Voice of the People

Presidential Powers – Presidential Powers The balance of powers between the three branches of the US government have ebbed and flowed over the nation’s history, but experts agree that the power of the Presidency has signif...

For more on Presidential Powers, visit: vop.org/commonground...

Senate Dems threaten wave of war votes to force Iran hearing The lawmakers want to use the threat of more votes to force administration officials to testify publicly about their rationale for the war.

Senate Dems are escalating efforts to force debate on the U.S. military campaign in Iran, warning they may bring repeat war votes. PPC data show 58% of voters support requiring congressional approval to continue military operations beyond 60 days.

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Senate to vote on reining in Trump's war powers amid Iran campaign The measure, which would block President Trump from further military force against Iran, appears poised to fall short of the simple majority needed to advance in the Senate.

Senate set to vote today on a resolution to limit further U.S. military action against Iran without congressional authorization, CBS reports. PPC data finds 58% favor requiring congressional approval after 60 days, and majorities also support repealing the 2001 AUMF.

www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-...

Iran strikes the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia as war expands yet again Iran has expanded its targets in a spiraling war. It struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, as Washington began to pull many staff out of the Middle East.

As AP reports on escalating military action involving Iran, PPC polling finds 58% of Americans favor requiring a simple majority of Congress to approve any military operation lasting beyond 60 days. Majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents support reform.

apnews.com/article/iran...

Congress gears up for vote on Trump's war powers in Iran — after the battle began Democrats and a few Republicans are calling for curbing Trump's unilateral use of military power in Iran, despite previous such efforts failing to advance.

Congress is set to vote on bipartisan war powers resolutions after U.S. strikes on Iran. A bipartisan 58% majority supports requiring congressional approval to continue military operations beyond 60 days.

www.npr.org/2026/03/02/g...

For more on presidential power: vop.org/commonground...

The Hill reports growing frustration in the House over stalled action on a congressional stock trading ban.
PPC data finds bipartisan agreement: 86% favor banning Members of Congress and their co-resident family members from trading individual stocks.

bit.ly/46wzmH9

Capitol offenders: Efforts ramp up to bar pols from stock trading Members of Congress have long profited from being able to trade on information the public doesn’t have access to – but a coalition of stakeholders may be on the verge of evening the playing field.

City & State PA highlights new momentum to curb congressional stock trading, citing PPC research showing 86% of Americans support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Bipartisan consensus is clear. Read more: www.cityandstatepa.com/politics/202...

AP report: Hegseth warns Anthropic to let the military use company’s AI tech as it sees fit Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic's CEO a Friday deadline to open the company's artificial intelligence technology for unrestricted military use or risk losing its government contract, acc...

Amid disputes over autonomous targeting and surveillance, Defense Secretary Hegseth warned Anthropic to allow unrestricted military AI use or risk losing its Pentagon contract. 81% of Americans favor the U.S. working toward a treaty banning lethal autonomous weapons.
www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...

Senate Democrats introduced the American Homeownership Act to curb large-scale corporate ownership of single-family homes by ending certain tax advantages. PPC data shows 71% favor denying tax deductions to corporations owning more than 50 homes. (R: 61%, D:82%)

thehill.com/homenews/sen...

EU pauses U.S. trade deal as it seeks clarity over Trump's new 15% global tariffs Frustrated European officials pushed Monday for clarification on how U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of a 15% global tax on imports would affect the trade deal they struck with Trump this su...

After the U.S. announced a 15% global tariff, the EU paused its U.S. trade deal, citing concerns over agreed limits. PPC research finds 81% of Americans support promoting international trade through mutual low-tariff agreements that abide by agreed-upon rules.

www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...

MYTH: Americans are divided on how much power presidents should have.

Majority: 67% of Americans agree that presidents should not have the power to dictate policy or fire commissioners of independent agencies. (R: 52%, D: 81%) Bipartisan majorities support repealing the 2001 AUMF.

The Supreme Court limited the use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs. PPC research finds 81% of Americans support promoting international trade through mutual low-tariff agreements, provided each country abides by trade rules

For more on trade: vop.org/commonground...

The House passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act aimed at expanding options to boost housing supply. It now heads to the Senate.
71% of Americans (R: 57%, D: 88%) support the federal government spending tens of billions to build or repair affordable housing.

bit.ly/4qGIhx3

Trump administration sued over reversal of key climate finding The Trump administration is facing a new lawsuit over its decision to deregulate emissions and repeal a landmark scientific finding on climate pollution.

The administration now faces litigation over its repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding, the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases.
Americans consistently favor stronger vehicle efficiency standards, with bipartisan majorities supporting higher fuel economy.

www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-a...

MYTH: Investing in clean energy is a one-party issue.

Majority: Americans support tax incentives for producing clean energy, and 74% support requiring electric companies to have a minimum portion of their electricity from renewable sources. (R: 56%, D: 89%)

Judge blocks Trump admin from rescinding health grants to Democratic-led states The ruling temporarily blocks the Trump Administration from cutting $600 million in public health grants that had already been allocated to four Democratic-led states.

Read more on NPR: www.npr.org/2026/02/13/n...

Public Opposes Expanding Presidential Power to Control Independent Agencies, Block Federal Spending, Replace Civil Servants In the midst of current debates about expanding Presidential authority, a new survey finds majority opposition among the public.  Large majorities (65-69%) - bipartisan in all but one case - oppose...

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from rescinding $600M in CDC public health grants to states.
@publicconsultation.org findings show 63% say presidents should not unilaterally impound funds allocated by Congress.
Full results: publicconsultation.org/united-state...

For more energy and environment findings, visit: vop.org/commonground...

Trump EPA set to repeal scientific finding that serves as basis for US climate change policy The White House says the Trump administration will revoke a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

The EPA is set to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding today, the basis for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act and CAFE rules.
70% of Americans favor requiring new cars and light trucks to get more miles per gallon (61% Rs, 81% Ds).

apnews.com/article/trum...

For more on energy and the environment: vop.org/commonground...

Trump's EPA plans to end a key climate pollution regulation The Environmental Protection Agency is eliminating a Clean Air Act finding from 2009 that is the basis for much of the federal government's actions to rein in climate change.

The EPA will revoke the finding that climate change endangers the public, which underpins most regulations on greenhouse gases. However, 80% of Americans favor the government reducing GHGs, including two thirds of Republicans, even after hearing strong arguments against. www.npr.org/2026/02/11/n...

For more on nuclear weapons: vop.org/commonground...

Newly Unbound, Trump Weighs More Nuclear Arms and Underground Tests

As the Trump administration considers resuming nuclear testing after New START’s expiration, PPC data show broad public support for maintaining the U.S. moratorium. Seventy-five percent of Americans agree, including 72% of Republicans and 80% of Democrats.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...

MYTH: Americans are too divided to tackle the substance abuse epidemic.

Majority: 75% support spending at least $10 billion to fund treatment for all who want it and are not able to get it. (R: 58%, D: 92%)

Nuclear Weapons – Nuclear Weapons The Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review put forward numerous controversial positions that have stimulated debate on such issues as whether the US should continue to maintain ...

For more on nuclear weapons, visit: vop.org/commonground...

Scoop: U.S. and Russia agree to observe New START nuclear pact after expiration New START is the last major guardrail constraining the nuclear arsenals of the two countries that together hold some 85% of the world's warheads.

As the U.S. and Russia signal they will continue observing New START after its expiration, the move aligns with public opinion. A bipartisan 83% of Americans support continuing arms control treaties with Russia, including 84% of Republicans and 83% of Democrats.

www.axios.com/2026/02/05/n...

More Americans are picking higher-deductible Obamacare plans, possibly risking their health The loss of enhanced subsidies and premium sticker shock are driving the trend, state officials and policy experts say.

New reporting shows more Americans are shifting to high-deductible ACA plans after enhanced subsidies expired. A bipartisan majority supports making higher ACA subsidies permanent (67%). Read more: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

For more: vop.org/commonground...

Nuclear Weapons – Nuclear Weapons The Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review put forward numerous controversial positions that have stimulated debate on such issues as whether the US should continue to maintain ...

For more public opinion data on Nuclear Weapons: vop.org/commonground...

Trump prepares to let go of arms control with Russia Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals could expand for the first time in three decades.

As the New START treaty expires, the U.S. faces its first period without nuclear arms limits with Russia in decades. Public opinion diverges from policy trajectory: 83% of Americans (R: 84%, D:83%) support continuing arms control treaties with Russia.

www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

It's Myth v.s. Majority Monday!

MYTH: Police reform is too controversial for agreement.

Majority: Americans favor requiring police to use body cameras (89%) and to exhaust all de-escalation techniques before any use of force (69%).