Gen Z Might Be the MAGA Movement’s Undoing

For The Washington Post, opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin examinesthe ways Generation Z’s political ideology is out of step with the Republican party’s MAGA following. PRRI’s latest survey finds that Gen Zers trust organized religion, news organizations, the criminal justice system, and the government at significantly lower rates than older generations, however, Gen Zers and millennials are more likely than older generations to engage in political activism online and offline. When it comes to the issues, PRRI finds Gen Z voters overwhelmingly favor affirmative action and student loanforgiveness and are more supportive of abortion rights and concerned about climate change than older Americans.

Religious Trauma Still Haunts Millions of LGBTQ Americans

Spencer Macnaughton at NBC News reports on the prevalence of religious trauma among LGBTQ adults, exploring how religious environments can cause guilt, shame, loss of trust and loss of meaning in life. Defined by the Religious Trauma Institute as lasting adverse effects on their physical, mental or emotional well-being due to an individual’s religious upbringing, a 2023 study concluded that around 1 in 3 American adultshave experienced religious trauma at some point in their life. PRRI’s Religion and Congregations surveyfound that 30% of people who have changed their religious tradition or denomination say they were turned off by the religion’s negative teachings about or treatment of LGBTQ people.

‘Rage’ Abortion Donations Dry Up, Leaving Funds Struggling To Meet Demand

Nathaniel Weixel at The Hill writesthat as the initial upset at the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has waned, abortion funds have dried up while the need for financial support has surged. Because 21 states have now fully or partially banned abortion, patients have to travel further to access care and are consequently further along in their pregnancies, both of which drive up the cost. PRRI developed a composite index based on 10 questions about different types of abortion bans and restrictions, which found that 57% of Americans oppose most abortion ban policies.

Inside South Carolina: Understanding Partisanship, Religious Affiliation, and Religious Diversity Across the State

With early voting underway in South Carolina’s Democratic primary and all eyes turning to next month’s Republican match up between former president Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a new Spotlight Analysis looks at key facts about South Carolina. With a median age of 49, around three in ten South Carolinians identify as Republican (32%) or independent (29%), and one-quarter (25%) identify as Democrats. According to the PRRI Census of American Religion, Black Protestants account for 18% of South Carolinians, compared with 8% of Americans nationally.  The counties in South Carolina with the highest concentrations of Black Protestants are: Allendale County (56%), Williamsburg County (55%), and Lee County (51%).