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USA Today
14 hours ago
- Climate
- USA Today
As heat wave boils US, what is the right temperature to set AC? Cast your vote.
Experts say 78 degrees is ideal for energy efficiency, but we want to hear from you. What is the right summer AC temperature? Scroll down to take our poll. On the first official day of summer, as the outside temperature in Phoenix climbed to a moderate 104 degrees, my partner eyed me cautiously and broached the question he knew I was dreading. 'I think it's time to lower our AC.' I sighed. We can't, I protested. Our utility company was already sending us warning emails that our bill would 'exceed the threshold you had set' (blame the 111- and 113-degree days that preceded this). On Friday, June 20, summer had only officially begun – though we'd been in triple digit territory for the better part of two months – and we couldn't give in now, in this economy. Besides, our thermostat was already set to the temperature experts agree is best: 78 degrees. Which is the correct temperature. Is 78 too hot for a house? As the nation grapples with a major heat wave with temperatures soaring to extremes on the East Coast, Midwest and in the Plains – coupled with something I, mercifully, don't have to contend with: humidity – I wanted to know: Am I right? (Scroll down or click here to take our poll.) Turns out, most Arizonans agree with me. An Arizona Republic reader poll found that most people preferred 78, with 80, 77 and 76 degrees rounding out the top four. My very unofficial research in my group chats of former and current Phoenicians found the same thing – though I am immensely jealous of a friend in San Diego who 'hardly uses' it. This aligns with what the Environmental Protection Agency recommends to maximize efficiency and save money. But outside of Arizona, answers have varied wildly. Colleagues have bravely admitted they set it at 74 and even 73 degrees. When discussing this column, my editor confessed he used to keep his AC at an icy 68 degrees. The bill would be well past $200, he said. (I didn't have the heart to admit ours was well past that now.) While all of those sound like a nice reprieve from the outside temps – and some downright frigid – none of them seem 'right' to me. Was Trump wrong to bomb Iran? Are you concerned about war? Tell us. | Opinion Forum What is the best temperature to set your AC? Vote below. So I want to know what you do. What is the ideal temperature to set your AC to – for comfort or for energy efficiency? If you don't have AC, what methods do you use to stay cool amid record-setting heat waves like this one? Do you think we've reached the point where everyone should have AC, or can we survive without it? Cast your vote in our poll below – and stay cool out there. Janessa Hilliard is the director of audience for USA TODAY Opinion and Opinion at Gannett.
The Herald Scotland
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump's DC military parade is upon us. Do you support it?
That's the question we have for you today. Our opinion writers have weighed in. For the record, most Americans seem to disagree with spending $45 million on the parade. Opinion: Trump's military show of force in LA and DC camouflage his failing presidency But now you get to tell us. Take part in the poll below if you want to be one of the cool kids. Full disclosure: USA TODAY Opinion may use your response as part of an upcoming column. Louie Villalobos is the director of Opinion for Gannett. You'll find him driving around DC once the tanks clear out.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Do you support President Trump's military parade? Take our poll.
Do you support President Trump's military parade? Take our poll. | Opinion President Trump is gearing up for a big show of military might in DC on June 14. Do you support it? Tell us below. Show Caption Hide Caption Armored tanks arrive in DC for Trump's military birthday parade As Washington, D.C. prepares for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, armored tanks have begun to arrive ahead of Saturday's celebration. You're going to start hearing and seeing much more about President Donald Trump's celebration parade in Washington, DC, scheduled for June 14. Lord knows the news media has already been telling us all about it for days. But as the big event nears, there will be more coverage and likely more debate. Should Trump allow military personnel and armory to descend on the nation's capital for a parade that serves to honor his birthday and, by extension, the Army's 250th anniversary? That's the question we have for you today. Our opinion writers have weighed in. For the record, most Americans seem to disagree with spending $45 million on the parade. Opinion: Trump's military show of force in LA and DC camouflage his failing presidency But now you get to tell us. Take part in the poll below if you want to be one of the cool kids. Full disclosure: USA TODAY Opinion may use your response as part of an upcoming column. Louie Villalobos is the director of Opinion for Gannett. You'll find him driving around DC once the tanks clear out.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Musk may have changed US government forever. Is that a bad thing? You tell us.
There has been a tsunami of news coverage over the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's time in office. Depending on whom you ask, it's either been an American nightmare of hateful politics or the best thing to happen to the country in modern politics. USA TODAY Opinion has been covering the 100th day milestone with our usual vigor. Some of you even helped us do it. But while you can expect more of that coverage to roll out this week, we think it's time to give Elon Musk some attention. He did, after all, take up much of our collective focus these past three months. Whether using DOGE to lay off federal workers, taking the political stage with a literal chainsaw or watching Tesla's stocks plummet, Musk has been very busy trying to help Trump establish and enforce the MAGA vision for America. Your Turn: Trump is doing an amazing job. America needed an overhaul. | Opinion Forum And now, it appears Musk's time is winding down as he prepares to refocus on things like Tesla. Early news reports were that Musk would stay away at the 130-day mark at the end of May, but it now appears he might go part-time. Either way, it seems his role is diminishing. So, today we're asking our readers – that's you – how they feel about Musk. This might be the last time we ask, so feel free to let your voice be heard. Fill out the form below or email us at forum@ with the subject line "Forum Elon Musk." We'll use some of your responses as part of our upcoming Forum roundup. We'll even get your creative juices flowing. Consider some of these questions: Do you think Elon Musk has helped the country shrink our federal government? Do you think everything Elon Musk did on behalf of Trump was all for show? Are you glad or upset to see Elon Musk step aside from his DOGE work? How comfortable are you with a private citizen having that much power in our government, regardless of who the president is? Do you want to take part in our next Forum? Join the conversation by emailing forum@ can also follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and sign up for our Opinion newsletter to stay updated on future Forum posts. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Elon Musk stepping down? Should he? Take our poll | Opinion
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Do you think Trump will run for a third term? Take our poll.
Do you think Trump will run for a third term? Take our poll. | Opinion Will Donald Trump run for a third term? Should he? Share your thoughts below. Show Caption Hide Caption Do Trump supporters want a third term? We asked CPAC attendees. President Donald Trump and members of his inner-circles have talked about getting a third term. President Donald Trump "joked" again about seeking a third presidential term. Specifically, he said he's not joking, but he almost has to be trolling, right? The topic has come up several times during the first months of his second presidency, and pundits can't seem to agree on if he's having a laugh or not. The Constitution explicitly prohibits a third term so there is reason to believe that he mocking us, Democrats specifically. But what if he's not? Opinion: My fellow Republicans pretend Trump is joking about a third term. He's not. Opinion: Trump won't run for a third term. But he can keep Democrats on their losing streak. Should Trump run for a third term? We decided to ask you good people what you think. Do you think Trump is joking about going after a third term or do you think he's feeling the waters out for a possible loophole? Share your thoughts in our poll below. USA TODAY Opinion may use your response in an upcoming column.
