Top Features
A War Worth Fighting?
Last week was the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Ruy Teixeira asks: What does the public really want on Iraq?Other Public Opinion Features
May 9, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: A Minority of Americans Now Expect to Live Comfortably in Retirement
New public opinion data show that only a minority of Americans believe they will be able to live comfortably in retirement.
May 2, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: New Highs for Economic Worries
Poll shows new highs for worry about maintaining living standards and belief that wealth is unfairly distributed, writes Ruy Teixeira.
April 25, 2008
Public Turning Even More Negative on Iraq
Recent polls show a record high proportion of the U.S. public now believes Iraq was a mistake.
April 18, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Fear of Falling
The public believes that over the last five years it has become harder for middle class families to maintain their standard of living.
April 11, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: What Part of “Get Out of Iraq” Don’t They Understand?
The public must be wondering what part of "get out of Iraq" the Bush administration doesn't understand, writes Ruy Teixeira.
April 4, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Failing to Police Wall Street
Public opinion polls show negative reactions to Bush administration’s handling of financial market turmoil on Wall Street and Main Street.
March 28, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Fixing Housing Key to Better Economy
Opinion polls show that the public thinks the housing crisis is central to our economic woes, and it wants a solution fast.
March 21, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Pain at the Pump
Americans cite gas prices as top economic concern and want the government to take action on fuel efficiency and alternative energy.
March 14, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: The United States Needs a New Image
Contrary to conservative commentators’ opinions, America’s image is declining rapidly around the world.
March 11, 2008
BBC Poll Offers Odd Frame to the Issue of Iran Nukes
The headline from the press release of a new BBC World Service poll reads Declining Support for Tough Measures against Iran’s Nuclear Program: Global Poll. This poll is flawed and should be interpreted with caution.
February 29, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Time to Help Homeowners
Most Americans see the need for government action on the housing crisis to help homeowners and the economy, writes Ruy Teixiera.
February 22, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Bush Blamed for Economic Ills
As the economy heads south, public disapproval of President Bush’s performance grows across the board, writes Ruy Teixeira.
February 15, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Cure the Economy? Pull Out of Iraq
Polls show that the public thinks exiting Iraq is the most effective way to cure our economic woes.
February 8, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Surge or No Surge, the Public Has Made Up Its Mind on Iraq
Ruy Teixeira shows that since the surge, the public hasn't budged. Americans still think we can't achieve victory and should withdraw troops.
February 1, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Delivers Negative Opinion on Bush Presidency
History may judge Bush harshly for failures, if current negative attitudes among the American public are any indication.
January 25, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: A Nation of Unhappy Campers
Bush may want to tout Iraq and the economy in Monday’s State of the Union, but the public has a different opinion about his success—or lack thereof.
January 18, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Americans Agree, Time for Action on Health Care
Americans are dissatisfied with out-of-control health care costs and lack of access, and they want the government to do something about it.
January 14, 2008
What the Public Really Wants on Retirement and Social Security
Retirement is a top American concern, yet little has been done to address their insecurities, writes Ruy Teixeira.
January 14, 2008
What the Public Really Wants on Retirement and Social Security
Retirement is a top American concern, yet little has been done to address their insecurities, writes Ruy Teixeira.
January 11, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: A New Direction on the Economy
The public is not optimistic about the current economic outlook, and this time, more Bush tax cuts aren’t going to cut it.
January 4, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Voters Want Change, Especially on Iraq
Polls show that Iowa and New Hampshire voters want a new president who won’t follow in Bush’s footsteps, particularly on Iraq.
December 21, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Military Families Are Fed Up
Polls show that veterans and their families are sick and tired of the Bush administration’s remarkably poor job of helping them out.
December 14, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: U.S. and Global Publics Want a New Deal on Global Warming
The U.S. and global publics want a new deal on global warming that helps both richer and poorer countries get up to speed.
December 7, 2007
Public Opinion: Public’s Antiwar Stance on Iran Likely to Strengthen
Polls show a public against military action against Iran even before the new intelligence estimates, despite administration efforts to garner support.
November 30, 2007
The Public Wants Help Achieving the American Dream
Polls show that Americans want help achieving the American Dream; progressive solutions can bring them closer to their goals.
November 16, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: U.S. and Global Public Willing to Sacrifice to Address Global Warming
New poll shows that U.S. and global publics are willing to do what it takes to combat global warming. Policymakers should take note.
November 9, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Why Playing the Immigration Card Didn’t Work
Conservatives in Virginia tried to play the immigration card to scare voters their way. Here’s why it didn’t work.
November 7, 2007
What the Public Really Wants on Budget Priorities
The public supports curbing Bush's tax cuts, increasing domestic spending, and reducing the deficit, writes Ruy Teixeira.
November 2, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Still Dissatisfied With Economy
Despite the latest GDP numbers showing solid economic growth, the public is still pessimistic about the economy.
October 26, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Moving Education into the 21st Century
Americans favor two key educational reforms, alternative teacher pay and extended learning time, both of which Congress is now considering.
October 19, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: California, Drop Dead
California wants to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to save oil and curb global warming, but the Bush administration isn't giving them any leeway.
October 12, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Which Side Are You On? The Battle of the Budget
The public favors increased domestic appropriations, but the Bush administration and their conservative allies refuse to listen.
October 5, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Your Priorities Are All Wrong
The public disapproves of the Bush administration’s performance in a wide range of top policy objectives; so why won’t they change course?
September 28, 2007
Everyone but Bush Supports SCHIP Reauthorization and Expansion
The Bush administration is remarkably indifferent to the overwhelming public will to reauthorize and expand health coverage for poor children.
September 14, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: The Public Is Unconvinced that the Iraq Surge Is Working
Country-wide and world-wide polls show Petraeus is going to have a hard time rallying support for the war. The public wants out within a year.
September 7, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Are We Defeating Terrorism?
Six years after 9/11, the public’s confidence in the Bush administration’s anti-terror strategy has plummeted, argues Ruy Teixeira.
August 31, 2007
Katrina, Two Years Later
Ruy Teixeira finds that the public thinks government efforts to rebuild and prevent the root cause of worsening storms are falling short.
August 30, 2007
Labor Day Special!
This Labor Day, union membership is dwindling, yet Americans’ opinion and interest in labor unions is at historically high levels, writes Ruy Teixeira.
July 27, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Americans’ Budget Priorities
Our nation knows that Congress today is more trustworthy than President Bush when it comes to dealing with the budget deficit, writes Ruy Teixeira.
July 20, 2007
Health Insurance for Kids?
Health insurance for kids seems pretty hard to object to—and the American public doesn’t. But that hasn’t stopped the Bush administration.
July 13, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Understands the “War on Terror” Isn’t Working
The public understands what the CIA knows and the president won’t admit: we’re not winning the war against our terrorist enemies.
July 5, 2007
Public Wants to Safeguard Civil Liberties
Recent bomb scares are bringing questions of terrorism back to the fore, but the public doesn’t think we need to sacrifice our civil liberties to stay safe.
June 29, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: The Verdict on the Surge
Key senators joined with the majority of the public this week in calling for change in Iraq; a new CAP report calls for that and more.
June 22, 2007
Bush to Public: Drop Dead
The president’s second veto of embryonic stem cell legislation comes amid widespread public support for this critical scientific research.
June 14, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Wants Action on Energy and the Environment
The public wants an environmentalist energy policy, according to our weekly public opinion snapshot.
June 8, 2007
Public Wants Action on Global Warming
The American public wants immediate action from the Bush administration on global warming—not just rhetoric.
June 6, 2007
What the Public Really Wants on Abortion Rights
Ruy Teixeira reports that America remains, on balance, a pro-choice country opposed to reversing Roe v. Wade.
May 25, 2007
Public Opinion Snapshot: Knowing When It’s Time to Go
It’s not clear how much longer Bush will override Congress’ Iraq timetables. But in doing so he is flagrantly ignoring public opinion.
May 18, 2007
The Public Supports Immigration Reform
Polls of all adults, registered voters, and likely voters all say the same thing—the public is ready for comprehensive immigration reform.
May 11, 2007