68% of Americans say it's at least somewhat acceptable for news organizations and journalists to criticize politicians.
A smaller majority (56%) say it’s OK for politicians to criticize news organizations or journalists.
@pewresearch.org
@pewresearch.org68% of Americans say it's at least somewhat acceptable for news organizations and journalists to criticize politicians.
A smaller majority (56%) say it’s OK for politicians to criticize news organizations or journalists.
@pewresearch.orgWhether you’re an urban, suburban or rural American may reveal something about how you engage with your community.
For example, suburban Americans are slightly more likely than urban or rural Americans to have volunteered in the past year.
@pewresearch.orgWhat kind of consequences should news organizations face if they publish false information?
A large majority of Americans (81%) say the news organization should publish a correction in all or most cases. Americans are more divided on other consequences.
@pewresearch.orgAs midterms approach, Democrats and Republicans differ on many issues. But when it comes to how they engage in public life across news, politics, religion and civic life, these two major U.S. political parties are quite similar.
@pewresearch.orgAs midterms approach, Democrats and Republicans differ on many issues. But when it comes to how they engage in public life across news, politics, religion and civic life, these two major U.S. political parties are quite similar.
@pewresearch.orgUrban, suburban and rural Americans are about equally likely to be politically active, but their differences are not just Republican vs. Democrat. Rural Americans, for example, are more likely than those in urban areas to display signs and bumper stickers, regardless of party.
@pewresearch.orgWhat kind of consequences should news organizations face if they publish false information?
A large majority of Americans (81%) say the news organization should publish a correction in all or most cases. Americans are more divided on other consequences.
@pewresearch.org68% of Americans say it's at least somewhat acceptable for news organizations and journalists to criticize politicians.
A smaller majority (56%) say it’s OK for politicians to criticize news organizations or journalists.
@pewresearch.orgWhether you’re an urban, suburban or rural American may reveal something about how you engage with your community.
For example, suburban Americans are slightly more likely than urban or rural Americans to have volunteered in the past year.
@pewresearch.orgAmericans are suspicious that major institutions intentionally keep important news from the public.
Three-quarters or more say the following institutions do this at least sometimes:
🏛️ U.S. government (83%)
📰 News organizations (79%)
📱Social media companies (76%)
@pewresearch.org55% of Americans think news organizations have too much power and influence in politics today, compared with 14% who say they don’t have enough.
@pewresearch.orgPresident Trump has denied White House access to Politico, MS NOW and CNN.
In a June 2026 survey, we found that 71% of Americans think the Trump administration and the news media have a very or somewhat bad relationship.
@pewresearch.orgRoughly half of Americans say they think U.S. news organizations are influenced a great deal by corporations and financial interests (54%) or government and political interests (49%).
@pewresearch.orgSix-in-ten Americans say the U.S. government should be able to require a news organization to take down a news story if it poses a risk to national security.
About half say the same for stories containing false information.
@pewresearch.orgHow much do you know about the First Amendment?
Just 9% of U.S. adults answered all our knowledge questions correctly.
Curious where you rank? Take the quiz: https://pewrsr.ch/3SPPVdE
@pewresearch.org44% of U.S. adults say the press has become less free since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, compared with 12% who say it has become more free.
About a quarter (26%) say there has been no change, and 17% aren’t sure.
@pewresearch.org73% of Americans, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans, say press freedom is extremely or very important to the well-being of society.
However, half or more also say the government should be able to restrict news reporting in certain cases.
