How Americans view the relationship between the government and the news media

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-15T14:05:18.662Z • Permanent link

Polarization has long been a hallmark of American politics, but a new survey reveals a concerning trend: a majority of Americans believe the government is working to undermine the freedom of the press. The Pew Research Center's 2022 survey of 1,504 adults found that 58% of respondents believed the government was trying to suppress certain viewpoints, while 46% believed the government was working to promote its own views. This sentiment is particularly concerning, given the critical role that a free and independent press plays in holding those in power accountable.

The roots of this sentiment can be traced back to the Trump administration's repeated attacks on the media. Former President Trump's infamous "fake news" label was a hallmark of his rhetoric, and his administration's efforts to discredit and silence critics of his policies only served to further erode trust in the media. More recently, the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol and the subsequent efforts to undermine the 2020 election results have only served to fuel this sentiment. The survey found that 53% of respondents believed that the media was biased against conservatives, while 42% believed that the media was biased against liberals.

The consequences of this erosion of trust are far-reaching. A free and independent press is essential to a functioning democracy, and the ability of the press to hold those in power accountable is critical to ensuring that power is not abused. As the survey found, 61% of respondents believed that a free press was essential to a healthy democracy, while 45% believed that a free press was essential to a functioning government. The impact of this erosion of trust is already being felt, as research communities and companies begin to grapple with the consequences of a media landscape that is increasingly polarized and hostile to dissenting views.

Eroding trust in the media has significant implications for research communities, particularly those focused on social and behavioral sciences. A free and independent press is essential to ensuring that research is conducted in a rigorous and unbiased manner. Without a press that is willing to hold those in power accountable, researchers may be forced to self-censor or conform to the views of those in power. This can have serious consequences, particularly in fields such as social science, where the ability to challenge dominant narratives is critical to advancing our understanding of the world.

The impact of this erosion of trust is also being felt in the business world. Companies that rely on research and data analysis to inform their decisions are increasingly being forced to navigate a media landscape that is hostile to dissenting views. As the survey found, 56% of respondents believed that companies were being forced to conform to the views of the media, rather than being free to pursue their own interests. This can have serious consequences, particularly for companies that rely on data-driven decision making.

The erosion of trust in the media is not a new phenomenon, and it is closely tied to broader trends in American politics. The rise of social media has created new opportunities for news outlets to reach audiences and for politicians to bypass traditional media outlets. However, this has also created new challenges, particularly in terms of verifying the accuracy of information. The proliferation of "fake news" and "disinformation" has created a media landscape that is increasingly hostile to dissenting views.