PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization conducting research at the intersection of religion, values, and public life. www.prri.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mz4mo5lvq22bFor @inthesetimes.com, PRRI Director of Research Diana Orcés, Ph.D., writes that as the U.S. heads into the midterms, PRRI data show growing discontent among Hispanic Americans. 74% of Hispanic Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction, up from 67% in 2025. Read more: https://inthesetimes.com/article/hispanic-voters-midterms-trump-democrats30 Oct 2026 20:29 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz4mo5lvq22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3myxexy3jck2o@robertpjones.bsky.social explains that the evangelical support Trump enjoys is rooted in a certain vision for America: “The message is, we are a white Christian country, and we are losing that identity. But if you stick with me, I will make sure we keep that identity.” Watch his full remarks: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-trumps-coalition-of-evangelical-voters-could-be-fraying28 Oct 2026 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3myxexy3jck2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3myuqsiexnc2r@robertpjones.bsky.social speaks with @contrariannews.org about Americans' views on empathy. Jones also writes about the attack on empathy in his new book, "Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy." [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Oct 2026 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3myuqsiexnc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mys5si2owc2uThe 2026 PRRI AVS finds that three-quarters of Hispanic Catholics (76%) and half of white Catholics (50%) disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance ahead of the midterms. Notably, 61% of white Catholics say their opinion of Trump has mostly changed for the worse over the last two years. https://religionnews.com/2026/10/23/catholic-bishops-pray-over-trump-days-before-midterms/26 Oct 2026 16:37 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mys5si2owc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mykvettgsc2j@robertpjones.bsky.social explains that many evangelicals have overlooked Trump’s personal conduct in exchange for his commitment to advance a conservative Christian vision of American life, saying, “That has proven to be more powerful for this group than what they're having to pay at the gas pump.” https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-support-slips-white-evangelicals-remain-his-republican-bedrock-2026-10-22/23 Oct 2026 19:17 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mykvettgsc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mykm2xdx4s2vDid you catch @melissadeckman.bsky.social talking about the 2026 PRRI American Values Survey on CSPAN yesterday? We cover this and more in today’s Morning Buzz newsletter: https://prri.substack.com/p/americans-mood-ahead-of-the-midterm?r=55igcc&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer23 Oct 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mykm2xdx4s2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mykbbcubps2f"PRRI’s survey underscores just how radical the MAGA outlook is." More from Jennifer Rubin at The Contrarian: https://open.substack.com/pub/contrarian/p/america-is-a-decent-country-with23 Oct 2026 13:17 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mykbbcubps2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3myfobtst6c2v"As Christian nationalist leaders attack the sentiment of empathy, a disturbing 'empathy gap' has opened, separating Republicans and white evangelicals from most other Americans," says @robertpjones.bsky.social, examining new AVS findings. Read more: https://www.axios.com/2026/10/20/religious-divide-empathy-democrats-republicans21 Oct 2026 17:27 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3myfobtst6c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mycnvku3oc2rNEW: The 17th annual PRRI American Values Survey, released in partnership with @brookings.edu finds that 84% of Democrats and 70% of independents agree that “empathy is a foundational moral value that helps build a healthy society (68%), while only 54% of Republicans agree.20 Oct 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mycnvku3oc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3myaqj7et6k2eTomorrow at 10 AM ET! Join us online or in person for a conversation with experts discussing the new 2026 PRRI American Values Survey and what the data reveal about American politics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Register now: https://www.brookings.edu/events/new-survey-tracks-darkening-mood-and-shifting-political-loyalties-ahead-of-midterm-elections/19 Oct 2026 18:24 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3myaqj7et6k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mxza4azrv22r“When we are talking about the American Dream, what we see is that concerns about democratic rights and freedoms matter,” says Diana Orcés, Ph.D., PRRI Director of Research. Listen to the full conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/arnie-arnesen-attitude-october-9-2026/id1634055179?i=100079408024616 Oct 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxza4azrv22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mxudc7eoh22k@robertpjones.bsky.social says that white mainline Protestant voters are more of a warning sign for Republicans than white evangelicals: “If I were a Republican strategist looking at the map, I would be worried about the other white Christians… they are not as tethered to the president.” Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/13/politics/evangelicals-republicans-midterm-losses14 Oct 2026 19:55 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxudc7eoh22khttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mxhl3vvpvk2b61% of Americans say the death penalty should be legal in all or in most cases; Republicans (79%) are notably more likely than independents (62%) and Democrats (50%) to say the death penalty should be legal. https://apnews.com/article/fort-hood-shooter-execution-pentagon-818853afc1be5c70fe41c5b781a8d559?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share09 Oct 2026 18:10 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxhl3vvpvk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mxf6rmfrbs2sWomen are less likely than men to say that the American Dream still holds true today (43% vs. 53%). For @19thnews.org, Chabeli Carrazana writes that many young women feel politicians’ messaging on affordability fails to address their anxiety about their financial futures. Read more: https://19thnews.org/2026/10/gen-z-women-voters-affordability/08 Oct 2026 19:24 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxf6rmfrbs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mxcejbeafs22@robertpjones.bsky.social is on @wunc.org discussing his new book, Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation after the Christian Turn Against Democracy. Listen to the full conversation: https://www.wunc.org/show/due-south/2026-10-06/author-explores-religious-reckoning-in-name-of-democracy07 Oct 2026 16:29 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxcejbeafs22https://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mxab6kgs7s2zJoin PRRI and @brookings.edu in person or online later this month for the release of the 17th annual American Values Survey! Happening Tuesday, October 20 at 10:00 AM Eastern. Learn more and register: https://www.brookings.edu/events/new-survey-tracks-darkening-mood-and-shifting-political-loyalties-ahead-of-midterm-elections/06 Oct 2026 20:24 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxab6kgs7s2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mx5p7bat4s2n“The finding that Gen Z men were more likely to say the government should subsidize childcare when one parent stays at home is notable and perhaps speaks to the growing distance we see between Gen Z men and women with respect to parenthood,” explains @melissadeckman.bsky.social. Read more: https://19thnews.org/2026/10/poll-gen-z-federal-government-childcare-costs/05 Oct 2026 19:57 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx5p7bat4s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mx5emnyelc2m"@robertpjones.bsky.social tells @theguardian.com that demographic changes, support for Christian nationalism, and Trump's language about racial purity all informed his decision to start 'Backslide' by looking at the rise of the Nazi Party." More in today's Morning Buzz ⬇️ https://prri.substack.com/p/christian-nationalism-expert-warns?r=55igcc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true05 Oct 2026 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx5emnyelc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mwyi6l4dts2t“Despite the alarming trajectory detailed in Backslide, Jones resists total pessimism.” New interview with PRRI President and Founder @robertpjones.bsky.social from @theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/oct/03/robert-p-jones-backslide-interview03 Oct 2026 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwyi6l4dts2thttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mwwbualrdk22@apnews.com - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is launching an office of religious affairs. Hegseth has infused his evangelical Christianity into his leadership of the Pentagon, hosting Christian worship services for employees and speaking of the U.S. as a Christian nation. https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-defense-department-pentagon-religion-41405eb6dd60ca5a3f45fe3387f8295202 Oct 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwwbualrdk22https://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mwvqjvsvjk2uPRRI CEO @melissadeckman.bsky.social quoted in this article: “You have a story where Gen Z is really put off by party.” Deckman adds that “Gen Z women are a distinct group compared to both their young male counterparts and also other American women.” [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Oct 2026 15:59 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwvqjvsvjk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mwtiirkxok2tA large majority of Americans (71%) agree that transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans. The Department of Education has rescinded the Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination for students based on sexual orientation and gender identity. https://thehill.com/homenews/education/6115216-education-department-title-ix-lgbtq-trans-students/01 Oct 2026 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwtiirkxok2thttps://bsky.app/profile/prri.org/post/3mwlyyacxhs2zA 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. The Supreme Court has allowed states to verify the eligibility of voters with the Department of Homeland Security program: https://apnews.com/article/save-database-noncitizen-voters-trump-supreme-court-412e12f5a492dd20e407812f30f7c13928 Sep 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:hmrg3ylecoiy4kxt5qei35km/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwlyyacxhs2z