Chip Rotolo

Bar chart showing that very few Republicans and Democrats alike have a great deal of confidence in journalists to act in the best interests of the public. The chart is based on a December 2025 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults.

% of Americans who have a great deal of confidence in journalists to act in the best interests of the public

All US adults: 6%
Republicans: 2%
Democrats: 9%

www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

Line chart showing that Americans are now about equally likely to say they get news by happening across it as they are to get news by actively looking for it (49% vs. 50%). The chart is based on Pew Research Center surveys of U.S. adults going back to 2019.

Important shift highlighted in new @pewresearch.org survey: Americans are now just as likely to get news by happening across it as by actively looking for it. "News finds you nowadays," one focus group participant said. www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...

Share of Black Protestants who are confident that Donald Trump acts ethically in office
2025: 7%
2026: 7%

If you have any interest in digging in yourself, both datasets can be downloaded here: www.pewresearch.org/methods/fact...

Hi Wes,
Religious affiliation in our new 2026 data is weighted to our 2025 NPORS, and the early 2025 data is weighted to our 2024 NPORS.

The size of the "White evangelical Protestant" category did not change significantly across those surveys,so we'd say the group has remained about the same size.

Compared with a year ago, White Protestants and religiously unaffiliated adults now have significantly less confidence that Trump acts ethically in office. For example, 26% of White nonevangelical Protestants are extremely or very confident Trump acts ethically in office, down from 38%. And the share of religious “nones” who have a lot of confidence in Trump’s ethics now stands at 10%, down from 16%. Confidence in Trump’s ethics has remained low among Black Protestants.

Extremely or very confident Donald Trump acts ethically in office
White evangelicals 40%
US adult avg. 21%
Unaffiliated 10%
Black Protestants 7%
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/09/white-evangelicals-remain-among-trumps-strongest-supporters-but-theyre-less-supportive-than-a-year-ago/

Line chart showing that confidence in President Donald Trump's ethics has declined among several U.S. religious groups over the past year. The chart is based on Pew Research Center surveys of U.S. adults.

% of White evangelicals who are extremely/very confident that Donald Trump acts ethically in office 📉

55% in early 2025
40% in early 2026

www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

White evangelicals remain among Trump’s strongest supporters, but they're less supportive than a year ago There has been an 8-percentage point drop since early 2025 in the share of White evangelicals who support all or most of Trump’s plans and policies.

Check out the full analysis here: pewrsr.ch/4tw5dSk
6/6

Trump approval is also down among most religious groups compared with a year ago.
5/6

Confidence in Trump’s ethics has declined in several religious groups, compared with the start of his second term.
4/6

White Protestants and religious ‘nones’ have become less likely to support all or most of Trump’s agenda over the past year.
3/6

There's been an 8-point drop since early 2025 in the share of White evangelicals who support all or most of Trump’s plans and policies. And there has been a 15-point drop in the share who are confident Trump acts ethically in office.
2/6

Today, we (@pewresearch.org) released a new analysis of religious groups' views of Trump during his second term.

White evangelicals remain among Trump’s strongest supporters, but they’re less supportive than a year ago

🧵 1/6

Register now! Featuring panelists including @robertpjones.bsky.social, @chiprotolo.bsky.social, and Kathleen Sands!

What are the top reasons religious “nones” cite for why they have no religion?

Here are some key findings from a brand new @pewresearch.org report that looks at why people keep their religion, why people leave their religion, and why people have no religion at all.

Is a religious revival happening among young adults?

Here are some thoughts drawing on the latest @pewresearch.org data.

Our new study takes a close look at religion among young adults. It shows that young adults in the U.S. today

1) Are less religious than older people
2) Are less religious than young people were a decade ago
3) Have not become more religious in recent years

pewrsr.ch/4pKHIC7

New report takes a fresh look at religion trends in the U.S. In 2025 data, key measures of religiousness continue to hold steady:

pewrsr.ch/4pKHIC7

The writer/editor is a position within the Center’s Religion research team, which seeks to promote a deeper understanding of religion and spirituality. The Religion research team conducts surveys, demographic analyses and other social science research in the United States and around the world, studying people’s religious beliefs and practices as well as their views on related issues, including religion’s role in public life. The ideal candidate will have a strong data journalism mindset, with the ability to translate complex quantitative findings into clear and engaging narratives that are nonpartisan and non-advocacy. This position will be embedded within the Religion research team, where the writer/editor will work collaboratively to shape the team’s research agenda, including identifying key research questions; contributing to survey development; and synthesizing findings into accessible and compelling storylines. The writer/editor will also evaluate drafts of research reports to determine whether there are shortcomings in the analysis; edit, rewrite and reorganize drafts as necessary to improve flow and clarity; and work with researchers and designers to create appropriate charts and tables. In addition, the writer/editor will provide guidance and training to the Religion team’s researchers and serve as a writing resource. Following the release of reports, the writer/editor may help disseminate research to the public through the Center’s social media channels, videos, newsletters, and virtual or in-person gatherings, always adhering to the Center’s independent, nonpartisan, non-advocacy stance. 

Please repost:

We're looking for an excellent writer/editor with strong data journalism skills to join the religion team at @pewresearch.org.

pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...

Line graph showing a rise from 2024 to 2025 in Americans who say religion is gaining influence, reaching 31%, while those saying it's losing influence drop to 68%.

Americans’ views about religion in public life are shifting. From February 2024 to February 2025, there was a sharp rise in the share of U.S. adults who say religion is gaining influence in American life. www.pewresearch.org/...

Growing Share of U.S. Adults Say Religion Is Gaining Influence in American Life Americans' views of religion's role in society have grown more positive in recent years. But many feel their religious beliefs conflict with the mainstream.

Americans’ views about religion in public life are shifting:

- Growing shares say religion is gaining influence.
- Growing shares have a positive view of religion's role in society.
- Growing shares feel conflict btw their religious beliefs and the mainstream.

New Pew report: pewrsr.ch/3J3oE2s

Growing share of Americans say the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction In both parties, the share that say the higher education system is going in the wrong direction has gone up by at least 10 percentage points since 2020.

BIG change in U.S. view on higher education over the past 5 years, with right and left moving in same direction. pewrsr.ch/3KVWaYN

Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society and sports Today, 43% of U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a bad thing for society, up from 34% in 2022.

% of US men under 30 who say legal sports betting is a *bad thing* for society

22% in 2022
47% in 2025

No other demographic group has seen a bigger increase.

Most and least religious U.S. states Explore our interactive database to find how religious adults are in your state based on service attendance, prayer, belief in God, and importance of religion.

How religious is each state?

bit.ly/46mkTwp

Today's youngest adults (born between 2000-06, ages 18-24) are among the least likely to regularly attend religious services, to be members of religious congregations, to have been raised religiously, to say religion is important, and to say they've become more religious over time.

% considered "highly religious," by decade born

From @pewresearch.org 's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS)

40s or earlier: 45%
50s: 38%
60s: 34%
70s: 32%
80s: 24%
90s: 22%
00s (2000-06): 19%

One other data point that may be helpful: At the national level, 30% fall in the "highly religious" category. So you can think about the state percentages relative to the national average.

The index is also slightly more complicated than how the 4 other measures are displayed. For example, it considers not just whether people say they believe in God or a universal spirit, but also *how certain* they are in that belief.

@shablopligh.bsky.social, Great question, and I've included how the overall religiousness score was calculated.

Because overall religiousness is based on several measures, the share in the "highly religious" category can be lower when respondents score high on 1 or a few measures and low on others.

Most American Christians say that “good Christians” do not need to take a particular view on Trump:

- 80% say good Christians can disagree about Trump
- 11% say opposing Trump is essential to being a good Christian.
- 7% say supporting Trump is essential to being a good Christian