Opinion Today: Topline
Selected links from the July 2, 2026, edition of Opinion Today
Freedom is the value Americans say best represents the U.S. Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth, YouGov Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States, YouGov asked Americans to reflect on the country’s history, values, and most prominent figures. They say freedom is its top value, slavery is its greatest shame, and Abraham Lincoln and Donald Trump are its greatest and worst people — with substantial competition. Trump also places fifth in the contest for the greatest American.
About a third of U.S. Democrats like political leaders who identify as democratic socialists Ted Van Green, Pew Research Center
Majority of Americans support banning social media for kids under 16 Jeffrey Gottfried and Monica Anderson, Pew Research Center
Widening polarization in Americans’ perception of the health harms of climate change (2014–2024) The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication
American Veterans at America’s 250th Melissa Toufanian and Maryann Cousens, Navigator Research
Governor Races in 2 Republican-Led States Are Tight, Polls Show Julie Bosman and Campbell Robertson, The New York Times [unlocked]
Georgia: An early look at the Senate race Victoria Balara, Fox News
Iowa: A close Senate contest is brewing Victoria Balara, Fox News
Massachusetts: Most Believe Police Concealed Evidence in Read Case University of New Hampshire Survey Center New Hampshire: Democrats Expand Generic Ballot Lead Saint Anselm College Survey Center Australia: Where do Australians stand on their most important ally? The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney
How Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ changed America Shannon Pettypiece and Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News Trump’s focus on his construction projects has increased, Post analysis finds Clara Ence Morse, Lydia Sidhom and Dan Diamond, The Washington Post [unlocked]
Young Republican Activists Are Turning Against Trump Charlie Sabgir, The Atlantic [unlocked] Democrats are facing their MAGA moment. Good luck containing it. Henry Olsen, The Washington Post [unlocked] Something Is Happening in the Democratic Base Russell Berman and Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic [unlocked] There’s Nothing Democratic About These Socialists Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic [unlocked] Democratic socialists’ primary wins give Trump new midterms attack lines John T. Bennett, Roll Call The decline of the impeachment voter, and other midterm lessons so far David Weigel, Semafor When Washington politicians can’t go home again Nathan L. Gonzales, Roll Call For Trump voters in farm country, economic uncertainty plants seeds of discontent Nicholas Anastácio and Sam Cormier, National Journal [unlocked] Polarization destroyed America 250 even before it became a Trump rally Natalie Jackson (Centerline Research and Strategy), National Journal [unlocked] Have people stopped trusting science? The data tell a surprising story Helen Pearson, Nature A Troubling Milestone: Most Supreme Court Rulings Are Secretive Votes With Little Justification Ken B. Morales, ProPublica The passing of Glen Bolger Public Opinion Strategies
There’s more in the FULL edition of Opinion Today, sent to paid subscribers today at 6 a.m. ET:
PLAYLIST
The Midterms May Hinge on One Thing: How the Economy Feels
TrumponomicsSeparating the Signal from the Noise in What We've Learned from the 2026 Primaries So Far
The Odd YearsHeather Cox Richardson on defending the Declaration's democratic ideals
Democracy in Question: America at 250Trump's SCOTUS loss, Dem disappointments & more
CNN