Opinion Today: Topline
Selected links from the February 23, 2026, edition of Opinion Today
Trust in Banks Recovers Nearly 20 Years After Crisis Benedict Vigers, Gallup Nearly two decades after the 2008 global financial crisis, confidence in banks is back and stronger than before in countries that experienced major financial-sector losses and economic decline. In 2025, across 25 countries most affected by the crisis, a median of 63% expressed confidence in their financial institutions and banks, marking a new high.
Voters know what the next big issue is. They don’t know how they feel about it. Erin Doherty and Lisa Kashinsky, Politico
Consumer Sentiment: Final Results for February 2026 Joanne Hsu, University of Michigan
Trump decides he'll FAFO on Supreme Court tariff ruling G. Elliott Morris, Strength In Numbers
The GOP’s biggest 2026 risk may be hiding in plain sight Ronald Brownstein, CNN How Trump will use his State of the Union address to sell skeptical midterm voters on his plans Josh Boak and Michelle L. Price, Associated Press A Fractured ‘Never Trump’ Movement Eyes an Uncertain Future Tim Balk, New York Times [unlocked] Trump’s Challenge to Free Market Capitalism Ben Casselman, New York Times [unlocked] Global leaders are dreaming of a US-free world order. Do they stand a chance? Eduardo Porter, The Guardian Only a fraction of House seats are competitive. Redistricting is driving that lower Ashley Lopez, NPR News California Democrats unite against Trump, differ on vision for state's future Nicole Nixon and Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times [via Yahoo] Why Graham Platner’s meteoric rise is so unexpected Jessica Piper, Politico For 88 Years, One Number Graded US Presidents. Now It’s Going Away. Gregory Korte, Bloomberg [unlocked]
Job Loss and Health Insurance Coverage Before and After the Affordable Care Act Jessamyn Schaller & Mariana Zerpa, 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:
PLAYLIST
New poll numbers shows Trump's approval ratings
ABC NewsWith the fight to preserve voting rights, Jesse Jackson's message still resonates
Consider This from NPR