Opinion Today: Topline
Selected links from the January 5, 2026, edition of Opinion Today
Americans Predict Challenging 2026 Across 13 Dimensions Megan Brenan, Gallup Americans head into 2026 expecting a difficult year, with majorities predicting negative outcomes across most economic, political and global measures, and only the stock market evoking optimism. Pessimism is heightened since last year and mainly reflects a decline in Republicans’ high expectations at the start of Trump’s second presidential term, though Republican supporters still largely believe good things will happen this coming year.
Americans Still Jittery Over Fate Of Social Security, But Can’t Agree On How To Fix It: I&I/TIPP Poll Terry Jones, tippinsights
Americans do not want war with Venezuela G. Elliott Morris, Strength In Numbers Trump Is Turning to Venezuela but Voters Are Focused on the Economy Sabrina Siddiqui and Paul Kiernan, Wall Street Journal [unlocked] US intervention in Venezuela could test Trump’s ability to hold GOP together in an election year Steven Sloan, Associated Press Trump’s Move for Regime Change in Venezuela Threatens a New MAGA Rift Reid J. Epstein and Kellen Browning, New York Times [unlocked] How Trump’s foreign intervention could shake up the midterm elections Hannah Knowles, Washington Post [unlocked] Democrats Face Steep Climb to Reclaim Senate in 2026 Races Anvee Bhutani, Wall Street Journal [unlocked]
How the internet drove down regard for actual facts — and education Philip Bump, MS NOW
Trump Says We Have the “Hottest” Economy. Markets Tell a Different Story. Catherine Rampell, The Bulwark Finland’s battle against fake news starts in preschool classrooms James Brooks, Associated Press Digital Incentives in Surveys: Response Rates and Sociodemographic Effects in a Large-Scale Parental Nudge Intervention Kalena Cortes, Brian Holzman, Melissa D. Gentry & Miranda I. Lambert, National Bureau of Economic Research
There’s more in the FULL edition of Opinion Today, sent to paid subscribers today at 5 a.m. ET:
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Thinking Categorically with Greg Murphy
Opinion Science