The 2016 State of the Union: Considering the Public’s Opinion

President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address this week, providing an opportunity to analyze existing public opinion about some of the proposals and assertions he made in his speech. In many cases, the president accurately assesses the state of public opinion or offers proposals that the […] Read more »

Government, Economy Return as Most Important Problems

Americans who say terrorism is the nation’s top problem fell to 9% this month, after jumping to 16% in December in the wake of terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Paris. With concern about terrorism down, the government and the economy have resumed their top-ranking positions on Gallup’s list […] Read more »

Separating Rhetoric from Reality When it Comes to Mountain West Voters’ Support for National Public Lands

Against an uptick in anti-public lands rhetoric from militant extremists, a new Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll released today revealed strong public support for efforts to protect and maintain national public lands. The poll surveyed the views of voters in seven Mountain West […] Read more »

Explaining Trump: Widespread Government Corruption

It’s been fashionable to make jokes about Congress’ historically low approval ratings, unbelievable incompetence in the government and now, unfortunately, the perception of widespread government corruption. Pundits and talk-radio hosts have a field day with this. So do late-night comics. It’s not funny anymore. CONT. Jim Clifton, Gallup Read more »

Americans Show Selective Objection to a President’s Executive Actions

President Obama is expected to announce executive actions on Tuesday expanding background check requirements at gun shows and online. Most Republican presidential candidates are painting this move as an overreach of his authority, but Americans’ feelings about executive actions tend to depend mostly on how they feel about the underlying […] Read more »