America at 250 is riven with doubt and pessimism — but with glimmers of hope (opens original article in a new tab)

Americans show widespread pessimism about the nation's future with low institutional trust, but many believe core values unite them despite political divisions.

• Americans have a bleak outlook on the nation's future ahead of its 250th birthday, with most believing the U.S. has already seen its best days.
• Institutional trust is at record lows, with 52% having very little or no confidence in the federal government and 56% feeling the same about Congress.
• Despite pessimism, 54% of Americans believe most share the same core values and disagree only on policies, showing potential for unity.