Gallup: U.S. Trust in Media Falls to 28%
Gallup released a national poll this week finding only 28% of Americans say they trust newspapers, television and radio to report the news "fully, accurately and fairly," the lowest reading in the survey's roughly 50‑year history. The poll shows steep partisan divides — just 8% of Republicans express trust while 51% of Democrats do — and marks the first time overall trust has dipped below 30%, down from 31% in 2024; Gallup senior editor Megan Brenan and media figures such as Tim Graham commented on the implications for media credibility and polarized civic discourse.
Politics
Media
🔍 Key Facts
- Gallup national poll: 28% of Americans trust mainstream media to report fully/accurately/fairly
- Historic low: first time in Gallup's ~50-year series that trust dropped below 30% (2024 was 31%)
- Partisan split: Republican trust at 8% (record low), Democratic trust at 51%, Independents 27%
- Experts quoted: Gallup senior editor Megan Brenan and NewsBusters' Tim Graham provided analysis/interpretation
📍 Contextual Background
- The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown on 2025-10-01 after the midnight funding deadline passed with Democrats and Republicans failing to agree on a funding bill.