Opinion Today: Topline
Selected links from the February 26, 2026, edition of Opinion Today
Trust in Trump’s decision making on the use of military force overseas is low AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research Fifty-six percent of the public has little or no trust in Trump’s judgment regarding the use of military force overseas. Still, 80% continue to be at least moderately concerned about the direct threat of Iran’s nuclear program to the United States.
Most Americans see Iran as an enemy but doubt Trump’s judgment on military force, AP-NORC poll finds Linley Sanders and Stephanie Liechtenstein, Associated Press Republicans stare down epic voter enthusiasm gap ahead of 2026 midterms Liz Goodwin and Scott Clement, Washington Post [unlocked]
GOP stays competitive in midterms despite Trump's negative ratings: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll Emily Guskin, ABC News
Americans trust vaccines, school mandates, rejecting Trump agenda, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds Leah Douglas and Jason Lange, Reuters
BGSU Poll: Trump’s approval low as concerns over the economy and tariffs persist Democracy and Public Policy Network, Bowling Green State University
New poll: Voters would pause deportations to lower housing, food prices G. Elliott Morris, Strength In Numbers State Of The Union Special Report: Arizona Dial Group Maryann Cousens, Melissa Toufanian and Julie Alderman Boudreau, Navigator Research
California: 5-Way Tie in the Race for Governor Public Policy Institute of California
Pennsylvania: Would Josh Shapiro Make A Good President? Voters Are Divided Quinnipiac University Poll
Wisconsin: Large majorities of voters undecided on candidates for state Supreme Court, governor Charles Franklin, Marquette Law School Poll New Jersey: Two-thirds of Voters Say Tariffs Led to Higher Prices William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, Stockton University Massachusetts Residents Reject Trump Immigration Actions, Believe ICE Has Made Country Less Safe University of New Hampshire Survey Center Connecticut Residents Say ICE Making Country Less Safe, Illegal Immigration More National Problem Than Local University of New Hampshire Survey Center New Hampshire: Granite Staters Unhappy With ICE But Believe Illegal Immigration is a Serious Problem University of New Hampshire Survey Center Rhode Islanders Embrace Proposed ICE Reforms, Distrust Federal Investigations Into Minnesota Shootings University of New Hampshire Survey Center Mainers Support ICE Reforms, Oppose Trump's Handling of Immigration University of New Hampshire Survey Center 7 Voters React to Trump’s State of the Union Speech Campbell Robertson, Ruth Igielnik, Christina Morales and Chris Hippensteel, New York Times [unlocked] The State of the Union Is Belligerent Karl Rove, Wall Street Journal [unlocked] The inconvenient truth about Donald Trump and the truth Nathan L. Gonzales, Roll Call Trump’s Push for Election Power Raises Fears He Will ‘Subvert’ Midterms Shane Goldmacher and Nick Corasaniti, New York Times [unlocked] How America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account Adam Serwer, The Atlantic [unlocked] The Trump voters telling pollsters they never voted for him Lakshya Jain, The Argument Do we really know who's leading the Texas Senate races? G. Elliott Morris, and Mary Radcliffe, FiftyPlusOne Why US third parties perform best in the Northeast Bert Johnson (Middlebury College), The Conversation Why does America feel worse than other countries? Crime. Noah Smith, Noahpinion Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson, Wall Street Journal [unlocked]
There’s much more in the FULL edition of Opinion Today, sent to paid subscribers today at 5 a.m. ET:
PLAYLIST
Trump’s Rosy Economic Message Faces a Reality Check
TrumponomicsThe Century-Long Capture of U.S. Media
On the MediaHistory Will Judge You (with Stewart Lee)
Strong Message Here
New poll shows low Trump approval rating and gloomy take on the economy
CBS News