The Thin Line Between Urging Activism and Extremism

At U.S. News,  Lauren Cameraquestions when politicians’ increasingly inflammatory and confrontational campaign rhetoric crosses the line to intimidation. Discussing the source of this confrontational rhetoric, Robert P. Jones, president and founder of PRRI, said, “The source of this is not partisanship… [The source] is Donald Trump and the MAGA movement that’s taken over the Republican Party.” According to PRRI’s 14th annual American Values Survey, nearly a quarter of Americans agree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country.” Notably, Republicans with favorable views of Trump are nearly three times as likely as Republicans with unfavorable views of Trump (41% vs. 16%)  to agree.

Biden’s New Title IX Rules Protect LGBTQ Students, but Avoid Addressing Transgender Athletes

For The Associated Press, Collin Binkley writes that the Biden administration’s changes to Title IX will protect LGBTQ students from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by requiring schools that receive federal funding to respond when discrimination occurs and creating pathways for recourse from the federal government when a school’s response is inadequate. However, the policy excludes provisions to protect transgender athletes — which were originally part of the administration’s plan to revise Title IX — presumably due to political considerations in an election year. PRRI’s 2023 American Values Survey finds a majority of Americans (58%) agree that restricting the rights of transgender people is just another form of discrimination.

The Resurgence of “Birtherism” and Attitudes on Birthright Citizenship

A new Spotlight Analysis by PRRI Public Fellow Amina Zarrugh, Ph.D., looks at Americans’ views toward birthright citizenship over the past several years. While Senator Ted Cruz, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley have all had their eligibility to run for president questioned with appeals to “birtherism,” Zarrugh writes that Republicans are significantly more likely to both emphasize the importance of being born in the United States to being “truly American” and to support measures that limit access to citizenship based on birth. Recent polls confirm that immigration — and its implications for birthright citizenship — will continue to be a top issue for voters ahead of the 2024 election.

Many in Gen Z Ditch Colleges for Trade Schools. Meet the ‘Toolbelt Generation’

Windsor Johnston at NPR reports on the growing number of young people choosing to swap college for vocational schools and blue-collar work. With the average cost of college in the United States more than doubling in the 21st century, many Gen Zers believe they’ve been left with no choice but to leave the college path. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges increased 16%. PRRI’s Gen Z study finds that more than eight in ten Gen Z adults (83%) and teens (89%) say providing money for students to attend two years of trade or technical school would be very or somewhat effective in preparing young people for the future.