1. U.S. Sets New Tariffs at 10% to 12.5% on 60 Trade Partners

At NBC News, Steve Kopack writes that U.S. trade representatives announced a wave of tariffs on dozens of economies to replace President Donald Trump's temporary 10% tariff, which expired at midnight. Some trading partners facing the 10% rate include Canada, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom, while Taiwan and the European Union — the largest single U.S. trading partner — will face tariffs of up to 12.5%. PRRI finds that a majority of Americans (54%) say the implementation of new tariffs on imported goods has gone too far, compared with over one-third (35%) who say it seems about right and just 7% who say it hasn't gone far enough.

2. Amid a Big Hiring Push, Police Experts Question ICE Officer Vetting

For NPR, Meg Anderson reports that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who killed Joan Sebastian Duran Guerrero during a traffic stop in Maine last week, David Brouillette, had a history of domestic violence and serious mental health issues. The shooting highlights potential problems with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) hiring practices, as the agency has undergone a rapid hiring spree of ICE officers over the last year. Police experts warn that DHS could be cutting corners in the hiring process and ignoring red flags. PRRI finds that the majority of Americans (57%) agree that the surge of ICE officers in places like Minnesota are making communities less safe, compared with 38% who disagree.

3. Beyond the Pulpit: How Mainline Protestant Clergy Support Abortion Rights

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellow Risa Cromer, Ph.D., presents data from interviews with mainline clergy who support abortion access, finding that their commitment to reproductive rights and justice extends well beyond their sermons and into congregational life. Public declarations and congregational discussion capture only a sliver of mainline clergy support, with support also shown through pastoral care and congregational infrastructure including private conversations, prayer, gas cards, miscarriage kits, and clinic escorting. PRRI finds that the majority of Mainline Protestant clergy (73%) oppose the Supreme Court overturning Roe versus Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that affirmed a constitutional right to abortions.

4. Judge Questions Difference Between Hegseth’s Testosterone Policy and Transgender Care for Troops

At the Associated Press, Ben Finley reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new initiative to test and treat troops for low testosterone has prompted a federal judge to question how it differs from hormone treatment for transgender men in the military. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes raised the question in an ongoing lawsuit over President Trump’s ban on transgender troops, ordering both sides to address the similarities and differences in administering testosterone therapy for trans men versus other service members. The order follows Hegseth’s announcement of a new screening program for “testosterone deficiency,” which he said is necessary for troops to operate at their “absolute best.” PRRI finds that a large majority of Americans (71%) agree that “transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans,” compared with 24% who disagree.

What’s Buzzing

Read more in the Survey Report: Mapping Abortion Views Across the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas

1. Faith at the Ballot Box

At Al Jazeera English's "This Is America," PRRI CEO , Ph.D., joined host Alex Marquardt and Georgetown University Research Fellow Jerome Copulsky to discuss religion's growing influence on American politics. As Texas moves to make Bible study part of every public school child's curriculum, Deckman pointed to PRRI data showing that "over the past two decades, the number of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated has doubled," with almost four in 10 younger Americans now religiously unaffiliated. Turning to Christian nationalism's role in the Republican Party and the Trump administration, Deckman said most Americans do not favor a closer relationship between church and state, and that support for Christian nationalism has not grown over the past four years — even as the second Trump administration has drawn more attention to the blurring of that line. Watch the full conversation.

2. House Votes to Extend Government Funding, Aiming to Avoid an Election Year Shutdown

At NPR, Eric McDaniel reports that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to extend government funding through Dec. 4. The federal government is currently set to run out of money at the end of September, just before the midterm elections. The bill passed without issue, despite speculation that some Republicans could hold up the legislation to pressure the Senate into passing the controversial SAVE America Act. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future, requiring support from Senate Democrats to reach the 60 votes needed for passage. PRRI finds that just four in ten Americans (41%) have a great deal or some confidence in the federal government.

3. Flipping the Script: Most Religious Americans Support Legal Access to Abortion

At PRRI, Public Fellows Risa Cromer, Ph.D., Michal Raucher, Ph.D., and Anne Whitesell, Ph.D., push back on the narrative that abortion rights are anti-Christian, drawing on data from PRRI's 2025 American Values Atlas. The coauthors find that most religious groups in the U.S. — including Black Protestants, white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants, Hispanic Protestants, and white Catholics — show strong support for legal access to abortion relative to all Americans, and note that while religiosity corresponds with opposition to abortion among some Christian groups, that pattern doesn't hold across the board. They argue that the views of Christian nationalism Adherents and Sympathizers, who strongly oppose legal abortion in all or most cases, have been used to obfuscate the broader views of Christian Americans. PRRI finds that a majority of Christians (52%) are either skeptical of or reject Christian nationalist beliefs.

4. Republicans Press Smithsonian Museum Leader in Contentious Hill Hearing

For The Washington Post, Jonathan Edwards reports on Tuesday’s House Committee hearing following the White House’s release of a 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History of “extreme political activism.” In the hearing, House Republicans claimed the museum lacked representation of the founding era and sexualized American history, while Democrats defended it as one of the country’s most trusted institutions and an important reflection of its complex and diverse history. PRRI finds that the vast majority of Americans (86%) agree with the statement “We should teach American history that includes both our best achievements and our worst mistakes.” In contrast, just one in ten Americans (10%) agree with the statement “We should teach American history that only focuses on what makes this country exceptional and great.”

What’s Buzzing

Follow PRRI on Instagram for more.

1. U.S. Launches More Air Strikes Against Iran After Announcing Another Death of a Service Member

The Associated Press reports that the United States conducted a new round of airstrikes on Iran early Monday, hours after announcing the death of another American service member. The strikes mark the ninth consecutive night of U.S. attacks on Iran and the 17th death of a U.S. service member since the war began. President Donald Trump said Iran was hit "very hard again" in honor of the American troops killed. The renewed exchanges have seen the U.S. target Iranian bridges and electrical facilities, while Tehran has retaliated by striking U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. PRRI finds that white evangelical Protestants (59%) and Christian nationalism Adherents (60%) are the only groups where majorities hold favorable views of Trump’s handling of the war in Iran.

2. Americans’ Humanitarian Views on Haitian Migrants

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellows Will McCorkle, Ph.D., Lina-Maria Murillo, Ph.D., and E. Kyle Romero, Ph.D., describe the results of their original, collaborative research into Americans’ views on granting asylum to immigrant families facing danger in different home countries. Through a nationally representative survey experiment, the fellows discovered that 65% of Americans support granting asylum to Haitian families, revealing a significant disconnect between the recent Supreme Court ruling that allows the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants and general public sentiment. While support fractured along partisan lines — with 90% of Democrats, 65% of independents, and 45% of Republicans in favor — the coauthors emphasize that overall, most Americans favor humanitarian responses over mass deportations for these asylum seekers. Read more.

3. Trump DOJ Turns to Never-Before-Used Court for Deportations

At Axios, Andrew Pantazi reports that President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is using the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to remove an unnamed noncitizen from the country. The five-judge court was created by Congress in 1996 to hear cases that could expose classified information or threaten national security if normal immigration proceedings were used. Wednesday’s filing marks the first recorded use of the court in its 30-year history. PRRI finds that six in ten (61%) Americans agree with the idea that “immigrants, regardless of legal status, should have the right to challenge their deportation in court”.

4. Faith Has Never Been This Visible at the World Cup

For Deseret News, Ethan Bauer writes about the role of faith at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While both finalist nations — Spain and Argentina — are majority Catholic, the tournament has hosted players from a diverse range of religious backgrounds, including Spain's star player, Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim. In June, Pope Leo XIV announced his support for his home nation, the United States, whose team has been particularly expressive about its faith, with striker Christian Pulisic leading "Bible Time" with teammates. According to the 2026 PRRI American Identity Survey, most Americans (64%) prefer the U.S. to be a nation made up of people belonging to a wide variety of religions rather than one primarily made up of people who follow the Christian faith (34%).

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Spotlight Analysis: Americans’ Humanitarian Views on Haitian Migrants

1. Trump Doubles Down on US Election Attacks in His Primetime Speech

The Associated Press reports that President Donald Trump used a primetime address Thursday to renew his longstanding claims about the integrity of U.S. elections while calling for stricter voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. During the address, Trump urged Congress to pass a voter ID bill that has stalled amid insufficient Republican support. He also announced the release of previously classified documents related to the 2020 presidential election, which he lost, and the 2018 midterm elections, when Republicans experienced electoral losses. According to PRRI’s 2024 American Values Survey, 31% of Americans agree that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, while two-thirds disagree (67%). Americans who most trust far-right news outlets (84%) and Fox News (64%) are the most likely to agree that the 2020 election was stolen.

2. Embryo Personhood, Once on the Margins of Abortion Debates, Is Moving Closer to the Center

For The Conversation, PRRI Public Fellow Risa Cromer, Ph.D., examines a new Department of Health and Human Services funding notice that describes in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos as "children who already exist and are in need of a family," reflecting the concept of "embryo rights." Cromer explains that the language aligns with a decades-long movement to extend legal personhood to fetuses and embryos, rooted in the belief held by many conservative Christians that life begins at fertilization. She writes that the funding notice signals the movement's growing momentum in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision and raises questions about what legally recognizing IVF embryos as children could mean for reproductive health and rights. PRRI finds that 39% of Americans support laws declaring that “human life begins at fertilization.”

3. The SAVE Act, Birthright Citizenship, and Replacement Theory: The Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellow Lina-Maria Murillo, Ph.D., writes about the anti-immigrant rhetoric that the Trump administration is using to frame its argument for more restrictive voting laws, noting that these negative views are not shared by most Americans. Murillo highlights rhetoric such as the “great replacement theory,” or the idea that immigrants are invading the country and replacing American culture, ethnic background, and way of life, as one of several arguments used to demonize immigrants and attack birthright citizenship. The 2025 PRRI American Values Survey finds that around one-third of Americans (32%) agree with the “great replacement theory,” while 65% disagree. Additionally, around two-thirds of Americans (67%) support birthright citizenship. Read more.

4. Amid ICE Killings, More Than 100 Clergy From Across the US Stage Protest at Delaney Hall

For Religion News Service, Jack Jenkins reports that, on Monday, around 100 faith leaders from across the country gathered outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark, N.J., to demand the facility's closure over what they say are inhumane conditions. Clergy from multiple traditions tied ribbons bearing the names of detained or deceased immigrants to the facility's fence, and speakers linked the protest to broader concerns about the Trump administration's deportation efforts. PRRI finds that few Americans (28%) favor allowing ICE officers to arrest and relocate undocumented immigrants to detention centers in states far from their homes. Except for white evangelical Protestants (51%), no other religious group shows majority support for allowing ICE to detain and relocate undocumented immigrants without due process.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Spotlight Analysis: The SAVE Act, Birthright Citizenship, and Replacement Theory: The Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality

1. Trump Blasts DHS Decision to Pause Immigration Traffic Stops

For POLITICO, Myah Ward reports on President Donald Trump’s pushback against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) temporary pause of vehicle stops made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The decision was made following two ICE-involved shootings during vehicle stops this month in Texas and Maine. PRRI data from February – following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis – found that the majority of Americans (57%) agree that the surge of ICE officers in places like Minnesota is making communities less safe. Despite DHS’s halt, Trump urged ICE agents to “go back and do your very important job.” The PRRI American Identity Survey finds that the majority of Americans (58%) hold unfavorable views of Trump’s handling of immigration, dropping across all partisans since March 2025.

2. Trump Ally Blanche Vows to Regain Senators’ Trust at Attorney General Confirmation Hearing

For The Washington Post, Jeremy Roebuck and Theodoric Meyer report on acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing. Blanche, President Donald Trump’s former defense lawyer, took over the Department of Justice after his predecessor, Pam Bondi, was fired in April. Democrats plan to question Blanche on his handling of the Epstein files and his plan to create a $1.8 billion fund for Trump supporters claiming to be the victims of political persecution. Blanche’s confirmation is made even more complicated by the recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), which further narrows Republicans' already razor-thin majority in the Senate. The 2025 PRRI American Values Survey finds that less than half of all Americans (47%) have a great deal or some confidence in the Department of Justice.

3. U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran As Blockade Resumes

USA Today reports that on Tuesday, the United States conducted a fourth straight day of military strikes on Iran, escalating the conflict with Tehran before reinstating a blockade on Iranian ports. The Trump administration’s recent directives toward Iran eliminate key components of a memorandum of understanding the two sides agreed to in June, which included an open Straight of Hormuz and a 60-day ceasefire. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump threatened that U.S. military strikes will worsen if Iran does not get serious about reaching a deal. The 2026 PRRI American Identity Survey finds that two-thirds of Americans hold unfavorable views of Trump’s handling of the war in Iran (66%), compared with 29% of Americans who hold favorable views. Republicans are the most supportive (67%), compared with 21% of independents and just 4% of Democrats.

4. Abortion Is on the Ballot in Maine and Texas

For The 19th, Shefali Luthra writes that while abortion has not been a central focus of the Texas Senate campaign, the candidates’ contrasting records on the issue could play a significant role in the closely watched race. As Texas attorney general, Republican nominee Ken Paxton defended and enforced the state’s near-total abortion ban. Democratic nominee James Talarico, a state legislator, has consistently criticized the law, highlighting its lack of exceptions for survivors of rape and incest. The 19th also highlights how abortion is expected to be a major issue in Maine’s Senate race, where Democrats hope to capitalize on what they view as a political vulnerability for Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas finds that 55% of Texans and 62% of Maine residents think abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity

1. Cases Rise as Parasite Outbreak Hits More Than Half of U.S. States

For NPR, Joe Hernandez reports on an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness that causes diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue. Infections have been detected in 31 states, with states in the Midwest and Northeast, including Michigan, New York, and Ohio, being the hardest hit. Health officials recommend cooking fresh produce, or at the very least, washing it thoroughly. According to Newsweek, the Trump administration’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scaled back its foodborne illness and parasitic disease efforts in 2025, reducing mandatory monitoring of pathogens and dissolving its Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. The 2025 PRRI American Values Survey finds that majorities of Americans say that cuts in federal funding for health care programs (60%) and universities and research institutions (55%) have gone too far.

2. Lindsey Graham’s Legacy as a Foreign Policy Hawk

The Associated Press covers the legacy of the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a strong advocate of interventionist American foreign policy throughout his more than three decades in Congress. While the Republican Party grew increasingly isolationist, Graham was a strong advocate of continued U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel. During Trump’s second term, Graham supported President Trump’s attacks on Iran, but was largely silent when Trump questioned the value of NATO. PRRI finds that, while 70% of Americans agree with the statement “I would prefer the U.S. to be a reliable neighbor that cooperates with other nations and only uses military force as a last resort” rather than with the statement “I would prefer the U.S. to be known as a mighty nation that does not hesitate to use military force to defend our interests” (27%), a slim majority of Republicans agree with the second statement (52%).

3. Muslim Advocacy Group Fights for Trust After Texas Brands It a Terrorist Group

For Religion News Service, Ulaa Kuziez reports on the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organization and the target of Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s controversial designation labeling the organization a foreign terrorist group in November 2025. Since then, Abbott has employed CAIR’s terrorist designation several times, including to justify excluding Islamic private schools from Texas’ voucher program. More recently, during a June Texas State Board of Education hearing, a Republican board member refused to listen to a CAIR representative’s testimony. PRRI’s 2026 American Identity Survey finds that half of Americans (50%) believe the values of Islam are at odds with American values and way of life. Notably, this number is driven largely by Republicans, of whom three-quarters (76%) agree.

4. The Link Between White Christian Nationalism and Democratic Decline

At his Redeeming Democracy Substack, PRRI Founder and President , Ph.D., shares a sneak preview from the audiobook recording of his forthcoming book Backslide (out Sept. 8) alongside an early review from Library Journal:

“In his latest book, Jones connects white Christian nationalism to the backsliding, or deterioration, of democracy in the U.S., [bringing] his thesis into the current political situation.”

Listen to a 5-minute preview of the book’s first chapter, “Future Regret,” and read the full review here.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity

1. Trump Ousts Members of Bipartisan Election Commission Ahead of Midterms

For POLITICO, Aaron Pellish and Zach Montellaro report that President Donald Trump has ousted the remaining commissioners from the Election Assistance Commission, a bipartisan federal agency charged with helping state and local officials conduct elections. The president removed the two Democratic members while a Republican was allowed to resign, leaving the commission without leadership heading into the midterm elections. Prior to removal, the commissioners had reportedly been briefing state and local election officials on how to defend election systems from cyberattacks by foreign actors. The 2025 PRRI American Values Survey finds that most Americans agree with the statement “What President Trump is doing to the federal government is an assault on constitutional checks and balances and the rule of law” (54%), compared with 43% who agree with the statement “What President Trump is doing to the federal government is a long-overdue correction of disastrous policies pushed by elites at the expense of ordinary Americans.”

2. Religion’s Longstanding Gender Gap Is Narrowing Among Gen Z

For TIME, Chantelle Lee analyzes the gender gap that has long persisted in religious identity, and what recent polling reveals about Gen Z. Released in April, the 2025 PRRI Census of American Religion finds that just one in five young men (20%) and women (21%) attended church weekly in 2025, which matches their rates of weekly church attendance in 2024. The Census also found that young women have steadily grown less likely to identify with a religious tradition, from 29% in 2013 to 43% in 2025. PRRI CEO , Ph.D., suggests that some churches’ continued emphasis on “patriarchal religious traditions” and “more traditional gender roles” helps explain the trend, noting, “I think that kind of perception of American religion has really been off-putting to a lot of young women today.”

3. Man Killed by Federal Agent in Houston Was Not The Target of ICE Search

For the New York Times, Edgar Sandoval and Hamed Aleaziz report that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the man fatally shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Tuesday in Houston, was not the target of the operation. The fatal traffic stop was initiated after agents saw someone in the white van, being driven by Araujo, who resembled a Guatemalan immigrant that was the target of the search. The agents claim that when the traffic stop was initiated, Araujo weaponized his vehicle, though no credible evidence has been presented to substantiate this claim. Araujo was a Mexican immigrant and father of three who had been living in the U.S. for 35 years. PRRI’s 2026 American Identity Survey finds that just 37% of Americans hold favorable views of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 58% hold unfavorable views.

4. Many Gen Zers Rooted Against Team USA. Here’s Why.

writes for about why many Gen Z Americans didn’t root for the United States in this Fifa World Cup, ranging from personal to political reasons and a general apathy. Janfaza cites recent PRRI data which finds young Americans ages 18-29 to be the least likely to be proud of being an American (34%). President Donald Trump’s role in delaying the American striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension also left some Americans sour, calling it “embarrassing.” PRRI finds that a majority of Americans agree “President Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy” (59%), up from 52% in March 2025.

What’s Buzzing

Congratulations to PRRI Board Chair !

1. At NATO Summit in Turkey, Trump Says He Believes Ceasefire With Iran Is ‘Over’

For NPR, Deepa Shivaram reports on statements from President Donald Trump ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey. Trump said that he believes the ceasefire with Iran is “over” and bashed U.S. allies for not assisting in the conflict. This comes after retaliatory strikes were exchanged between the U.S. and Iran overnight in the Strait of Hormuz. PRRI’s 2026 American Identity Survey finds that a solid majority of Americans are more likely to agree with the statement “I would prefer the U.S. to be a reliable neighbor that cooperates with other nations and only uses military force as a last resort” (70%) than with the statement “I would prefer the U.S. to be known as a mighty nation that does not hesitate to use military force to defend our interests” (27%).

2. Gen Z Women Are the Most Pessimistic About the American Dream

At the 19th News, Terri Rupar covers PRRI’s most recent poll on politics, religion, and American identity, namely the standout responses of women aged 18-29. When asked if they agree with the statement “If you work hard, you’ll get ahead,” only 30% of young women affirmed, compared with 42% of young men and 49% of all Americans. Women aged 18-29 were also the only group with less than half (48%) agreeing that “There’s no place I’d rather live than the U.S.” compared to 71% of all Americans.

3. A New ICE Facility Could Speed Up Deportations for Families and Kids

For the Associated Press, Jack Brook reports on the Trump administration’s plans to open a 528-bed holding center for migrant families and unaccompanied children next to an airport hub in Alexandria, La. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is calling the new facility a “staging area” to better streamline deportations, saying people will only be held there for a few days at most. Immigration advocates have expressed concern that children could remain at the facility for longer than promised, especially as the center will operate beyond direct government oversight under LaSalle Corrections, a private prison contractor. PRRI finds that 55% of Americans disagree that the federal government should detain immigrants who are in the country illegally in internment camps until they can be deported, while 41% agree.

4. The Ultimate Goal of the Right’s “Religious Liberty” Crusade

At The New Republic, PRRI Public Fellow Charles McCrary, Ph.D., analyzes the recommendations included in the 224-page draft report issued byTrump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission. Noting that the era of “high separation” between church and state is over, McCrary writes, “The commission’s report offers many legal and policy suggestions, but it also seeks a broader cultural shift.” PRRI finds that roughly one-third of Americans qualify as Christian nationalism Adherents (11%) or Sympathizers (21%), compared with two-thirds who qualify as Skeptics (37%) or Rejecters (27%).

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity

1. America’s 250th Turns Into a Fight Over God and Country

For Axios, Russell Contreras covers how the official planning for America’s 250th birthday sparked a fierce debate over national identity. While some critiqued the White House for leaning into conservative Christian themes and programming, alternative interfaith groups organized their own grassroots celebrations centered around religious liberty. Contreras cites PRRI President and Founder , Ph.D., who said that the Rededicate 250 prayer event held last month on the National Mall didn’t include representation from historically Black Protestant denominations or from many of the founders’ mainline Protestant Christian denominations. PRRI’s most recent survey finds that most Americans (64%) prefer the U.S. to be a nation made up of people belonging to a wide variety of religions rather than one primarily made up of people who follow the Christian faith (34%).

2. Congress Should Restrict Birthright Citizenship, House Speaker Says

USA Today reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-R) has called for Congress to curtail birthright citizenship in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Trump’s executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship. During an interview with Fox News, Johnson claimed that the U.S. immigration system is being abused and said that Republicans are exploring all possible options for legislation. PRRI’s 2026 American Identity Survey finds nearly eight in ten Americans (77%) think the U.S. should be a nation made up of people from all over the world rather than one primarily made up of people of Western European heritage (20%).

3. America 250: Revolutionary and Revisionist Histories

At The New Republic, PRRI Senior Democracy Fellow analyzes a short video titled “The Story of America: The Faith of Our Founders,” produced by the Trump administration and Hillsdale College, writing that the video’s use of debunked myths and deliberate decontextualizations twist the Founders’ ideals into pro-religious nationalist messaging. Additionally, Vox examines the legacy of Gordon Wood, historian of the American Revolution, and his understanding of the American founding as a truly transformative upheaval that resulted in a unique national identity defined by adherence to core values like liberty and equality. PRRI finds that 93% of Americans say believing in individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, is important to being truly American, 91% say believing in the Constitution, and 89% say accepting people of diverse racial and religious backgrounds.

4. On July 4th, Pope Leo Asks United States, Europe: Who Is Your Neighbor?

Claire Giangravè reports for Religion News Service on Pope Leo XIV’s Fourth of July trip to the island of Lampedusa in Sicily, a symbol of the immigrant influx in Europe. On America’s 250th anniversary, Leo also issued a letter to the United States, reminding the country of its duty to uphold religious freedom and respect for human life. PRRI data from May 2026 finds that just 37% of Americans hold favorable views on Trump’s handling of immigration. Significant drops from March 2025 can be seen among Republicans (from 90% to 82%), Democrats (from 13% to 6%), and most notably independents (from 48% to 31%). Leo and President Donald Trump have been at odds over the questions of immigration and war, with the pope criticizing the “inhuman” treatment of immigrants in his home country back in October. PRRI finds that more Americans hold favorable views of Pope Leo XIV (56%) than of Trump (34%).

What’s Buzzing

Learn more about what characteristics Americans say make someone “truly American”:

1. Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship, Rejecting Trump’s Proposed Limits

For the Associated Press, Mark Sherman writes that the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring that children born to those in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. A 5-judge majority affirmed the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship to all persons born on U.S. soil, a constitutional principle established in 1868. PRRI finds that two-thirds of Americans (67%) favor the “U.S. Constitution’s existing guarantee that all children who are born in the United States are automatically granted U.S. citizenship, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status,” while 29% oppose.

2. Takeaways From Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Report and the Hijacking of Religion at the Semiquincentennial

For RNS, David Katibah discusses the takeaways from the Religious Liberty Commission’s recently released draft report, which proposes major policy shifts to combat perceived anti-Christian bias and roll back church-state restrictions. The 12-member commission, which includes 11 Christians, highlights a variety of issues in the report, writing that the separation of church and state has been “misapplied and weaponized to restrict religion’s place in public life.” Meanwhile, at , PRRI President and Founder, , Ph.D., writes on the Trump administration’s use of Christian nationalism ideology in the upcoming 250-year celebrations. Jones highlights America’s religious shifts since 1976, noting the steep decline of those who identify as white and Christian from 81% in 1976 to 40% in 2025. PRRI’s 2025 American Values Survey finds that less than four in ten Americans (37%) agree that discrimination against Christians has become as big a problem as discrimination against other groups, a decline from 49% in 2016.

3. Supreme Court Allows States to Bar Transgender Athletes From Girls’ Sports

The New York Times covers the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling that allows 27 states to keep their bans on transgender female athletes from competing in women and girls’ sports. While the ruling does not impose broader restrictions, there is concern that it will intensify pressure on lawmakers in the remaining 23 states. Ballot questions addressing transgender athlete participation are moving forward in Colorado and Washington, both Democratic-led states. PRRI finds that a large majority of Americans (71%) agree that “transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans.” This is split across party lines with 88% of Democrats and 77% of independents in agreement, compared with 57% of Republicans.

4. Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros Poised to Become the First Gen Z Woman in Congress

For NPR, Elena Moore reports that Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Ethiopian immigrant, has won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st District. She defeated 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette, who first took office in the year Kiros was born. The victory for Kiros comes at a time when establishment Democrats across the country are facing challenges from younger left-wing candidates. Kiros, who was backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, ran on populist economic policies such as universal health care and child care, the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and stopping military aid to Israel. PRRI’s 2025 American Values Survey finds that 22% of Democrats hold unfavorable views of the party. Of this group, 29% say that one reason they hold unfavorable views is because the party is not progressive enough.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: The New Immigration Crackdown: Where Americans Stand

1. In Trump’s America, Two Very Different Views of Christianity in Politics Emerge

For CNN, Zachary B. Wolf analyzes two opposing views of faith-based politics, illustrated by two new books: Vice President JD Vance’s midlife Catholic conversion story, Communion, and The Crooked Places Made Straight by Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). PRRI CEO notes that “Many people within the MAGA movement, within the GOP, envision… that the U.S. should be identified more as a Christian nation with conservative Christian goals.” PRRI finds that 43% of Americans say that being a Christian is important to being truly American, with the majority of Republicans (68%) agreeing, compared to 29% of Democrats.

2. As Trump Digs In on Changing Midterm Election Rules, Supreme Court Allows States To Count Mail-In Ballots That Arrive Late

At USA Today, Maureen Groppe writes that, in a new 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi state law allowing ballots cast by Election Day to be counted if they’re received within five days. The ruling comes as a defeat to President Donald Trump, who is trying to curtail voting by mail, among other efforts to revamp election rules, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. PRRI’s most recent survey finds that Americans are more than twice as likely to agree that “We are in real danger of losing important democratic rights and freedoms” as to say that “the important democratic rights and freedoms we have will remain protected” (68% vs. 29%).

3. Views on LGBTQ Rights Under the Second Trump Administration

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellow Ahmad Greene-Hayes, Ph.D., examines Americans’ views on LGBTQ issues in the second Trump administration and how different factors affect these views. The majority of Americans, including across partisan groups, support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections (72%) and agree that transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans (71%). However, views vary among religious traditions, with particularly distinct differences among racial groups. Greene-Hayes writes that violence within and outside of religious institutions has caused LGBTQ people to “express ambivalence about identifying with traditional religious institutions.” The 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas finds that half of LGBTQ Americans (51%) are religiously unaffiliated, nearly double the rate of all Americans (27%). Read more.

4. Trump Nominates Former Oklahoma State Trooper to Head ICE

For NPR, Nathan Rott and Chandelis Duster cover President Donald Trump’s appointment of Lance Schroyer as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Schroyer, who served as an Oklahoma state trooper and with the U.S. Marines, was described by the president as a patriot with decades of “real operational experience.” ICE, which has drawn scrutiny for its aggressive tactics, has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration. PRRI finds that one in three Americans (33%) hold favorable views of ICE officers, down 6 percentage points from 39% in September 2025.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Spotlight Analysis: Views on LGBTQ Rights Under the Second Trump Administration

1. What the Supreme Court Rulings Mean for America’s Immigrants and the Nation

Silvia Foster-Frau and Stella Canino-Quiñones at The Washington Post report that the U.S. Supreme Court issued two decisions on Thursday that clear the way for the Trump administration to continue the president’s deportation campaign and transform the asylum system. In one ruling, the Court allowed the administration to end temporary protected status for Haitians and Syrians, putting roughly 1.3 million beneficiaries at risk of deportation. In the second, the Court upheld the use of “metering,” a policy that permits border officials to limit how many migrants can enter the U.S. through ports of entry to seek asylum, potentially restricting access to the asylum process for thousands of migrants. PRRI finds that a majority of Americans (55%) agree that “the Supreme Court has been too willing to let President Trump expand his power,” compared with 41% of those who disagree.

2. Trump Cancels Housing Affordability Bill Signing Until SAVE Act Is Passed

Axios covers President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel signing a landmark bipartisan housing bill, demanding Congress pass the unrelated SAVE America Act first. The Road to Housing Act aims to relax local regulations and encourage building in an effort to increase affordable housing, while the SAVE Act targets voter fraud, which Trump deems a “National Emergency.” The housing bill will become law regardless of Trump's signature if he doesn't take action within ten days after receiving the legislation. PRRI finds that majorities of Americans (59%) across party lines rate increasing costs of housing and everyday expenses as a critical issue. When asked “If states cannot get voter fraud under control, President Trump should postpone the 2026 midterm elections for Congress,” most Americans (69%) disagreed.

3. Transgender Athletes and the State of Legal Challenges

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellow Shatavia Wynn, Ph.D., examines political and legal challenges to transgender rights in the United States, including Americans’ views toward transgender athletes’ participation in sports and policies related to public restroom use. While conservative advocates and lawmakers have leveraged the landmark Title IX legislation to enforce a strict gender binary in athletics in recent years, Wynn writes that efforts to restrict transgender rights extend well beyond sports. More than 20 states have passed laws that require transgender individuals to use bathrooms that correspond to their sex at birth, a policy that 56% of Americans favor, according to the 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas.

4. As Some Praise Texas’ Proposed ‘Judeo-Christian’ Curriculum, Rabbis Say it Dismisses Judaism

Chloe Landen and Ellie Ashby for Religion News Service report on a new curriculum proposed for Texas public schools, which would overhaul the required reading list for K-12 students to include biblical references, passages, and stories. On Monday, the State Board of Education heard from over 400 people, with those in favor of the changes saying that the new list would adequately teach students that the U.S. was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Meanwhile, opponents argued that church and state should remain separate, and that the term ‘Judeo-Christian’ is not reflective of the changes. The 2026 PRRI American Identity Survey finds that a slight majority of Americans (57%) say believing in God is important to being truly American, and 43% say being Christian is important to being truly American.

What’s Buzzing

Follow us on Instagram for more data.

1. Four Years After Dobbs, Advocates Clash Over How Far To Take Fight for Later Abortion Access

For Stateline, Kelcie Moseley-Morris writes that four years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, access to abortion in more than a dozen states has dramatically decreased. Some abortion-rights advocates debate whether to return to laws under Roe v. Wade, which allowed abortion access to be limited after fetal viability, or whether to push for later abortion access. Presently, nine states have laws protecting abortion access throughout pregnancy, but among them, only four, and Washington, D.C., have clinics that provide abortions past 32 weeks. As of 2025, PRRI finds that 61% of Americans say that abortion should be legal in most or all cases, with 36% favoring legality in most cases and 25% favoring legality in all cases.

2. Senate for First Time Approves a War Powers Resolution in a Rebuke to Trump Over Iran Conflict

Lisa Mascaro at the Associated Press reports on the first successful war powers resolution since the beginning of the conflict in Iran. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), Rand Paul (KY), and Bill Cassidy (LA) voted in favor, with President Donald Trump claiming they’ve “made my job more difficult.” PRRI finds that more than three-quarters of Americans (78%) disagree with the statement “When decisions by Congress or the Supreme Court hold our country back, the president should be able to ignore them,” while only 16% of Americans agree. While the resolution is largely symbolic and does not carry the full force of law, it reflects the growing concerns from several Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate over both the war and the deal Trump struck with Iran to end it.

3. What Is America? Immigration, National Identity, and Belonging

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellow E. Kyle Romero, Ph.D., explains that as the Supreme Court weighs President Donald Trump’s effort to narrow birthright citizenship, the division on immigration policy is a deeper divide over “whether the nation is best understood as a civic community built around rights and pluralism or as a more bounded community shaped by birth, religion, and cultural inheritance.” Using data from the 2025 PRRI American Values Survey, Romero highlights that Americans overwhelmingly endorse civic values as central to national identity: 93% say believing in individual freedoms such as freedom of speech is important to being truly American, 91% say believing in the Constitution, and 89% say accepting people of diverse racial and religious backgrounds. At the same time, substantial numbers also define American identity in more exclusionary terms: 75% say speaking English is important, 57% say believing in God, 54% say being born in America, and 43% say being a Christian.

4. JD Vance’s Christendom, Christian Terror at UFC, and PRRI Data on Religion in the USA

PRRI CEO , Ph.D., joined and on Axis Live to discuss the state of religion and democracy in the United States, drawing on findings from the 2025 PRRI Census of American Religion and PRRI’s latest report, Competing Visions of America at 250. Discussing U.S. foreign policy, Onishi highlighted PRRI data showing that 70% of Americans agree with the statement “I would prefer the U.S. to be a reliable neighbor that cooperates with other nations and only uses military force as a last resort,” compared with 27% who agreed “I would prefer the U.S. to be known as a mighty nation that does not hesitate to use military force to defend our interests.” Deckman said the finding suggests that “Americans would rather hold to the more post-World War II traditional aspect of [building] alliances in ways that are protecting the country.”

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity

1. Fewer in New Poll Say They’re Proud of Being American

For the Hill, Tara Suter reports on PRRI’s newest survey, which polled Americans on their views of the country ahead of its 250th anniversary. The article highlights a key finding of the report: in 2026, a significantly smaller share of Americans reported being either “extremely proud” or “very proud” of their American identity than they did in 2013 (51% vs. 81%). Suter asserts that this decline can be attributed to a political landscape that is rife with polarization and decreasing favorability toward President Donald Trump. PRRI finds that 34% of Americans currently hold favorable views of Trump, down from 41% from September 2024.

2. 161 Years After Juneteenth, There is Unfinished Work of Freedom

At Religion News Service, PRRI Senior Democracy Fellow Rev. Dr. , along with Rev. Stephanie Spellers, and the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, reflect on the challenges that remain 161 years after Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery in the United States. The authors argue that, while Juneteenth marks a historic milestone in the expansion of freedom, many communities continue to face barriers to equality and democratic participation. The 2026 PRRI American Identity Survey finds that 68% of Americans agree that “we are in real danger of losing important democratic rights and freedoms we have had in this country”.

Catch up on PRRI’s latest webinar featuring the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas:

3. How Donald Trump’s Support Compares to Pope Leo Among Key Religious Groups

Sam Stevenson at Newsweek discusses new data from PRRI’s latest report, Competing Visions of America at 250, noting that Pope Leo XIV is viewed more favorably than President Donald Trump across most religious and political groups. PRRI CEO , Ph.D., explains that widespread support for the Pope “speak[s] to what individuals think about [his] role as a religious or moral leader” as opposed to a purely political figure. PRRI finds that Republicans (79%), white evangelical Protestants (67%), and Christian nationalism Adherents (73%) and Sympathizers (59%) are the only groups favoring Trump over the Pope.

4. A Growing Movement Aims To Fix America’s Big Birthday Celebration

Phaedra Trethan at USA Today reports on events across the country that aim to broaden public conversations about American history during the nation’s semiquincentennial, with organizers arguing that the Trump administration’s official celebrations minimize the experiences of marginalized communities. Meanwhile, writing for The Bulwark, Mona Charen reflects on the mixed emotions many Americans are experiencing ahead of July 4. Citing PRRI’s newest survey, she notes that while most Americans (68%) agree that “we are in real danger of losing important democratic rights and freedoms we have had in this country,” most Americans (77%) also say they prefer the United States to be a nation made up of people from all over the world rather than one primarily composed of people of Western European heritage.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity

1. American Pride Has Fallen off a Cliff

Russell Contreras for Axios reports on new data from PRRI’s latest report, Competing Visions of America at 250, highlighting how Americans are split on national pride and its significant decline in the past decade. Speaking on the findings, PRRI President and Founder said, “Yes, we’re polarized…but increasingly what we’re seeing is Republicans as outliers, and further and further from the middle.” The survey finds that half of Americans say they are extremely or very proud of being an American (51%), while half say they are either moderately (23%), a little (14%), or not at all proud (11%). American pride has declined sharply since 2013, when 82% said they were extremely or very proud. Most Republicans (83%) are proud of being an American, compared with 43% of independents and 31% of Democrats.

2. At 250, Nation Pessimistic About Democracy, American Dream

For USA Today, Marc Ramirez covers PRRI’s latest report, writing that Americans are largely critical of President Donald Trump, increasingly pessimistic about democracy and the country’s trajectory, and divided over their sense of national pride and the viability of the American Dream. PRRI finds that 68% of Americans agree the nation risks losing important democratic rights and freedoms. Additionally, most Americans (60%) agree the nation is in danger of losing its culture and identity, up from 55% in the last decade. This sentiment has increased among independents (59%, up from 52% in 2016) and Democrats (54%, up from 40%), while the share of Republicans who agree has fallen from 80% to 69%. Explore the data in the full report.

3. Younger Americans Are Driving Declining Patriotism Ahead of 250th Anniversary

New data from PRRI’s American Identity Survey indicate that Americans are less patriotic and more concerned for the future, writes Sam Stevenson at Newsweek. Although the partisan split is stark, with 83% of Republicans, 43% of independents, and 31% of Democrats saying they are proud to be American, the age divides are just as pronounced. Only 34% of adults aged 18 to 29 say they are proud to be American, compared with 66% of those 65 and older. PRRI CEO comments that this gap is due to a Generation Z entering adulthood “staring down vast income inequality” and a “political system—and frankly civil society writ large—[that has] failed to meet their needs.”

4. 250 Years In, Americans Prefer Religious Diversity

For Religion News Service, David Katibah explores new data from PRRI’s American Identity Survey. Katibah writes that as the United States approaches its 250th birthday, the majority of Americans prefer a religiously diverse country. In recent years, many states have placed an emphasis on Christianity in the public sphere, in places such as the education system and government. According to PRRI CEO , “This [poll] is the antithesis of the Christian nationalist worldview.” The survey finds that most Americans (64%) prefer the U.S. to be a nation made up of people belonging to a wide variety of religions rather than one primarily made up of people who follow the Christian faith (34%).

MORE:

From , “PRRI’s poll of over 5,400 Americans confirms that Trump’s support has plunged among independents (down from 37% to 25% since last September) and even further (35% to 14%) among ‘true independents’ (who don’t lean toward either party).”

The Contrarian

Trump and MAGA Are Getting Crushed

Donald Trump’s flurry of sporting event appearances topped off by his obscene and misogynistic-tainted UFC spectacle might not have been the way to conceal his physical and mental degeneration or resuscitate his sagging presidency. In struggling to fulfill his bloodlust and displaying his weird fascination with cartoonish male physiques, Trump wound up …

Read more

a month ago · 831 likes · 95 comments · Jennifer Rubin

1. After Mormon Lawmakers Object, Pentagon Revises Christian Religious Categories

For the Washington Post, Michelle Boorstein and Sammy Westfall cover the Pentagon's reversal on its new list of religious categories for service members after Mormon lawmakers objected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not being included in the "Christian" category. In response to the backlash, the Defense Department edited the administrative list — which was trimmed from 211 to 31 faith codes to streamline chaplain resources — to remove the "Christian" label from all recognized religious groups. PRRI Director of Research , Ph.D., recently spoke on a panel, “Faith by the Numbers,” where she emphasized the importance of understanding the diverse makeup of religious groups, noting that “[one] of the common mistakes that I see is this tendency to think about religious groups as a monolith.” Visit the PRRI Census of American Religion to explore the religious makeup of the United States.

2. Trump Celebrates 80th Birthday With Iran Deal and UFC Fights at the White House

NPR reports that President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday on Sunday by announcing what he described as an initial agreement to end the war in Iran and hosting a UFC event on the White House South Lawn. Ahead of the event, Trump declared that a deal to end the conflict was "now complete," saying the U.S. would lift its blockade of Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. The administration framed the fights as part of broader celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, though the unusual pairing of diplomacy, national commemorations, and a White House-hosted sporting event drew widespread attention. The timing also prompted adjustments to the schedule for the G7 summit, allowing Trump to attend the event before traveling to Europe for meetings with world leaders. PRRI’s latest polling finds that 34% of Americans hold favorable views of Donald Trump, down from 41% in September 2024.

3. Supreme Court to Decide If Migrants Detained For Months Must Receive Bond Hearings

For CNN, John Fritze reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has taken up a case to decide whether the government can detain noncitizens for extended periods without a bond hearing. The case centers on two green card holders with criminal convictions — one held seven months, the other nearly two years — who were never given hearings to assess flight risk or eligibility for release. A federal appeals court ruled in 2024 that the Constitution's due process clause requires bond hearings for prolonged detention. The Trump administration appealed, defending mandatory detention laws and its expanded policies for classifying immigrants subject to them. PRRI data shows that 35% of Americans favor how President Trump is handling immigration, while 61% hold unfavorable views.

4. The Country’s Largest Protestant Adoption Agency Is Dropping LGBTQ Couples – Again

For Religion News Service, Kathryn Post reports that Bethany Christian Services, the country’s largest Protestant adoption and foster care agency, will no longer allow same-sex couples to foster or adopt children, a reversal from its March 2021 decision to allow LGBTQ couples to foster and adopt. In a press release, Bethany announced that its board voted to “clarify and reinforce” the organization's Christian values. New changes also require staff to agree to a belief statement that designates marriage as “a covenant between one man and one woman.” The 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas finds that a majority of Americans oppose allowing small business owners to refuse service to gay or lesbian customers on religious grounds. Opposition stood at 59% in 2015, increased to 66% in 2021, and declined again to 59% in 2025.

What’s Buzzing

Join us for PRRI’s next webinar this Thursday, June 18, at 12 PM ET! Register now.

1. Trump Says ‘I Love the Inflation’ As Prices Rise at Fastest Rate in Three Years

For the BBC, Archie Mitchell reports that President Donald Trump said “I love the inflation” after data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that U.S. prices had gone up by 4.2% over the previous 12 months, up from 3.8% in April. Trump later clarified his remarks, explaining that he meant he loved that the numbers weren’t higher despite the war with Iran, and predicted that prices would “come down like a rock” once the conflict ends. According to PRRI’s latest polling, while 34% of Americans hold favorable views of Donald Trump, only 25% of independents view Trump favorably, down from 37% in September 2024. PRRI President and Founder and PRRI CEO , Ph.D., discussed what this new data means ahead of the 2026 midterm elections with yesterday. Watch their conversation:

2. Southern Baptists Advance Ban on Women Serving As Pastors

Marc Ramirez at USA Today writes that the Southern Baptist Convention’s voting delegates have taken a decisive first step toward passing a ban on women teaching scripture or preaching to congregations within the denomination. The vote took place on the final day of the group’s annual meeting in Orlando, and raises the stakes on a contentious issue that had prompted several years of debate and the exit of multiple congregations from the nation’s largest Protestant group. The 2025 PRRI American Values Survey finds that around two in ten Americans (21%) agree that the gains women have made in recent years have come at the expense of men, while 75% disagree. This number has increased slightly from 17% in 2024.

3. Birthright Citizenship Is Constitutional. But Some Americans Have Always Had to Prove Themselves Worthy

In an op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer, PRRI Public Fellow E. Kyle Romero, Ph.D., examines the Trump administration’s attack on birthright citizenship. Romero explains that birthright citizenship has been a topic of contention ever since the 14th Amendment first went into effect. In United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), the Supreme Court affirmed that the 14th Amendment applies to all people born in the U.S., no matter the legal status of their parents. Still, this decision “did not end the effort to define the nation more narrowly.” The 2025 PRRI American Values Survey finds that two-thirds of Americans (67%) favor the “U.S. Constitution’s existing guarantee that all children who are born in the United States are automatically granted U.S. citizenship, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status,” while 29% oppose.

4. At TPUSA’s Women’s Summit, Christian Influencers Say Feminism Threatens Motherhood

Kathryn Post at Religion News Service covers the Turning Point USA Women’s Leadership Summit that took place last weekend in Texas. The 3,000-person event featured a cadre of conservative Christian influencers promoting the “God-ordained call of marriage and motherhood above career” and attracted many young first-time attendees with the opportunity to gather with like-minded women. Although events such as these are activating previously politically disengaged conservative Christians, data show that young women are increasingly turning away from religion. PRRI finds that young women (18-29) have shed religious labels steadily since 2013, when 29% identified as religiously unaffiliated. By 2024, that figure grew to 40%, and in 2025, it increased to 43%.

What’s Buzzing

Join us for PRRI’s next webinar on Thursday, June 18, at 12 PM ET! Register now.

1. Trump Ends NBC Interview Over Discussion of ‘Crooked’ Elections

Cheyanne M. Daniels at POLITICO reports that President Donald Trump prematurely ended an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker after an exchange in which Trump called Welker, the press, and the elections taking place in California “crooked.” He also renewed his claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Additionally, for NPR, Ashley Lopez writes that local law enforcement has increasingly been playing a bigger role in helping local officials secure elections. The Brennan Center for Justice found that threats and harassment increased notably for election officials after President Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was rife with fraud. According to the 2024 PRRI American Values Survey, less than one-third of Americans (31%) say that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump; this percentage has remained stable since March 2021, when the question was first asked.

2. Meet the Pastors Who Support the ICE Raids

Bob Smietana at Religion News Service highlights a group of evangelical Protestant clergy who, invoking scripture and morality, support the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Of this group, some back deportation solely for immigrants with criminal records, while others want anyone in the country without a permanent legal status removed and want churches and pastors to encourage self-deportation. Regardless of where they stand on the spectrum, they are united in their belief that immigrants are a threat to the nation’s Christian identity, and that “Christian compassion and hospitality do not negate lawful order.” PRRI finds that while the Trump administration’s approach to immigration is unpopular with most faith groups, white evangelical Protestants remain strong supporters, with 69% expressing favorable views of Trump’s handling of immigration.

3. The Democratic Dilemma: Is Graham Platner the Left’s “White Evangelical” Moment?

For his Substack , PRRI Board member writes that Graham Platner’s scandal-plagued Senate campaign in Maine could be a test case for Democrats after Platner received national attention for multiple past transgressions. Most recently, Platner has faced criticism for sexually explicit messages he exchanged with other women during the early months of his marriage. Between 2011 and 2016, PRRI data reveal a drastic 42-point increase in the percentage of white evangelical Protestants, Trump’s primary voting base, who say that politicians can perform their duties ethically despite immoral acts in their personal lives (from 30% to 72%). Today, PRRI finds that of the six in ten Americans (60%) who view the Democratic Party unfavorably, the majority say it is because the party does not represent the interests and values of people like them (65%).

4. How the World Cup Became a Front Line for the U.S. Immigration Debate

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup kicking off this week, the Washington Post’s David Nakamura covers mounting concerns over possible immigration enforcement at World Cup games held in the U.S. and issues facing international travelers, including players, coaches, team staff, and ticketholders. Some say the Trump administration’s immigration policies threaten to dampen enthusiasm for the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Last week, Iraq's World Cup striker, Aymen Hussein, was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare airport after he arrived in the country for the tournament, according to an Iraqi sporting official. PRRI finds that one in three Americans (33%) hold favorable views of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, down 6 percentage points from 39% in September 2025.

What’s Buzzing

Substack Live: 3:00 PM Eastern on Wednesday, June 10

Hear from Robert P. Jones, Melissa Deckman, and special guest Diana Butler Bass for a timely conversation exploring what new PRRI data reveals about Trump’s favorability heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

1. Senate Republicans Pass Immigration Funding After Overnight Vote

For NPR, Barbara Spunt and Eric McDaniel report that Senate Republicans advanced roughly $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement agencies on Thursday night. However, last night’s vote exposed divisions within the GOP, particularly over the controversial $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that the Trump administration proposed to compensate individuals who claim they were politically targeted by the government. According to the 2025 PRRI American Values Survey, a slim majority of Americans (52%) say increased funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to speed up efforts to arrest, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants has gone too far.

2. Defense Department to Drop Atheists, Pagans, 175 Others From List of Military Faiths

Adelle M. Banks and Yonat Shimron at Religion News Service cover reports that the Department of Defense will greatly reduce the number of religions it recognizes from over 200 to just 31. This change presents challenges for military personnel of underrepresented groups seeking support from religious leaders of their faith. The new list reportedly contains mostly Christian denominations and excludes smaller religious and non-religious groups. The 2025 PRRI Census of American Religion finds that two out of three Americans identify as Christian (66%), three in ten (28%) are religiously unaffiliated, and 6% identify with non-Christian religions.

3. FDA Moves Ahead With Safety Study of Abortion Pill Mifepristone

At CBS News, Michael Kaplan reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advancing with a safety study of the abortion pill Mifepristone, a step that could create a path for the Trump administration to restrict access to the medication. The subject of ongoing debate, the drug came under renewed scrutiny after the Biden administration issued a memorandum lifting restrictions that required the drug to be dispensed in-person and giving access to mifepristone via telehealth and by mail. While it is unlikely the FDA will completely revoke approval of Mifepristone, safety study findings could result in limited access to the drug. PRRI finds that over two-thirds of Americans oppose laws that make it illegal to use or receive through the mail FDA-approved drugs for medical abortion (68%), while about three in ten favor these laws (28%).

4. Wars Are Never Holy

In an Opinion piece for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Rev. Richard Cizik highlights the Trump administration’s decision to host the ‘Rededicate 250’ rally last month, while the war in Iran is still underway and Americans are experiencing higher prices for gas and groceries. Cizik states that the rally, billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation Under God,” blurred the lines between church and state, and that many Christians attending the rally prayed for the insertion of religion into federal policy – including the decision to go to war. He asserts that “Christians of conscience cannot acquiesce to the instrumental use of God in building morale and winning a war.” PRRI finds that around 11% of Americans qualify as Christian nationalism Adherents, 21% as Sympathizers, 37% as Skeptics, and 27% as Rejecters.

What’s Buzzing

PRRI data isn’t just for experts — it helps all of us understand what’s happening. Keep it going.

On June 10, 2026, we’re inviting you to participate in our day of giving! Join us for:

• Exclusive videos and insights from PRRI scholars, partners, and special guests

• Behind-the-scenes conversations about the research shaping today’s biggest stories

• A live virtual event where we’ll share new PRRI data

1. Takeaways From Primaries Featuring Spencer Pratt, a Missing Congressman and a Rare Trump Setback

The Associated Press highlights key takeaways from Tuesday’s primary elections across California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. In Iowa’s gubernatorial primary, Trump-backed Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra was narrowly defeated by Zach Lahn. In California, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advanced toward reelection, though her general election opponent remains uncertain, while the gubernatorial contest remains competitive with Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and Republican Steve Hilton leading after polls closed. In Montana and South Dakota, lesser-known Democrats secured their party nominations, while several higher-profile independent candidates also earned spots on the general election ballot. In 2025, PRRI found that 33% of Americans said if the 2026 midterm election were held today, they would vote for the Democratic candidate, 30% said they would vote for the Republican candidate, and 20% said they do not know who they would vote for.

2. Blanche Says DOJ Has Nixed the ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund

Ryan Lucas and Jaclyn Diaz at NPR report that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told members of Congress the anti-weaponization fund, which was to be created due to a settlement in President Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has been axed. The $1.8 billion fund was to be distributed to those who alleged that the federal government had been weaponized against them. Democratic lawmakers had criticized the fund as slush money for Trump supporters, and many Republicans were reluctant to support it. PRRI finds that only two in ten Americans (19%) say they are extremely or very proud of the way democracy is working in America today, compared with 54% who are only a little or not at all proud.

3. Most Americans Broadly Support Public Education for Undocumented Students – Regardless of Their Political Affiliation and Religion

For the Conversation, PRRI Public Fellows, Lina-Maria Murillo, Ph.D., William McCorkle, Ph.D., and E. Kyle Romero, Ph.D., describe their research findings on Americans’ sentiments towards public education for undocumented students. This policy, backed by 40 years of Supreme Court precedent, has come under scrutiny by Republican representatives in recent months. A survey of more than 1,500 Americans conducted by the fellows in April 2026 found that 76% of Americans agree with the statement: “I believe all children, regardless of immigration status, should have the right to public education.” However, partisanship strongly affects views of this statement: Democrats (96%) are overwhelmingly more likely to support public education for undocumented students than Republicans (58%). PRRI finds that most Americans (54%) agree with the statement that “the growing number of newcomers from other countries strengthens American society,” while 42% disagree.

4. Arkansas Declares June ‘Fidelity Month’ — What Does It Mean?

Emma Marsden and Amanda Greenwood at Newsweek cover Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ proclamation declaring June 2026 “Fidelity Month,” a month encouraging residents to reflect on and renew their commitment to “God, family, community, and country.” The proclamation comes among a slew of alternative observances promoted by red states in recent years meant to counter Pride Month. Since taking office, Sanders and her administration have been criticized by LGBTQ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations for their stances on measures affecting transgender healthcare, education, and participation in public life. As of 2025, PRRI finds that Arkansas residents demonstrate some of the lowest support for LGBTQ rights nationwide, with just over half (53%) in support of LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws, and 50% in support of same-sex marriage.

What’s Buzzing

Learn more in the Survey Report: Trump’s Unprecedented Actions Deepen Asymmetric Divides