October 1, 2025
The 1st Amendment in the U.S., October 2025
Most Americans Think the U.S. Has Gone Too Far in Restricting Freedom of Speech
Most Americans say the United States has done too much to restrict the right of freedom of speech. And, when it comes to who should determine which speech is too extreme, more than six in ten say that responsibility should be left to the United States Supreme Court.
Nearly eight in ten Americans (79%) think the United States has gone too far in restricting the right to freedom of speech. 19%, though, say the right has been expanded too much. Democrats (88%) and independents (86%) are more likely than Republicans to say the United States has gone too far in restricting freedom of speech. Still, 64% of Republicans agree.
More than six in ten Americans (62%) think the Supreme Court is the U.S. branch of government that should be responsible for defining which speech is too extreme or unacceptable. 26% say the responsibility should be placed on Congress while 11% say the President of the United States should have the say in what constitutes acceptable speech.
Regardless of party identification, majorities of Democrats (58%), Republicans (64%), and independents (65%) think the Supreme Court should determine the types of speech that are unacceptable.
Only 15% of Americans think the federal government should play a major role in deciding which speech is unacceptable or too extreme. In contrast, the plurality (44%) say the federal government should have a minor role in the decision, and 41% think the federal government should have no role in determining the type of speech that is too extreme.
77% of Americans think politically-motivated violence is a major problem, up slightly from 73% in June. 18% say it is a minor problem. Only 4% believe politically-motivated violence is not a problem at all.
49% of Americans are more concerned about political violence against public officials, but 50% say they are more concerned about political violence against protestors. While 74% of Republicans are more concerned about violence directed toward public officials, 70% of Democrats are more worried about violence toward protestors.
Seven in Ten Don’t Think Violence is the Fix To Get the Nation on Track
Seven in ten Americans either strongly disagree (36%) or disagree (34%) that resorting to violence is the means to get the nation back on track. Three in ten either strongly agree (11%) or agree (19%) that Americans may need to resort to violence to get the country back on course.
Control Gun Violence, Say Majority
Nearly six in ten Americans (59%) say it is more important to control gun violence than it is to protect gun rights (40%).
A sharp partisan divide exists, with 90% of Democrats saying that it is more important to control gun violence and 73% of Republicans reporting it is more important to protect gun rights. More than six in ten independents (63%) say it is more important to control gun violence than to protect gun rights.
Slim Majority Support Sending National Guard into Local Communities to Reduce Crime
A slim majority of Americans either strongly support (26%) or support (26%) deploying the National Guard into local communities to help reduce crime. 14% oppose such action, and 34% are strongly opposed to sending the National Guard into local communities.
While a majority of Republicans (53%) strongly support such action, six in ten Democrats (60%) strongly oppose it. Less consensus exists among independents. A plurality of independents (38%), though, report they strongly oppose sending the National Guard into local communities to help lower crime.
When it comes to sending the National Guard into their own communities to help local law enforcement, 25% of Americans strongly support such a move, and an additional 27% support it. Nearly half, though, either strongly oppose (35%) or oppose (13%) employing the National Guard for this purpose. Here, too, a partisan divide exists.
Majority Strongly Supports Vaccinations for School-Aged Children
52% of Americans strongly support requiring children to be vaccinated against certain diseases before attending public school. An additional 30% say they support these vaccinations. Fewer than one in five residents nationally either strongly oppose (7%) or oppose (11%) mandating certain vaccinations.
Democrats (75%) and independents (51%) are more likely than Republicans (32%) to say they strongly support requiring children to receive vaccinations before being permitted to attend school. An additional 39% of Republicans say they support vaccinations for children entering school but not strongly.
More Americans See Nation as Moving in the Wrong Direction
62% of Americans, up from 54% in March, say the nation is moving in the wrong direction. 38%, however, believe the country is moving in the right one. While the proportion of Democrats and independents who say the country is moving on the wrong trajectory has increased slightly, the largest shift has occurred among Republicans. 22% of Republicans think the nation is moving in the wrong direction, up from 13% in March.
Many Americans Disapprove of the Trump Administration’s Handling of the Epstein Files… Want Files Released
61% of Americans, including 88% of Democrats and 69% of independents, disapprove of the Trump Administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. 20% approve, and an additional 20% say they don’t know enough to weigh in. Among Republicans, 45% approve, 25% disapprove, and 30% are unsure.
Most Americans want the Epstein files released. 77% want all of the files released with the victims’ names removed, and 13% want some of the files released with all of the victims’ names removed. Only 9% do not want any of the files released.
84% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and 83% of independents want all of the files released.
Methodology
This NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll national survey of 1,477 adults was conducted September 22nd through September 26th, 2025, by the Marist Poll in partnership with NPR and PBS News. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n=1,477) are statistically significant within ±3.1 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,329) are statistically significant within ±3.3 percentage points. For full methodology and tables, click on the Survey Data button below.