Opinion Today
August 6, 2026
7 in 10 Americans Say Iran War Not Worth Fighting Dina Smeltz and Lama El Baz, Chicago Council on Global Affairs After more than five months at war with Iran, Chicago Council polling reveals that a majority of the American public seems to think there has been little to show for it and exhibits little appetite for expanding the conflict by sending in ground troops to overthrow the regime. Yet Americans are also clear that Iran should not be allowed to continue to develop its ballistic missile program, keep its enriched uranium stockpile, and maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz—all items Tehran is interested in protecting as part of negotiations.
Most Americans have been affected by extreme heat this year AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research Extreme heat has impacted 90% of adults, up from 83% two years ago. However, fewer Americans believe climate change is happening compared with a year ago (66% vs. 73%).
Where extreme heat is having the biggest impact on Americans’ lives, according to a new AP-NORC poll Alexa St. John and Linley Sanders, The Associated Press Americans are increasingly feeling a personal impact from extreme heat, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. According to the survey, U.S. adults are more likely to say extreme heat has had either a “major impact” or “minor impact” on their travel or vacation plans, electricity bills, their sleep, their family’s outdoor activities and more parts of their day-to-day life than in July 2024. How Americans View Capitalism, Socialism and Free Enterprise Lydia Saad, Gallup Americans’ unaided thoughts on what’s good and bad about capitalism, socialism and free enterprise suggest there is more common ground on economic values than the country's political debates often imply. Competition, innovation, opportunity and economic freedom are widely viewed as economic virtues in the context of free enterprise, indicating broad support for the ideals of an open-market economy.
National approval of Supreme Court now at 47% Charles Franklin, Marquette Law School Poll • 74% of Republicans, 35% of independents, and 22% of Democrats approve of the job the Court is doing • A majority of Republicans think the Court rarely or never sides with Trump; three-quarters of Democrats say the Court often or fairly often sides with Trump • A majority of public favors the Court’s decision in 11 of 13 cases this past term • More say the next president should have less control over departments and agencies than say he should have more control • 69% say Congress has not done its job, giving too much power to the president
How confident are Americans in the midterm elections’ fairness and accuracy? Andrew Daniller, Pew Research Center A narrow majority of Americans (55%) are confident that this November’s midterm elections will be conducted fairly and accurately – down from 61% ahead of the 2024 elections, 64% in 2022 and 59% in 2020.
Where Americans and Canadians Turn for Financial Guidance Andy Kemp, Gallup Three-quarters of Americans and nearly seven in 10 Canadians have sought financial guidance from at least one source in the past year, according to a new Gallup study conducted in partnership with Edward Jones.
