U.S. Protestants’ views on moral issues such as abortion, gay and lesbian relations, and premarital sex differ sharply, depending on their denominational affiliation. Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists and Lutherans — the “mainline” denominations — are distinctly more liberal on a number of moral issues than are Baptists, Pentecostals and those identifying […] Read more »
The Struggle Between Clinton and Sanders Is Not Over
The surge in Democratic enthusiasm and activism driven by animosity to President Trump is proving to be a mixed blessing. Renewed fervor improves Democratic prospects in 2018 House and Senate elections. At the same time, in a development reminiscent of the Tea Party Republican insurgency of 2010, moderate and centrist […] Read more »
The pillars of Trump’s nationalism are weakening
To the extent that President Trump has a consistent, defining worldview, it’s “America first.” Wrapped up in that short catchphrase is Trump’s vehement opposition to illegal immigration and his moves to isolate Americans from the rest of the world, including on free trade and the Paris climate accord. On both […] Read more »
Fading white evangelicals have made a desperate end-of-life bargain with Trump
One of the biggest mysteries of Donald Trump’s presidency has been white evangelicals’ steadfast and enthusiastic support for him. … The key to understanding the puzzling white evangelical/Trump alliance is grasping the large-scale changes — most prominently the declining numbers of white Christians in the country — that have transformed […] Read more »
In Texas, Distrust of Washington Collides with Need for Federal Aid
Few places need the federal government right now more than Texas does, as it begins to recover from Hurricane Harvey. Yet there are few states where the federal government is viewed with more resentment, suspicion and scorn. For Republicans, who dominate Texas government, anti-Washington sentiment is more than just a […] Read more »
American political behavior in 2017 outside norm for consolidated democracies
Our August 2017 survey results demonstrate sharply increasing concern over the past month, amplified by the events in Charlottesville. From July to August, ratings worsened on every dimension, with especially large shifts on civil violence and civil liberties. Democracy experts see American political behavior in 2017 as firmly outside the […] Read more »