Younger Americans came of age amidst significant change, turmoil and partisanship. Many observers have wondered how this might impact their civic engagement and political opinions as adults. Approximately 41 million Gen Z Americans will be eligible to vote in the 2024 elections.

In March, U.S. public approval of Congress stood at only 15%. Americans have a wide range of concerns across the political spectrum, but what they have in common is a frustration with what they perceive as widespread dysfunction inside of the nation’s legislature.

As of March 28, 2024, the official figure for the United States’ national debt comes up just shy of $34.6 trillion. While this debt empowers the government to fund important programs and agencies, critics warn that it becomes more and more of a liability the longer it goes unaddressed and unresolved. In this unique 36-minute episode of America Speaks, pollster and political analyst Dr. Frank Luntz invites David Walker, former comptroller general of the United States, to join American panelists for a living room discussion on the national debt. Walker outlines some of the key trends, numbers and figures that Americans should be aware of, and explores the political obstacles preventing us from reaching a solution.

While most voters already have an idea of how they’ll be voting — or not voting — in November’s presidential election, a small minority of Americans remain undecided. How they ultimately choose to cast their ballots might influence the results of tight races in key swing states. In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, pollster and political analyst Dr. Frank Luntz asks a focus group of undecided voters what their reservations are regarding Democratic and Republican candidates and the U.S. political process as a whole. The participants gave a wide range of reasons, but when asked if they felt “alienated by the political process,” almost every one of them raised their hand.

President Biden identified many key concerns as he delivered his annual State of the Union address. He confronted foreign wars in Ukraine and Gaza and domestic issues relevant to rural America, sparking a range of reactions from prospective voters. In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, pollster and political analyst Dr. Frank Luntz interviews a panel of undecided swing-state Americans to measure their feedback and reactions to the speech. While opinion on the speech itself was split, participants did not have reassuring answers when asked to summarize their own impression of the state of the country in just one word. One participant aptly summarized what seemed to be a shared concern: “We have two unions.”

Recent polls give former President Donald Trump a lead over President Joe Biden in a 2024 general election matchup. With rising wages and GDP, record-low unemployment, and an opponent facing 91 felony criminal charges, it might be difficult for observers to make sense of Biden’s declining popularity against Trump in an anticipated 2024 rematch. In this 34-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz interviews a group of individuals who voted for Biden in 2020 but plan on not voting for him in 2024. Luntz asks them a range of questions to understand how Biden lost their support since they cast their votes in 2020.

America is home to some of the best universities in the world, and U.S. college graduates regularly compete for elite positions worldwide. Yet the K-12 American public education system lags far behind this performance, contributing to divisions within American society and jeopardizing the academic potential of America’s younger generations. In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks American parents for their observations on K-12 public school funding, curriculum, student support, overcrowding, and active shooter events.

Immigration continues to be a topic of debate among everyday American citizens and within the halls of Congress. As migrants and refugees pour into the United States over the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. immigration courts struggle to process their cases. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently hinted that mass amnesty might be required to help resolve the immigration dilemma—something which has not been done in roughly four decades. In this 34-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans what they think of immigrants and the immigration crisis, and whether President Biden or former President Donald Trump is better positioned to resolve the challenges associated with immigration.

America’s firefighters battle hazardous conditions and long work days to keep Americans safe every day. Yet in crisis after crisis, through raging wildfires and terrorist attacks, these heroes continue to show up, fully committed to some of the most dangerous work in the country. In this 37-minute episode of America Speaks, firefighters discuss their most memorable experiences, what they wish civilians and politicians knew about their work, and many stories of tragedy and triumph that they’re willing to share. Their responses take us from the trauma of 9/11 to the shock of George Floyd’s murder and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since Oct. 7, the Israel-Hamas war has claimed at least 16,000 lives, displaced over 1,500,000 Palestinians, and has polarized and divided citizens in the United States and around the globe. The level of violence in Gaza has few global precedents since the end of World War II. Yet even as conflict mediators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar work together to try to extend the temporary ceasefire, both Hamas and Israeli officials insist that the war must go on. In this 54-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans who they blame for the conflict, who they think is winning in the war for public opinion, whether or not they favor a cease-fire, and what they think of various pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli arguments.

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z represents the youngest cohort of eligible voters. Shaped by the digital age, climate concerns, economic shifts, and the impact of COVID-19, the generation’s identity has now been further influenced by the specter of global conflicts. With 41 million Gen Z members eligible to cast votes–and many participating in a presidential election for the first time–the question arises: How do they envision the future of their democracy?In this 36-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks students at George Washington University what issues concern them the most, what they think of today’s political leaders and what gives them hope for our future. Their answers reveal how much progress we have yet to make in our own country and for all humans who believe in democracy around the world.

A growing majority of Americans identify China as the single greatest foreign threat to the United States. This shift has coincided with recurrent Chinese threats against U.S. allies like Taiwan and the Philippines but also with the reality of an increasingly war-weary world, with major conflicts now raging concurrently in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and elsewhere. In this 28-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz presses Americans for their opinions on China, Taiwan, and U.S. foreign policy in Asia. While partisan divides emerged on some questions, American citizens displayed broad bipartisan agreement on others, especially in their shared support for Taiwan.

As the U.S. economy continues to surpass predictions on everything from “blowout” GDP growth to record-low unemployment, liberals celebrate “Bidenomics” as a proven recipe for nationwide economic growth and success. Yet the costs of housing, living, and interest rates are also on the rise, prompting criticism and pessimism from both conservatives and the general public. So when it comes to the economy, are things getting better or worse? In this 26-minute episode of America Speaks, Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans how they feel about our economy, what sources they trust for economic news, and what the role of public policy is in responding to the broader economic needs of the American people.

Public debates on the campaign trail have long been a central component of American political culture. While the questions asked and the issues addressed have changed over time, the importance of the public debate itself has not. In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz reviews some of the most memorable moments in recent American political campaign debates, from the funniest to the cringiest. Some of these clips will remind viewers of American greatness. Others remind us of the hypocrisy, bitterness or silliness which some have come to expect.

Politicians worldwide and throughout history have invested immeasurable time and resources into perfecting their narrative pitch to a public audience. Today, new technologies enable us to track which speeches perform better to which audiences, and we can track that data down to each second and every word. In this 20-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz uses Instant Response technology to review ten of the most popular political speeches in recent U.S. history, revealing in detail the words and ideas that have inspired Americans across generations. These speeches received overwhelmingly positive reviews from Americans across the entire political spectrum.

Increasing polarization has consistently ranked as a top political concern for Americans in recent years. Americans are divided by culture, religion, policy, ethics, information sources, and at times, even by core values. In this unique, 24-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz dives fearlessly into these myriad divisions with ordinary Americans from across the country. The resulting shouting match is sometimes difficult to listen to but ultimately reveals some of the key fears and misperceptions that divide us as a country. Content warning: This video contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse and rape.

A well-informed public, sustained by a free and independent press, has long been considered one of the most vital pillars of a healthy democracy in the modern world. And yet today, in the United States, this pillar is in danger of collapsing, as fewer and fewer Americans express positive trust in “the media” as a whole. In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans how they think news media companies performed in recent coverage of key topics, including the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. Their replies reveal Americans’ lack of trust in the news media industry, and more profoundly, the underlying distrust and suspicion they have of each other.

Congress is once again approaching a possible federal government shutdown. Like several before, this shutdown originates from unresolved disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on federal spending and budget priorities. Pundits have speculated about the political future of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the wake of this uncertainty. In this 29-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans for their opinions on a possible government shutdown and what programs they would choose to cut if they had to be the ones to resolve these spending disputes.

African youth represent a seismic demographic shift not only for their continent, but for the entire world. Some of the world’s largest economies are expected to emerge in Africa before the end of this century, and today’s young generation will be the driving force of that change. In this 48-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks a room full of young students at the African Leadership University a number of deep questions, including what Africa and pan-Africanism means to them, what issues the continent has to confront, how they perceive their relationship to the outside world, and what their beliefs and perceptions are of the United States, China, corruption and foreign aid.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. political and military forces have directed tremendous resources towards Ukraine’s defense. But GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has argued that the U.S. should seek an immediate peace agreement using current lines of control, a proposal that rewards Russia with permanent territorial gains. In this 35-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz interviews a group of 15 Iowans at political “ground zero” to assess their opinions on Ukraine, Putin, Zelenskyy, Ramaswamy’s proposal and the outcome of the war.