Few Americans Trust the Federal Government
Perversely, distrust may encourage the government to grow bigger and more intrusive.
Trust in Government
Why I Distrust Social Trust Rationales for Immigration Restrictions
Evidence indicates immigration doesn't actually undermine social trust, and that reductions in social trust aren't necessarily bad, anyway.
Parades Are Great, but We Shouldn't Venerate the Military
America’s founders were deeply suspicious of a standing army.
Pandemic Lockdowns Made the World Ruder
The new, coarser world will likely be with us for years to come.
Infographic: How Republicans and Democrats View Federal Agencies
Democrats tend to view the feds favorably but many agencies are under water among Republicans.
Abolish FEMA
FEMA has given Americans every reason to believe it is highly politicized, a poor steward of federal resources, bad at establishing priorities, and often unable to communicate clearly to people in distress.
Richard Staropoli: What's Wrong With the Secret Service?
An ex-Secret Service agent explains what he thinks left Donald Trump vulnerable to two close-call assassination attempts within two months.
Biden, Cognitive Decline, and the End of American Empire
Plus: The editors reflect on the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Presidential Debate Debacle Was a Great Argument for Smaller Government
It’s impossible to reconcile big-government dreams with the reality of the clowns who rule us.
3 Economic Myths That Need To Die
As we step into 2024, it's crucial to adopt a more informed perspective on these dubious claims.
Majority Still See Hard Work, Tolerance, and Religion as Important American Values
Plus: Free speech is at the heart of the SCOTUS immigration case, the best and worst states for occupational licensing, and more...
Poll: One-Fifth of Americans Say Government Is Our Nation's Top Problem
Plus: Democrats doubt Harris' ability to win, an end to pandemic emergency status, and more...
Does Immigration Undermine Social Trust? Does it Matter?
Cato Institute immigration policy expert Alex Nowrasteh dissects an important argument raised by restrictionists.
Why Everything About Politics Sucks, in 1 Chart
Only 6 percent of Americans say the federal government is extremely "careful with taxpayer money," yet those same Americans consistently report that they want the government to do more.
Banning Lawmakers From Trading Stocks Won't Fix Congress
But it will make the market worse.
Public Confidence in the Military Is Slipping
The drop in public trust has finally come for the Pentagon too.
Trust in Media and Elected Officials Near Record Lows in Gallup Poll
Plus: Google and YouTube will demonetize climate change denial content, Dems disagree over spending priorities, and more...
How Immigrants Make America Great Again (and Again and Again)
A new book documents that newcomers revitalize beliefs in hard work, property rights, and the rule of law.
Trump's Vaccine Cheerleading Is Undermining Public Trust in the Vaccines
Polls show a country increasingly leery of a politicized COVID-19 vaccine approval process.
Why Americans Fear the COVID-19 Vaccine
Government failure eroded public trust. Fact-based persuasion and brutal honesty about scientific uncertainty are the only way to win it back.
How Fox's 1997 Sunday Night Lineup Ate the Universe
Our reality is now Fox Mulder, Dale Gribble, Chief Wiggum, and a home movie of a guy getting hit in the groin.
No Adults in the Room: From Election to The Politician
What do hotly contested high school class presidency elections—set 20 years apart—teach us about our attitudes toward politics?
Government Employees Think People Hate Them. Increasingly, They're Right
Many arms of government are unpopular with large swathes of the American population.
Everyone Agrees Government Is a Hot Mess. So Why Does It Keep Getting Bigger Anyway?
When libertarians dole out blame for the growth of government, perhaps we should take a look in the mirror.
Record Number of Americans Call Government Our Biggest Problem
The socialist wave may be more of a media-bubble thing than any sort of legitimate groundswell.
New Chinese App Lets Users ID Debtors Lurking Nearby
How would you like it if nearby strangers could instantly access your credit score on their phones?
The Senate Needs to Hear Out Kavanaugh's Accuser
A fast-moving, public airing of the claims against Kavanaugh would serve the public interest-and could help restore trust in a battered institution.
Why the Fading Credibility of Pope Francis Should Worry More than Just Catholics
Depletion of trust and confidence in public and private institutions is happening across the board and leads to more, not less, government.
Wait: The Government Is Incompetent, So We Want it To Do *More*?
The feds can't pass a budget or do much very well, yet a record level of Americans want it more involved in our lives. That's not as crazy as it seems.
Donald Trump, Lying, and Eroding Social Trust
Are presidential lies pushing us toward a low-trust society?
Why Libertarians Should Want *More* Trust in Government
Paradoxically, government grows because of our lack of confidence in it.
Economic Growth, Coherent Foreign Policy, Trust in Govt: What WON'T Be Settled Today
Whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump wins the election, massive challenges face the next president of the United States.
Trust in Authority Is Declining—Thank Goodness
When institutional authority declines, social gains follow. Even if there's also a rise in weird beliefs.
This Used To Be a Helluva High-Trust Country, But Our Leaders Are Destroying That
There's simply a huge cost when officials and politicians lie all the time.
Only 1 in 4 Americans Trust the Federal Government 'Most of the Time'
That seems high, to be honest
What Do New Yorkers and Utahns Have in Common? Distrust of the Feds.
Mutual disdain for Washington, D.C. can bring us all together
Loss of Trust in Government Leads to Power Swings
Americans have less faith than ever in government and politics, leading to volatility in congressional control.
Suspicious Minds in the 1970s
Rick Perlstein's new book shows the strange '70s interplay of skepticism and nostalgia.
Introversion Isn't Obama's Problem, His Inability To Tell the Truth Is
Given the disaster his presidency has become, you can't blame the guy for wanting some alone time.
