What Are We Thinking?

This week, we're breaking down our new national poll conducted with NPR and PBS News. President Donald Trump's job approval rating remains in the high 30s, with Americans' concerns cutting across multiple issues. Domestically, affordability remains a worry, and many say the economy is not working well for them personally. At the same time, views on foreign policy are also shaping public opinion, with a majority believing the United States’ position on the world stage has weakened. More than six in ten also say recent military action in Iran has done more harm than good. In this segment, we break down how these concerns connect, what they reveal about the current public mood, and their implications for the midterm elections.

We also zoom out to examine how Americans’ perceptions of the economy have evolved over the past year. What started in 2025 as growing worry about the cost of living has gradually turned into a broader sense of economic frustration. Over time, more Americans have come to feel that the economy is falling short in meeting their needs. By early 2026, concern about inflation had expanded across party lines. The data suggest that people are judging the economy less by traditional indicators and more by their day-to-day financial reality, whether they can keep up with rising prices and cover their monthly expenses. On both fronts, sentiment has clearly declined.

And, lastly, is age just a number? We are discussing the youthful age of 75.

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Episoder(459)

The Future of MAGA

As the 2026 midterms approach, we're taking on a defining question in American politics: is MAGA the same as Trump, and is Trump the same as the Republican Party? MAGA has become the party's public fa...

14 Aug 27min

Are Data Centers the 2026 Election Surprise?

Artificial intelligence may be transforming the way we work, but the infrastructure behind it is creating new questions for communities across the country. As demand for AI grows, so does the need for...

6 Aug 28min

Looksmaxxing: New Name, Same Old Problem?

Americans are spending more time, money, and energy trying to change how they look. Many adults want to lose weight; millions are using GLP-1 drugs, and the anti-aging industry continues to grow. For ...

30 Jul 25min

Pop Sports Politics: Too Much Mixing?

Politics is no longer confined to campaigns and government. It now appears across sports, music, movies, social media, and celebrity culture. In this episode, we explore how Americans feel about athle...

24 Jul 32min

Age and Congress: How Old is Too Old?

In a week where one Senator died and another released hospital photos after public questions about whether or not he was alive, we're looking at what Americans think about our elderly political class....

17 Jul 27min

China: Enemy? Competitor? Frenemy?

This week on Poll Hub, we begin with the complicated relationship between the United States and China. Americans see China as one of the country’s most important global rivals, especially when it come...

10 Jul 27min

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

America on its 250th birthday. As the country prepares to mark the occasion, public opinion shows a complicated picture of national pride. While many Americans still say they are proud to be American,...

2 Jul 30min

Pride, Politics, and the Acceptance Divide

More Americans than ever identify as LGBTQ+, but the story of acceptance in the United States is becoming more complicated. As Pride Month comes to a close, we look at new polling that shows LGBTQ+ vi...

25 Jun 21min