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The Goodman Institute Health Blog

Americans think both Congress and the government suck

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Merrill Matthews

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., flanked by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., left, and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., speaks to reporters following a closed-door party meeting, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


 

Here’s an anomaly for you: Although Americans regularly express pride in our country, they increasingly disapprove of our government, including the presidency and especially Congress. And who can blame them? Washington is doing a terrible job.

Let’s start with Congress: The share of Democrats who approve of how Congress is handling its job is just 3 percent.

The number is only a little better when everyone is included. According to a new Gallup poll, Americans’ approval of the 119th Congress has fallen to 10 percent, with 86 percent disapproving. That’s the second lowest approval rating on record. The lowest was 9 percent in November 2013, while President Barack Obama was in office.

Breaking that down along party lines: 20 percent of Republicans approve of how this Congress is doing its job. That’s down from a high of 63 percent in March 2025 — the month before President Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs scheme. Republican approval has been on a mostly downward trend ever since.

Only 11 percent of Independents approve of Congress.

Read the full article on TheHill.com

 

 

 

 

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For many years, our health care blog was the only free enterprise health policy blog on the internet. Then, when the NCPA closed its doors, the health blog stopped as well.

During this five-year hiatus no one else has come forward to claim the space. So, my colleagues and I have decided to restart the blog in connection with the Goodman Institute. We invite you and others to use this forum to share your views.

John C. Goodman,

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