What do Americans think of Pope Leo XIV a month into his papacy? What poll finds
A month into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV — the Wordle-playing, White Sox-loving, first American pope — maintains a high favorability rating among U.S. Catholics and the general public, a poll found.
Sixty-five percent of Catholics said they have a favorable impression of the new pope, compared with six percent who have an unfavorable view, according to a June 15 AP-NORC poll.
Twenty-nine percent of Catholics said they still didn't know enough to say, the poll found.
The poll of 1,158 U.S. adults was taken June 5-9 and has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
A plurality of the general public, 44%, also said they have a favorable view of Pope Leo, according to the poll.
Forty-six percent of Americans said they weren't sure yet, and 10% said they had an unfavorable view, per the poll.
How does this compare to Pope Francis?
Support for Pope Leo mirrors support for his predecessor at the start of his pontificate, researchers said.
Forty-four percent of Americans had a positive view of Pope Francis, while 13% viewed him unfavorably and 42% weren't sure, according to an October 2015 poll.
Pope Leo was elected head of the Holy See on May 8 after four rounds of voting.
What do Americans want from pope?
Before the conclave took place, many Catholics, 37%, said they wanted the next pope to have more conservative teachings, according to a poll, McClatchy News reported.
Twenty-one percent said they wanted to see more progressive teachings, per the poll.
In May, Americans were split on whether they thought the new pope was liberal or conservative, with 16% saying he is liberal and 12% saying he's conservative, according to a poll, McClatchy reported.
Forty-three percent said they were not sure, the poll found.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump approves US Steel-Nippon merger
This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday approving Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, with the companies promising $11 billion in new investments by 2028. The deal includes an initial investment in a new site that would be completed after 2028, according to U.S. Steel's June 13 press release. The companies have completed the Department of Justice's review process. With all regulatory approvals finished, they said the deal is 'expected to be finalized promptly.' As part of the regulatory approval, the two companies have agreed to sign a national security agreement with the federal government. U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding what the new project will entail or its value. 'This partnership will bring a massive investment that will support our communities and families for generations to come,' Nippon and U.S. Steel said in a joint statement. 'We look forward to putting our commitments into action to make American steelmaking and manufacturing great again.' The merger would retain and create more than 100,000 jobs, according to a study by Parker Strategy Group commissioned by U.S. Steel. Additionally, the agreement involves other commitments related to domestic production commitments, trade and the granting of veto power to the U.S. government in the form of 'golden shares.' The veto power will allow the U.S. government to oversee key decisions to any changes to the company. Nippon initially announced plans to acquire U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion in December 2023, but faced opposition from the Biden administration. Then-President Joe Biden blocked the deal in January, citing national security concerns and a negative impact on domestic steel production. Trump previously opposed the acquisition, saying he would block the deal. The president, however, revived talk of the deal in April, when he ordered the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review the proposal. Last month, Trump announced he supported the deal, calling it a 'planned partnership.' The United Steelworkers have also voiced their opposition to the merger. The labor union said Sunday it had not received a copy of the agreement between U.S. Steel, Nippon and the federal government. USW said it's disappointed that Trump reversed course, saying the merger could jeopardize 'the future of American steelmaking.' The union added that Nippon refused to promise USW to not transfer production from any of U.S. Steel's facilities in the country. 'It is left to be seen whether the president's 'golden share' and stated 51 percent control prevents Nippon from doing what has been clear it would do since December of 2023.' USW said in a statement. 'Those that ignore the threat, do so at their own peril. The focus of the International union has always been about protecting the members' job security and employment.' USW's labor agreement with U.S. Steel expires Sept. 1, 2026. The union said it's prepared to engage with Nippon to obtain 'a fair contract, one that maintains our existing facilities and recognizes the decades of contributions to the profitability of the company by USW members.' Recommended Reading Trump to increase steel, aluminum tariffs to 50% Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Senate Republicans seek tougher Medicaid cuts and lower SALT deduction in Trump's big bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Monday proposed deeper Medicaid cuts, including new work requirements for parents of teens, as a way to offset the costs of making President Donald Trump's tax breaks more permanent in draft legislation unveiled for his 'big, beautiful bill.' The proposals from Republicans keep in place the current $10,000 deduction of state and local taxes, called SALT, drawing quick blowback from GOP lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states, who fought for a $40,000 cap in the House-passed bill. Senators insisted negotiations continue. The Senate draft also enhances Trump's proposed new tax break for seniors, with a bigger $6,000 deduction for low- to moderate-income senior households earning no more than $75,000 a year for singles, $150,000 for couples. All told, the text unveiled by the Senate Finance Committee Republicans provides the most comprehensive look yet at changes the GOP senators want to make to the 1,000-page package approved by House Republicans last month. GOP leaders are pushing to fast-track the bill for a vote by Trump's Fourth of July deadline. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the chairman, said the proposal would prevent a tax hike and achieve 'significant savings' by slashing green energy funds 'and targeting waste, fraud and abuse." It comes as Americans broadly support levels of funding for popular safety net programs, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Many Americans see Medicaid and food assistance programs as underfunded. What's in the big bill, so far Trump's big bill is the centerpiece of his domestic policy agenda, a hodgepodge of GOP priorities all rolled into what he calls the 'beautiful bill' that Republicans are trying to swiftly pass over unified opposition from Democrats — a tall order for the slow-moving Senate. Fundamental to the package is the extension of some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks approved during his first term, in 2017, that are expiring this year if Congress fails to act. There are also new ones, including no taxes on tips, as well as more than $1 trillion in program cuts. After the House passed its version, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the nation's deficits over the decade, and leave 10.9 fewer people without health insurance, due largely to the proposed new work requirements and other changes. The biggest tax breaks, some $12,000 a year, would go to the wealthiest households, CBO said, while the poorest would see a tax hike of roughly $1,600. Middle-income households would see tax breaks of $500 to $1,000 a year, CBO said. Both the House and Senate packages are eyeing a massive $350 billion buildup of Homeland Security and Pentagon funds, including some $175 billion for Trump's mass deportation efforts, such as the hiring of 10,000 more officers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. This comes as protests over deporting migrants have erupted nationwide — including the stunning handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla last week in Los Angeles — and as deficit hawks such as Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul are questioning the vast spending on Homeland Security. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned that the Senate GOP's draft 'cuts to Medicaid are deeper and more devastating than even the Republican House's disaster of a bill.' Tradeoffs in bill risk GOP support As the package now moves to the Senate, the changes to Medicaid, SALT and green energy programs are part of a series of tradeoffs GOP leaders are making as they try to push the package to passage with their slim majorities, with almost no votes to spare. But criticism of the Senate's version came quickly after House Speaker Mike Johnson warned senators off making substantial changes. 'We have been crystal clear that the SALT deal we negotiated in good faith with the Speaker and the White House must remain in the final bill,' the co-chairs of the House SALT caucus, Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said in a joint statement Monday. Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York posted on X that the $10,000 cap in the Senate bill was not only insulting, but a 'slap in the face to the Republican districts that delivered our majority and trifecta' with the White House. Medicaid and green energy cuts Some of the largest cost savings in the package come from the GOP plan to impose new work requirements on able-bodied single adults, ages 18 to 64 and without dependents, who receive Medicaid, the health care program used by 80 million Americans. While the House first proposed the new Medicaid work requirement, it exempted parents with dependents. The Senate's version broadens the requirement to include parents of children older than 14, as part of their effort to combat waste in the program and push personal responsibility. Already, the Republicans had proposed expanding work requirements in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP, to include older Americans up to age 64 and parents of school-age children older than 10. The House had imposed the requirement on parents of children older than 7. People would need to work 80 hours a month or be engaged in a community service program to qualify. One Republican, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, has joined a few others pushing to save Medicaid from steep cuts — including to the so-called provider tax that almost all states levy on hospitals as a way to help fund their programs. The Senate plan proposes phasing down that provider tax, which is now up to 6%. Starting in 2027, the Senate looks to gradually lower that threshold until it reaches 3.5% in 2031, with exceptions for nursing homes and intermediate care facilities. Hawley slammed the Senate bill's changes on the provider tax. 'This needs a lot of work. It's really concerning and I'm really surprised by it,' he said. 'Rural hospitals are going to be in bad shape." The Senate also keeps in place the House's proposed new $35-per-service co-pay imposed on some Medicaid patients who earn more than the poverty line, which is about $32,000 a year for a family of four, with exceptions for some primary, prenatal, pediatric and emergency room care. And Senate Republicans are seeking a slower phase-out of some Biden-era green energy tax breaks to allow continued develop of wind, solar and other projects that the most conservative Republicans in Congress want to end more quickly. Tax breaks for electric vehicles would be immediately eliminated. Conservative Republicans say the cuts overall don't go far enough, and they oppose the bill's provision to raise the national debt limit by $5 trillion to allow more borrowing to pay the bills. "We've got a ways to go on this one,' said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. __ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
After Minnesota shooting, some states are more tightly guarding officials' personal information
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawmakers in some states are moving to delete their home addresses from online directories and Wisconsin legislators are seeking added security for a session this week after one Minnesota legislator was killed and another wounded in their suburban Minneapolis homes last weekend in what Gov. Tim Walz described as a targeted political attack. Vance Boelter is in federal custody facing murder and stalking charges in the shooting death of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Authorities say he also shot and wounded Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Boelter, 57, also faces state murder charges. Authorities said Boelter had a list of dozens of state and federal elected officials in Minnesota and meticulous notes on the homes and people he targeted early Saturday. He also stopped by the homes of two other legislators that night, according to police. Authorities say he found their addresses in a variety of internet searches. The Minnesota Legislature's website lists the addresses of members' offices in the state capital of St. Paul, not their home addresses. On Saturday, the North Dakota Legislature's staff agency removed lawmakers' addresses from their biographical webpages as a result of the targeted attacks in Minnesota, Legislative Council Director John Bjornson said. Most North Dakota lawmakers opt to give a home, business or postal box address on their webpage, where the public also can find their email addresses and phone numbers. Removing addresses of elected officials is a difficult decision because they have to be approachable, open and transparent, said Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben, whose county is home to North Dakota's capital city. 'I think it's a balancing act between being a public official and the safety of myself and my family,' the elected county sheriff said. All home addresses for New Mexico legislators were also removed from the Statehouse website as an immediate precaution, said Shawna Casebier, director of the Legislature's legal office. Personal information on the website already had been limited at the discretion of individual lawmakers in the aftermath of drive-by shootings at the homes of four Democratic state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque in 2022 and 2023. In Colorado, at least 31 elected officials have filed requests to remove their personal contact information from a public-facing state campaign finance database called TRACER, which was briefly taken down Saturday so those requests could be fulfilled. 'We did so out of an abundance of caution for the safety of elected officials in an unprecedented political climate,' Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement. The Colorado development was first reported by Axios. Lawmakers in Wisconsin requested additional security for when the state Assembly meets on Wednesday, said Luke Wolff, spokesperson for Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Wolff did not detail what was requested or what changes may be made. The Wisconsin Capitol is one of the most open in the country, with public access seven days a week, no metal detectors, screening checkpoints or security badges required to gain entry. There are galleries in both the Senate and Assembly where the public can view legislative debate. Even before the Minnesota shooting, states in recent years have stepped up efforts to shield the personal information of officials in response to high-profile attacks. One day before the Minnesota killings, Oregon lawmakers passed a bill that would prohibit the Oregon Secretary of State from making the residential addresses of those associated with a candidates' campaign committee viewable by the public on its electronic filing system. The campaign filings would still be viewable online, but home addresses would be redacted, unless the person asks the Secretary of State's office to publish it. A public records request would need to be filed to obtain such addresses. Louisiana Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill last week that adds statewide elected officials and legislators to the list of people who can ask that their personal information be removed from public records and the internet. Certain judges were already on the list. Officials can seek to have home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, date of birth, marital status, school or daycare of their child, their place of worship or employment location of their spouse removed. Under current law, if person does not comply with the removal request, they can be sued and face up to 90 days in prison or $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor. The measure still needs final approval from Gov. Jeff Landry, one of the Louisiana officials whose private information would be protected. Georgia Georgia legislators passed a law earlier this year to require that home addresses of candidates who file campaign finance reports, including themselves, be redacted from by the state Ethics Commission from public view. The action came after a number of Georgia officials were targeted by swatting incidents in December 2023. Lawmakers also passed a second law which removes the personal phone number, home address, and property or tax records of a judge or their spouse from public view. Records covered include voter registration and corporation records. Illinois The Illinois State Board of Elections stopped publishing the street addresses of candidates for political office on its website last year, spokesperson Matt Dietrich said. Lawmakers had raised concerns after protestors picketed the home of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, the state librarian, over legislation he pushed through the General Assembly that would cut state funding to libraries that ban books. Candidates' addresses remain on elections board documents that are no longer published on the web but accessible via public records request. New Jersey In 2020, a gunman posing as a delivery driver shot and killed the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in New Jersey and injured her husband at their family home. The state legislature passed a law later that year by that exempted the home addresses of current or retired judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers from disclosure under public records laws. The measure, called Daniel's Law in honor of the judge's son, also allowed officials to ask websites to remove their home addresses. Maryland Maryland enacted a law in 2024 preventing individuals from publishing judges' personal information online after a circuit court judge was shot by a man hours after the judge ruled against him in a divorce case. Judges can submit requests to government entities and private websites to remove information like phone numbers, social security numbers, and personal emails. — Associated Press reporters Claire Rush in Portland, Ore., Jack Dura in Bismarck, N.D., John O'Connor in Springfield, Ill., Jeff Amy in Atlanta, Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, La., Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., Brian Witte in Annapolis, Md. and Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, N.M. contributed to this report.
