Weekly: 9.19.26

September 18, 2026 Weekly Roundup The latest findings from Pew Research Center · Subscribe ↗ While Americans largely support press freedom in principle, half or more also say the government should be able to restrict news reporting in certain cases, particularly if it endangers national security or contains inaccurate information. Republicans and Democrats also tend to think about press freedom differently. Across 37 countries, people feel generally pessimistic about the potential impacts of AI on jobs and economic inequality, though many say they’re not sure. Concern in some nations runs especially high among younger adults. Almost three years after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, most Israelis (56%) and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (68%) say a two-state solution isn’t possible. Those who reject the possibility of peaceful coexistence often cite a fundamental incompatibility between the two peoples. As Election Day approaches, 74 members of the U.S. House of Representatives – 42 Republicans and 32 Democrats – won’t return to the chamber next year for one reason or another. That’s the most departures before the general election since 1992. National Hispanic Heritage Month began Sept. 15. More than 70 million people in the U.S. identify as Hispanic, but government agencies and survey organizations don’t count the Hispanic population in the same way. And Hispanic people describe their own identities using a variety of terms. A growing share of election polls in the United States – almost 70% of national polls in 2024 – are now weighted on political party affiliation or reported vote choice in a previous election. This kind of political weighting is controversial. But evidence shows that it has made polls modestly more accurate. From our research The share of Americans who correctly answer all eight questions on our First Amendment quiz. How will you score?