Support for more regulation of tech companies has declined, especially among Republicans

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A declining share of Americans favor more government regulation of major technology companies, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Still, a plurality of U.S. adults favor greater regulation of these companies, and a large majority believe it is at least somewhat likely that social media sites censor political viewpoints they find objectionable.

Overall, 44% of Americans think major technology companies should be regulated more than they are now, down from 56% in April 2021. Conversely, the share of Americans who say they want less government regulation of major technology companies has roughly doubled, from about one-in-ten (9%) in previous years to one-in-five today. …

In the new survey, a majority of Americans believe social media companies are censoring political viewpoints they find objectionable. Rising slightly from previous years, roughly three-quarters of Americans (77%) now think it is very or somewhat likely that social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints they find objectionable, including 41% who say this is very likely. CONTINUED

Emily A. Vogels, Pew Research Center

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Over Two-thirds of Republicans Think Biden Should be Impeached if the GOP Retakes the House

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The results of a new national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll released today show that more than two-thirds of Republicans believe that the House of Representatives should impeach President Joe Biden, if the GOP retake the House in this fall’s midterm elections. While just over one-third of the poll’s 1,000 respondents (34%) say that a GOP-controlled House should impeach Biden, 68% of Republicans and Trump voters and 66% of conservatives all would like to see the President charged by Congress for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, the formal criteria for impeachment laid out in the Constitution. …

Asked to gauge their own level of excitement for the midterm elections on a scale of 0-100, Republicans rated themselves an average of 79, while Democrats scored themselves an average of 73. Independents, however, rate themselves at an average of just 47. …

In a generic matchup, respondents indicate they would be more likely to vote for a Democratic candidate over a Republican candidate, 44-38, to represent their congressional district, while generic Democratic candidates carry a 13-point lead (46-33) among respondents in states facing a Senate battle this fall. CONTINUED

University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll

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Electability Argument Falling Flat in 2022

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For the last six years, the one thing that has kept the Democratic Party unified and motivated is Donald Trump. Fear and loathing got Democrats to turn out in the 2018 midterms, and kept those voters engaged in 2020. Sure, the party was divided ideologically and generationally, with liberals and younger voters flocking to the Bernie Sanders wing and older, Black and more moderate Democrats sticking with Joe Biden. But, at the end of the day, both sides understood that the most important and existential issue was defeating Trump. …

Today, however, a restive Democratic base, discouraged by a lack of action on many of their key issues (like climate and student loan debt), and frustrated by GOP attacks on issues like abortion and election integrity, want fighters, not unifiers as their candidates. CONTINUED

Amy Walter, Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

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Are We Overestimating Roe’s Impact on Politics?

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Everyone has their own take on what impact a reversal of Roe v. Wade will have on November’s midterm elections. Here’s mine: To the extent that overturning the 49-year old decision benefits Democrats at all, it won’t be nearly enough to make up for the substantial headwinds they were already facing. In short, it will help out less than they hope and far less than they need.

Why would it not have quite the impact that Democrats pray it will have—and many in the media seem convinced it will have?

First, public opinion is considerably more nuanced than many seem to think. Obviously, the precise wording of questions asked is important, so it is good to look at more than one set of results. CONTINUED

Charlie Cook

Recent polls: Abortion

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A majority of Americans back abortion rights, but the support may be smaller than you think

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Where do Americans stand on abortion rights? It’s a simple and important question, especially in light of the recent leak of a draft US Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, but one that is far from easy to answer.

Issue polling in general is tricky, and the issue of abortion rights is particularly hard to poll. While it does seem that more Americans want the procedure to be legal than not, people on all sides of the issue can find something they like in the polling on abortion. CONTINUED

Harry Enten, CNN

Recent polls: Abortion

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Poll finds increasing disapproval of Supreme Court, support for keeping Roe on the books

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Disapproval for the Supreme Court continues to climb following the news that the court may be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states the ability to ban abortions, according to the results of a new University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll released today.

Conducted after the draft majority opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was leaked to the media, the national poll of 1,000 respondents age 18 and older found 54% disapprove of the job the court is doing, up from 51% disapproval in a December 2021 UMass Poll and 43% in an April 2021 UMass Poll. …

Fully half (50%) of Americans believe the Supreme Court should let the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade stand, according to the new poll, while slightly more than one-third (34%) want the court to overturn Roe. A plurality of the poll’s respondents – 45% – want to see Congress pass a law legalizing abortion in all 50 states, while just 15% want the legislative branch of government to make the procedure illegal nationally and 39% want Congress to pass no law on the issue and leave the decision on abortion up to individual states to legislate within their own borders. CONTINUED

University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll

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