Global Behaviors and Perceptions at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

We conducted a large-scale survey covering 58 countries and over 100,000 respondents between late March and early April 2020 to study beliefs and attitudes towards citizens’ and governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents reacted strongly to the crisis: they report engaging in social distancing and hygiene behaviors, and […] Read more »

As Washington stumbled, governors stepped to the forefront

The history of the United States has generally been written with the states in a subordinate role or cast in a negative light — but no longer. The story of America’s confrontation with the coronavirus pandemic is one in which states and their governors have been dominant. As Washington has […] Read more »

Divergent Views by Partisanship on Whether Worst is Over

This edition of our daily tracking release features findings from a national online survey of 1,004 registered voters conducted April 24-April 29, 2020 and a national online survey of 1,022 registered voters conducted April 28-May 1, 2020. • A majority continue to disapprove of how Trump is handling the pandemic […] Read more »

Big Government? For Now, Most Americans Say Bring It On

The White House and some Republican governors are angling toward a cautious reopening of the economy, while G.O.P. leaders in Congress have tried to pump the brakes on future federal stimulus spending. But polling suggests the political winds may be flying against them. The American public remains broadly wary of […] Read more »

The Return of Big Government

The Great Depression, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis dealt serious shocks to the nation and resulted in the expansion of government. When a crisis happens, leaders in Washington try to mitigate financial ruin and to boost morale which often results in the creation of programs that have a lasting […] Read more »