evidence to support his hypothesis is hard to find.
Bryan Caplan on "Misinformation About Misinformation"
One of the world's leading experts on public knowledge and ignorance explains why consumers of misinformation are often as much to blame as producers.
Public Opinion About Abortion Is Complex and Sometimes Confused
Americans cannot be neatly divided into two sides, and they do not necessarily understand the implications of Roe v. Wade.
Do Americans Who Support Roe v. Wade Understand Its Implications?
Although recent polls show a majority thinks the abortion precedent should be preserved, some respondents seem confused about what that would mean.
A Qualified Defense of Letting States Decide on Abortion
Fewer Americans would be forced to live under a legal regime, imposed from on high, that is contrary to their convictions on a matter of life and death.
Congress Won't Legalize Pot Anytime Soon, but It Could Protect Marijuana Businesses by Passing Banking Reform
Chuck Schumer seems less interested in achieving cannabis reform than in making political hay from his inevitable failure.
30 Percent of Americans Still Oppose Same-Sex Marriage
Plus: Research says neuroscience studies are largely unreliable, Elizabeth Warren's new antitrust bill, and more...
Misinformation or Political Dysfunction—Which Comes First?
Plus: Trafficking visas, a new no-fly list?, and more...
Was the Capitol Riot Really the Opening Battle of a Civil War?
There are good reasons to think polls grossly exaggerate the number of Americans who support political violence.
If Less Vaping Means More Smoking, That Won't Be a Public Health Victory
Cigarette sales rose last year for the first time in two decades, while a survey of high school seniors found they were vaping less but smoking more.
Immigration Activists Sever Conversations With White House Over Return of Trump-Era Border Policy
Plus: Maine cracks down on vulgar license plates, Nashville cracks down on mobile hot tubs, and more...
Trust in Media and Elected Officials Near Record Lows in Gallup Poll
Plus: Google and YouTube will demonetize climate change denial content, Dems disagree over spending priorities, and more...
Does the Supreme Court's Declining Popularity Matter?
It could make the Court more vulnerable to political attack and to measures such as court-packing. But the vulnerability might not be great - or last long.
A New York Times Reporter Claims Americans Distrust the Government's COVID-19 Advice Because They Don't Understand How Science Works
If so, public health officials have compounded the problem with disingenuous arguments, dubious policy shifts, and misleading statements.
Poll: People Like Amazon More Than Any Institution but the U.S. Military
Plus: Laws against teaching critical race theory are un-American, ditching tariffs could save lives, and more...
