Opinion Today: Topline
Selected links from the October 9, 2025, edition of Opinion Today
Americans’ Job Ratings of Six Key U.S. Agencies Worsen Megan Brenan, Gallup Americans’ job ratings of six federal agencies have deteriorated sharply since last year, and they are at or near their lowest points in Gallup’s trend. The only agency to show significant improvement is the Department of Homeland Security; however, it remains far below its 2017 peak. At the same time, the U.S. Postal Service continues to stand out as the highest-rated agency, maintaining a majority-level positive rating.
Most Americans don’t want troops deployed without an external threat, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds Jason Lange, Reuters
Most Americans think Trump is trying to exercise more power than previous presidents Andy Cerda and Steven Shepard, Pew Research Center
Voters Favor Deporting Those in U.S. Illegally, but Say Trump Has Gone Too Far Ruth Igielnik and Jazmine Ulloa, New York Times [unlocked]
Generative AI and news report 2025: How people think about AI’s role in journalism and society Felix Simon, Rasmus Kleis Nielsen and Richard Fletcher, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
In many countries, views of the national economy are closely related to partisanship Jonathan Schulman and Manolo Corichi, Pew Research Center
Government shutdown: a guide for advocates Erica Seifert, Rachael Russell, Ian Smith, Maryann Cousens & Camille Keene, Navigator Research
How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids Colleen McClain, Olivia Sidoti, Michelle Faverio and Suvi Lama, Pew Research Center
New York State: National Consumer Sentiment Falls By 5 Points, New York Down Nearly 4 Points Siena Research Institute New York State: Elise Stefanik just 5 points behind ‘deeply vulnerable’ Kathy Hochul in NY governor’s race — internal poll Josh Christenson and Victor Nava, New York Post Where Trump Is Vulnerable and How to Act on It Henry J. Farrell (Johns Hopkins), New York Times [unlocked] Are we at the beginning of the next civil war? Nathan L. Gonzales, Roll Call Retribution Is Here Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic [unlocked] Even 2 in 5 Republicans understand Trump is impeding free speech Philip Bump Experts fear impact of deepening polarization and perceived political prosecutions David Rohde, NBC News Pam Bondi, Loyal Servant Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic [unlocked] 2025 Key Races: Jones Texts Rock Virginia and Checking in on California and Pennsylvania Kyle Kondik, Sabato’s Crystal Ball One big swing-state race highlights how Democrats are figuring out their path forward Dylan Ebs and Melanie Jackson, NBC News Republicans could draw 19 more House seats after an upcoming Supreme Court ruling Andrew Howard, Politico The Difficulty of Defining a Working-Class Economic Agenda John Halpin, The Liberal Patriot The populism horseshoe John Sides (Vanderbilt), Good Authority
There’s more in today’s FULL edition of Opinion Today:
PLAYLIST
What the Shutdown Is Really About
The Ezra Klein ShowThe GOP’s Chances in the Virginia and New Jersey Governor’s Races
WSJ Opinion: Potomac WatchRepetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)
Strong Message HereSocial media as a news source: CNN’s Harry Enten runs the numbers
CNNWisconsin group defies trend by drawing more conservatives into bridge-building efforts
PBS News Hour