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1. More than half of U.S. adults now say they ‘disapprove’ of the job Donald Trump is doing as President, but feelings vary by age.
One year into President Trump’s second term, public sentiment remains deeply polarized. While approximately one-third of U.S. adults approve of his job performance—up one percentage point since 2025—this marginal gain is overshadowed by a more substantial 6-percentage-point rise in disapproval, which now exceeds 50%.
CivicScience data also reveal a distinct demographic divide in how Americans feel about the job President Trump is doing: the administration’s support is most concentrated among Gen Z, aged 18-29, and individuals with a high school diploma or less, suggesting an appeal to younger and non-college-educated voters. Conversely, opposition is strongest among Baby Boomers 65+ and those with graduate degrees, highlighting a stark generational and educational rift in the national perception of his presidency.
Weigh In: How favorable or unfavorable is your overall opinion of the US federal government right now?
2. American optimism for the future rounds out January on a decline, with feelings highly polarized.
As the first month of 2026 enters its final week, the percentage of Americans who are at least ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ optimistic about the future in general is on the decline. Thirty-six percent of U.S. adults currently feel some level of optimism about the future, a 7-point drop from November. After a 5.61-point drop between November and December, optimism among Republicans is rebounding, while optimism among Democrats has fallen sharply by 11.24 points from December to January.
3. Many consumers are concerned about the state of their electric bills, and it’s shaping how they’ll handle their tax refunds.
As a major winter storm ushers in extreme cold for much of the country, the cost of electricity bills is of paramount concern for many Americans today. New CivicScience data show 82% of U.S. adults who pay an electric bill are at least ‘somewhat’ concerned about the current cost of their electric bills.
Most don’t expect relief soon: 53% of respondents believe home electricity and natural gas prices will ‘get worse’ over the next six months—more than double the 22% who believe they will ‘get better.’ Another 24% expect prices to ‘stay the same.’
These perceptions are also shaping action on consumer spending, notably when it comes to tax refund plans as tax season gets underway. Additional survey data show that those with a positive utility price outlook and who expect a tax refund are more than 4X as likely as those with a pessimistic outlook to use their tax refund to go shopping. Conversely, Americans anticipating a worsening outlook for utility bills are more likely to plan to pay off debt or put it aside.
Let Us Know: To what extent are you concerned about the cost of your electric bill?
