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Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Has Given Back All Gains He Made With Gen Z in Six Months
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Once seen as a pivotal force in his 2024 comeback, young male voters are now expressing growing disappointment and disillusionment with Donald Trump's second term. A CBS News/YouGov survey published last weekend found that Trump's net approval among 18- to 29-year-olds had all but collapsed—from 55 percent in February to just 28 percent by July. The reversal is especially striking given how aggressively Trump's 2024 campaign targeted young men. His appearances on shows hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Andrew Schulz and Adin Ross—paired with a calculated push into the "manosphere" podcast ecosystem—helped him win this demographic by a 14-point margin over Vice President Kamala Harris, according to exit polls. It worked—until it didn't. Barely six months into his second administration, influential voices like Schulz and Rogan have raised both raised their concerns, as have many of the low-propensity voters who make up their audiences who are now expressing buyer's remorse across social media and in polling. A recent Harvard Youth Poll found that nearly half of young men believe Trump is hurting the economy. Only 17 percent say they trust Congress, while 70 percent believe elected officials are mostly motivated by self-interest. Another 37 percent say they are "struggling to get by," and a majority report feeling pessimistic about the future. And that survey was taken before accounting for public opinion on the Jeffrey Epstein saga that has blotted out news coverage this summer, morphing into a growing political problem for the White House. A packed crowd fills Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. The Republican nominee returned to his hometown for a rally at this iconic venue, rallying supporters with just over... A packed crowd fills Madison Square Garden in New York, U.S., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. The Republican nominee returned to his hometown for a rally at this iconic venue, rallying supporters with just over a week left until Election Day on Nov. 5. More Photo by HOSSEIN FATEMI 'Trump Overpromised' Trump's winning campaign messaging tapped into frustrations over economic instability, identity politics and cultural marginalization. But now, months into his second term, a number of these voters are reconsidering their support — even as the president has delivered for his base on many of the culture war promises he made. Part of the disillusionment stems from a belief that Trump overpromised and underdelivered. Rachel Janfaza, a writer and researcher who has conducted listening sessions with Gen Z voters, told Newsweek that many young men she interviewed were frustrated by the disconnect between Trump's campaign rhetoric and real-world results. "They voted for him because he met them where they were," said Janfaza. "But the message has to match the messenger. They're not seeing results. Rent is still unaffordable, jobs are hard to come by, and they feel like their degrees are obsolete the moment they graduate." A Harvard Institute of Politics poll in April — just three months into the new administration — found that 47 percent of men aged 18 to 29 believed Trump was hurting the economy, with 40 percent saying they were worse off than during the Biden administration. SocialSphere polling earlier this year also showed Trump's economic approval among young men dropping 14 points in just two months. But the dissatisfaction appears to have since grown, and it extends beyond economics. Many young men expected Trump to act on uncovering conspiracy theories he amplified during the campaign—particularly those involving Jeffrey Epstein. "He promised to release the Epstein files, to expose the deep state—and they believed him," Janfaza said. "Now that he's in office and hasn't followed through, they're asking, 'Why not?'" Adin Ross / Getty Images Many are no longer willing to accept the administration's explanations. "It's not just that they're disappointed—they feel duped," she added. Up for Grabs Data from the Cooperative Election Study, one of the largest politically focused surveys in the U.S., suggests that although more young men voted Republican in 2024, they haven't become more conservative. In fact, they remain broadly progressive on issues like abortion rights, systemic racism, and immigration—indicating their shift may have been circumstantial, not ideological. Many online commentators refute that theory, suggesting the dissatisfaction among Gen Z with Trump is that he hasn't gone far enough on promises like mass deportations. "Gen Z is so much further to the right than Trump they disapprove of his job because they feel he's not going hard enough," wrote one popular anonymous X account. Richard V. Reeves, founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, doesn't buy that explanation. He said the original swing toward Trump was mostly a reflection of a generational rejection of Democratic messaging. "Democrats just didn't compete for their vote," Reeves told Newsweek. "When they did reach out, it was as allies—never directly as men." He also dismissed the idea that 2024's backlash was rooted in anti-feminism, as some commentators suggested after the election. "It wasn't angry young men rebelling against feminism," he said. "It was a backlash against overreach—against being constantly told they were the problem." As Reeves pointed out, this discontent does not appear to be translating into strong support for Democrats. Put another way, the opposition is not benefiting from its opponents' missteps, as is usually the case. A Quantus poll conducted between June 30 and July 2 among 1,000 registered voters, suggests that young voters are feeling politically homeless, with 43 percent of Gen Z respondents saying that neither party represents American values. As Reeves put it: "They're not tribal. Their votes are up for grabs." Writing for Scientific American, Adam Stanaland came to a similar conclusion, arguing that young men's support for Trump was not just political—it was personal. "In a culture that equates 'being a man' with financial success and protection, their anger was a direct response to pressures and threats," he wrote. Polling backs up this volatility. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University and author of Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents, wrote in The Atlantic that Gen Z's partisan shifts are largely driven by independents breaking right—not by deeply rooted ideological change. "If young people's attitudes persist as they get older, Gen Z might never be pleased with how things are going in the country," Twenge said. "They'll want to 'vote the bastards out' in the next election no matter which party is in power".
The Hill
15-07-2025
- General
- The Hill
The complicated truth behind Gen Z's ‘religious resurgence'
Headlines abound suggesting that Gen Z, mostly led by Gen Z men, are bucking the conventional wisdom that young people are destined to leave organized religion and instead are leading what some call a ' religious resurgence.' In some ways, faith communities may be ripe for growth among a chronically online generation that itself is recognizing the hollow limits of living more of their lives on-screen than off. Less than half of young Americans, a recent Harvard Youth Poll found, feel a sense of belonging to a community, with young men being significantly more likely than young women to indicate 'no strong sense of belonging anywhere.' Being an active part of a faith tradition is one way many Americans have historically developed that sense of belonging. Our work at the Public Religion Research Institute finds that 80 percent of Americans who attend church today regularly say one important reason they do so is to ' experience religion as a community.' Others argue that a religious revival will also serve as a moderating influence on young men, some of whom may be particularly vulnerable to the conspiracy theories and misogynistic content pervasive in the manosphere. Joe Scarborough, co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, echoes this concern from a more mainstream vantage point. On his show in May, Scarborough argued that increased church involvement for young men — even in the most conservative-leaning churches — may serve as a reality check for younger men prone to believing the right-wing conspiracies that often populate their red-pill, algorithmic-driven feeds. Our data, however, show no evidence that Gen Z men are becoming more religious. Nor do we find that Gen Z men who attend church frequently hold more moderate political or social views. Our latest Census of American Religion, released in May, shows that young people's rates of religious affiliation have continued to drop overall in the last decade. In 2013, we found that 32 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 identified as religiously unaffiliated, which rose to 38 percent last year — an increase driven mainly by young women's departure from religion. Just 29 percent of young women were religious 'nones' in 2013, yet by 2024, it was 40 percent. In contrast, young men's lack of affiliation with religion showed little change over the past decade, moving from 35 percent in 2013 to 36 percent last year. To be fair, the plateau in Gen Z men's religious disaffiliation is a notable story, especially given that for much of the past two decades, trend data have shown Americans increasingly shedding religious labels. Yet so far, we find no evidence that Gen Z men are actually becoming more religious. The more significant religion story is that young women and young men are moving apart religiously — a divide that mirrors the broader gender gaps emerging among Gen Z across a wide range of political and cultural issues. Gen Z women have become far more politically liberal than their male peers and display a stronger feminist consciousness than older generations of American women. Many faith traditions, meanwhile, continue to uphold, or even double down on, complementarian theology, which preaches male headship in both church and home and frames a woman's highest calling as being a wife and prolific mother. It's not hard to see why many young women are walking away from organized religion. The strong promotion of traditional gender norms in some denominations may actually help explain why certain young men remain religiously affiliated. But this dynamic also undercuts the idea that greater church involvement will necessarily moderate Gen Z men's attitudes or behavior. For instance, last year, we found that 48 percent of American men who attend church regularly (weekly or monthly) agreed that society is better off when men and women stick to the jobs 'they are naturally suited for.' Among Gen Z men church attenders, that number was slightly higher (52 percent), a stark contrast to the 22 percent of Gen Z women who agree with such traditionalist sentiments. Gen Z male churchgoers are far from moderate on a range of political issues — including belief in the so-called 'great replacement' conspiracy theory. Among male churchgoers last year, we found that 47 percent, including 45 percent of Gen Z male churchgoers, agreed that immigrants are 'invading our country and replacing our cultural and ethnic background.' By contrast, only 19 percent of Gen Z men who do not attend church agreed with the statement. We also find that Gen Z men who attend church (46 percent) are just as likely as older male churchgoers (48 percent) to be classified as Christian nationalists — those who believe that American government and identity should be closely aligned with a conservative form of Christianity. In contrast, only 18 percent of Gen Z men who don't attend church share these views about the relationship between church and state. Our findings echo recent research by political scientists Paul Djupe and Brooklyn Walker, who show that young Christian men are trending more reactionary and theologically conservative than both older Christian men and Christian women. Of note, they find that younger Christian men who embrace a sense of victimhood — such as believing that the system works against people like them — are significantly more likely to identify as evangelicals than older Christian men or women. Rather than serving as a moderating influence, the patriarchal Christianity practiced in many conservative churches may appeal to young men whose sense of masculinity feels threatened — a message that closely mirrors the rhetoric of prominent Republican leaders and right-wing social media influencers. Of course, the jury is still out on whether most Gen Z men will buck the broader secularizing trend in the U.S. and return to church at higher rates than recent trends would predict. But if they are increasingly drawn to traditionalist churches, it could create yet another space where young women and men no longer spend time together, further widening what appears to be a growing gender divide across multiple fronts in society and politics. Melissa Deckman, Ph.D. is CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture and public policy.
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Find Your People: Commencement Wisdom For The Rest Of Us
Jane Fonda, USC's Annenberg School, 2025: "Grow yourself a deep, solid community of people who share ... More your values, have each other's backs, check up on each other regularly." The graduating class of 2025 has faced unprecedented isolation. In the latest Harvard Youth Poll, only 17% reported a deep sense of belonging to a community. One in every three young adults aged 18-25 reports feeling anxious or lonely. These feelings of isolation have draconian outcomes: a 33% increase in depression and a 16-fold increase in the risk of death by suicide. In a season that many describe as the start of life's journey, this pervasive loneliness is heavy baggage. Northwestern graduate Claire Throckmorton gave voice (and hope) to this class' unique experience: "We started out more physically separate than any other first-year class, but that distance didn't keep us apart. In fact, if anything, it showed that we're better off when we're all connecting... the most important thing we learned was that we are better together than we are alone." Being connected is a lifeline in a highly fragmented world. Many of this year's commencement speakers understood this. Rather than offering generic advice about following dreams or working hard, they focused on something more fundamental: the urgent need to find and build authentic human connection. Six different speakers offered profound insights about finding your people and building the connections that sustain us. At the University of Maryland, Kermit the Frog reminded the assembled crowd that we are the company we keep. An unorthodox speaker for this event (his creator, the late Jim Henson, was a Maryland alum), his message hit the mark. "Look around," he said, "These are friends you will have for your whole life, and there will be many others to collect along the way." The most important connections aren't always obvious—to recognize them requires intention and genuine curiosity. But Kermit's message was about more than just making friends. It was about how we collaborate to ensure a future that makes space for all of us. "Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side, because life is better when we leap together." Staying open to the wisdom and friendship of others paves the way for new insights and opportunities where you least expect them. Even from a frog. Kermit the Frog, University of Maryland, May 22, 2025. At USC's Annenberg School School of Communication, actress Jane Fonda confronted the cultural forces that impede community. "In these uncertain times, we need to strengthen our ties to our colleagues, our friends and family, because we're going to need this support for safety, for love, for help, for fun—let's not forget fun—and for survival." Since the 1980s, society has shifted to a toxic adulation of individualism, a focus on 'me and mine.' It's 'no accident,' she explained. 'It's being driven by people who want us disempowered. The myth of the rugged individual who needs no one is just that: a myth created by stories through culture." Her call to action was direct and urgent: as future storytellers, graduates must rewrite the narrative. 'Don't let anxiety, depression or hopelessness cause you to isolate…Grow yourself a deep, solid community of people who share your values, have each other's backs, check up on each other regularly.' At Temple University, tech journalist and Wired editor Steven Levy tackled AI head on: "As amazing as AI might become, by definition it cannot be human, and therefore the human connection we homo sapiens forge with each other is unique—and gives us an edge." Investors are spending billions of dollars to 'make their models think like accomplished humans,' Levy said. But, he reminded the assembled class, 'You have just spent four years learning to think as accomplished humans. The difference is immeasurable" For all of AI's abilities, he added, it can't replace the interpersonal connection that is our human superpower. "AI is going to have a huge impact on the labor market.' But, 'there are countless roles AI can never fill because the technology can't replicate true human connection…you will thrive by putting your heart into your own work. AI has no such heart to employ.' Right now, the world needs human qualities: empathy, consciousness, authentic connection. His final words in a speech that affirmed the importance of humanity? 'I. Am. Human.' At Bucknell University, Y Combinator co-founder Jessica Livingston offered graduates concrete advice about choosing a path for the future: 'Find the interesting people." Livingston expressed what often goes unsaid. After years of following clearly prescribed paths from elementary school through college, graduates now face unlimited paths and a lot less guidance. "You can go in any direction now," she told them, but navigating that freedom requires intentional relationship building. Interesting people aren't just sources of inspiration—they're sources of information, opportunity, and direction. By finding the people who are doing the work you find interesting, you'll not only work harder, you'll enjoy it. So ask questions, listen for clues, be curious and open your mind. When you find your people, you'll find your calling. At Yale, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern challenged graduates to embrace what many see as weaknesses in leadership: doubt, vulnerability, and sensitivity. "We need the power of your imposter syndrome," she told the graduates, "because it's also your curiosity and your humility. We need your sensitivity, because it's also your kindness and your empathy." Ardern explained the Māori concept of "rangatira"—a leader who weaves people together rather than commanding from above. Her message was both personal and political: the very traits that make you question yourself, that nagging feeling that you don't belong, are actually superpowers for weaving authentic connections. In a culture of individual achievement and confident leadership, Ardern urged graduates to shift perspectives: 'It's not just about you,' she said. 'It's about us.' At Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy delivered an important prescription: human connection isn't just nice, it's essential medicine. Murthy has spent years researching and documenting the damage social disconnection does to our physical and mental health. It's as dangerous as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Despite his policy expertise, Murthy's speech was personal, relating the lowest points in his career and the power of a small group of friends to shift his mindset and repair his spirit. Overcoming loneliness, he explained, isn't about the number of people around you but about the quality of those relationships. A few caring friends can change the course of your life. Murthy's message reminds us that the cure for our isolation epidemic isn't found in therapy or medication, but in the simple act of showing up for each other. Commencement speeches may be designed for graduates, but their wisdom is a mirror that reflects the current moment. This year's messages offered powerful reminders of the power and responsibility of our humanity, for all of us. Connection isn't just personal. It's professional, creative, even existential. And like everything in life that matters, finding your people isn't a one-time event, it's an ongoing and intentional practice of reaching out, staying curious, and rejecting the cultural narratives that tell us we can go it alone. This year's speeches exhorted us to embrace a life-changing mission: build the communities that sustain us all.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Amid loneliness ‘epidemic' in US, one group maintains strong community, poll finds
As Americans report feeling more and more socially isolated, a new study finds that one group maintains a strong sense of community belonging. But that group has been dwindling, according to researchers. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the social disconnection an 'epidemic of loneliness' and equated its impact on lifespan to 'smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,' according to a 2023 report. Recently, a Harvard Youth Poll found that 18% of young adults said they 'do not feel a strong sense of belonging anywhere.' Comparatively, 17% of young adults said they felt 'deeply connected to at least one community.' Twenty-six percent said they felt 'somewhat connected,' per the poll. Religious Americans — including evangelical Christians, Protestants and members of non-Abrahamic faiths — reported much higher levels of community contentedness, researchers said. The poll, published April 25 in the Harvard Political Review, found that 62% of young adults who find religion 'very important' felt a sense of community, while 36% of those who are not religious felt the same, according to the poll. The survey of 2,096 Americans between 18 and 29 years old was conducted between March 14-25, researchers said. 'Americans who belong to a church or place of worship generally have more people they can count on for help and support than the religiously unaffiliated have,' researchers from the Survey Center on American Life said in a 2024 study. But according to a 2024 Gallup poll, most faith groups in the U.S. have been seeing a drop in regular religious service attendance. Thirty percent of Americans said they went to religious services every week or almost every week in 2024, down 8 percentage points from a decade ago, according to the poll, which cited the increase in Americans who aren't religious as the reason. This decline has appeared to stabilize in 2025, according to a Pew Research Center survey, but still remains in the low 30s. Other findings The Harvard survey also identified where people live and education levels as indicators of loneliness. About half of people who live in cities and suburbs said they feel connected to a community, according to the poll. Thirty-nine percent of people living in rural areas and 32% of people living in small towns said the same. Twelve percent of people who have not attended college said they felt deeply connected to a community, while 22% of people with college degrees agreed, the poll found. People with college degrees are more likely to live in areas with public spaces, which helps with feeling more connected, researchers said. Those who are college educated are also more likely to participate in a religious organization, per the poll.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Shocking new survey reveals how many young Americans want to get married, have kids in 2025
Don't tell their mothers. Less than half of young Americans think having kids is important, a shocking new survey found. Out of the more than 2,000 18-to-29-year-olds surveyed for this year's Harvard Youth Poll, only 48% said procreating is crucial – and even fewer, 46%, believed children were within reach. Having kids was ranked the lowest among the six life goals respondents were asked about in the March survey, behind financial security, home ownership, long-term romantic partnership, marriage and significant wealth. Marriage was on the outs too. Overall, 57% of respondents said getting married was important, while 53% said they were optimistic they would actually make it to the altar. Instead, more young Americans — 67% — prioritized finding a long-term romantic relationship. While men and women rated romantic goals equally important, 62% of women were confident about finding a long-term partner compared to 52% of men, and were more optimistic about tying the knot, with 56% of women considering it a likely goal and 49% of men feeling the same. The majority of young women, 53%, said political agreement in a romantic relationship was important, while only 42% of men felt the same. Across party lines, 70% of Democrats thought political alignment with a partner was important, versus 48% of Republicans. Political party affiliation also played a role in how young people viewed the questions, according to the survey results published April 23. Conservatives put a premium on having children, with 69% of Republicans calling it important compared to 43% of Democrats. Getting married was ranked as important for 75% of Republicans but just 56% of liberals. When it comes to expectations for women, far more young Republicans than Democrats — 25% vs. 3% — said females feel pressure to prioritize career over family, while liberals were significantly more likely than conservatives — 32% vs. 11% — to believe society pressures women to prioritize family over career. Financial security was the most sought-after milestone among money-hungry young Americans, with 86% saying it was important, followed by home ownership, which was valued by 74% of respondents. Only 56%, however, expressed confidence they would achieve economic stability.
