With legislation to address racism and the use of excessive force by law enforcement stalled in Congress, there is broad public support in the United States for permitting citizens to sue police officers in order to hold them accountable for misconduct or using excessive force. … The survey finds little […] Read more »
The politics of race are shifting, and politicians are struggling to keep pace
Race has been a defining issue in American politics since before the country formally came into existence, a dividing line marked by generations of struggle and conflict. Today, the issue is back at the center of a national debate, this time amid shifting attitudes and heightened expectations that are demanding […] Read more »
Trump turned July Fourth into a partisan event. The damage could be long-lasting.
President Trump, with two speeches in two days, has turned the Fourth of July from a joyful and unifying patriotic celebration of America’s founding values into a partisan political event. The damage could outlast his presidency. From near the base of Mount Rushmore on Friday night and from the South […] Read more »
Have Americans Warmed to Calls to ‘Defund the Police’?
Just over a month ago, the term “defund the police” was almost entirely the domain of activists and academics. Now it’s a household phrase, with a huge majority of Americans telling pollsters they recognize it. But what exactly does it mean? And when Americans hear it, what do they think […] Read more »
Trump Wants a Backlash. Can He Whip One Into Shape?
The public response to the demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd is now beginning to take shape more clearly along familiar ideological lines — in ways that are likely to propel politics this year and beyond, dividing left and right as Democrats and Republicans take opposing stands on the […] Read more »
Majority agree with Black Lives Matter and say major police reform is needed
A majority of the American public, including more than half of whites, say they agree with the ideas expressed by the Black Lives Matter movement. And more support than oppose the people protesting the treatment of African Americans by police. Most, regardless of their view, expect a lasting impact: eight […] Read more »