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Q1. One part of the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act are investment accounts for babies born in the US between 2025 and 2028. The government will make a one-time $1,000 deposit in each, to be invested in a stock-market index fund, not to be touched until the child turns 18.
The US market has averaged 7% annual returns over the past 50 years, while inflation has been 3%. If those numbers are repeated over the next 18 years, the $1k will be worth $2k in today's dollars when child turns 18. If held until 65, it would be worth $13k in today's dollars.
The US had 3.6m births in 2024, at $1,000 each the taxpayer cost to the program is $3.6b per year.
What do you think of these aspects of the program? (check all that apply)
The US market has averaged 7% annual returns over the past 50 years, while inflation has been 3%. If those numbers are repeated over the next 18 years, the $1k will be worth $2k in today's dollars when child turns 18. If held until 65, it would be worth $13k in today's dollars.
The US had 3.6m births in 2024, at $1,000 each the taxpayer cost to the program is $3.6b per year.
What do you think of these aspects of the program? (check all that apply)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Should give $1k to every newborn
26%
29%
23%
33%
18%
23%
40%
29%
22%
20%
26%
Should only be for low-income babies
23%
24%
23%
11%
29%
34%
33%
23%
22%
20%
23%
Should not give to any children
32%
35%
29%
36%
37%
26%
34%
24%
33%
36%
32%
If given, should mandate stock investment
24%
29%
19%
34%
28%
13%
1%
31%
27%
27%
24%
Should not
29%
29%
29%
17%
33%
40%
41%
30%
25%
27%
29%
Will meaningfully reduce wealth gap
7%
7%
7%
7%
10%
6%
9%
7%
7%
5%
7%
Will not
63%
63%
63%
49%
69%
76%
59%
70%
61%
63%
63%
Will help financial literacy
18%
22%
15%
22%
23%
14%
27%
14%
18%
17%
18%
Will not
54%
52%
55%
40%
54%
67%
41%
68%
52%
50%
54%
I approve of this program
29%
31%
26%
33%
25%
26%
35%
33%
27%
23%
29%
Do not
49%
50%
48%
44%
53%
52%
40%
49%
49%
53%
49%
None of these
6%
6%
5%
7%
3%
5%
14%
5%
3%
4%
6%
Don't care
2%
2%
2%
1%
2%
2%
0%
2%
3%
2%
2%
Q2. The Federal Reserve Act (1913) created the Fed as an independent central bank, accountable to Congress, but specifically designed to operate without interference from the vested interests in electoral politics. Under the Act, the Fed has a dual mandate — maximum employment and price stability.
President Trump has suggested he might fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May 2026. Trump is frustrated that the Fed has yet to lower interest rates during Trump's 2nd term, which in Trump's view hinders the economy and boosts the cost of US government borrowing. Trump has cited a $700m cost overrun on a $2.5b renovation of two Fed buildings as further evidence of Powell's malfeasance.
Powell has said the economy is near full employment, and inflation at 2.7% is still not down to its 2% target, so cutting rates now would be antithetical to the Fed's mandate.
Your view? (check all that apply)
President Trump has suggested he might fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May 2026. Trump is frustrated that the Fed has yet to lower interest rates during Trump's 2nd term, which in Trump's view hinders the economy and boosts the cost of US government borrowing. Trump has cited a $700m cost overrun on a $2.5b renovation of two Fed buildings as further evidence of Powell's malfeasance.
Powell has said the economy is near full employment, and inflation at 2.7% is still not down to its 2% target, so cutting rates now would be antithetical to the Fed's mandate.
Your view? (check all that apply)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Powell has done a good job
49%
43%
54%
9%
61%
82%
43%
50%
43%
61%
49%
Has not
33%
40%
28%
65%
21%
6%
34%
26%
40%
30%
33%
I'd like to see Powell fired
26%
29%
24%
54%
17%
4%
17%
22%
35%
24%
26%
Would not
50%
51%
49%
20%
50%
78%
55%
54%
44%
52%
50%
The Fed should cut rates now
39%
46%
33%
72%
23%
12%
32%
31%
47%
37%
39%
Should not
39%
33%
43%
5%
44%
69%
40%
46%
30%
46%
39%
Powell will be fired
33%
28%
38%
24%
37%
40%
42%
37%
30%
27%
33%
Will not
37%
49%
28%
41%
31%
35%
36%
36%
35%
45%
37%
None of these
6%
5%
7%
8%
9%
3%
13%
8%
5%
1%
6%
Don't care
4%
7%
2%
7%
4%
2%
10%
7%
2%
1%
4%
Q3. Stablecoins are a form of cryptocurrency that are pegged to the value of a fiat currency such as the US dollar. Owners of stablecoins can use them to transact online, or convert them at any time to the underlying fiat currency at a fixed rate. It's a way for people to hold cryptocurrency to use for payments while not being exposed to cryptocurrency price fluctuations.
Stablecoins could also be used to transfer money instantly, 24x7, including across borders, something not done on today's standard bank infrastructure.
On Thursday, Congress passed legislation to regulate stablecoins, mandating what sort of assets the issuers must hold to ensure they will maintain their peg with the underlying fiat currency. President Trump will sign the bill into law this weekend.
Issuers of stablecoins make money by collecting interest on the dollars people pay to buy the coins. There are $260b worth of stablecoins in circulation today. President Trump's family has a stablecoin called USD1, pegged to the dollar, with a value of $2.2b. Abu Dhabi used USD1 to pay for an investment in a cryptocurrency exchange.
Your view of stablecoins? (check all that apply)
Stablecoins could also be used to transfer money instantly, 24x7, including across borders, something not done on today's standard bank infrastructure.
On Thursday, Congress passed legislation to regulate stablecoins, mandating what sort of assets the issuers must hold to ensure they will maintain their peg with the underlying fiat currency. President Trump will sign the bill into law this weekend.
Issuers of stablecoins make money by collecting interest on the dollars people pay to buy the coins. There are $260b worth of stablecoins in circulation today. President Trump's family has a stablecoin called USD1, pegged to the dollar, with a value of $2.2b. Abu Dhabi used USD1 to pay for an investment in a cryptocurrency exchange.
Your view of stablecoins? (check all that apply)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
I understand them
26%
34%
19%
19%
38%
31%
35%
35%
25%
12%
26%
Do not
57%
48%
65%
59%
50%
57%
50%
51%
53%
76%
57%
Think they can be useful
29%
40%
19%
37%
35%
19%
48%
30%
27%
15%
29%
Do not
44%
36%
49%
27%
42%
60%
31%
42%
43%
56%
44%
Trust them
8%
12%
3%
9%
10%
5%
17%
5%
8%
4%
8%
Do not
65%
60%
69%
49%
72%
79%
44%
69%
65%
78%
65%
Conflict of interest for a president to issue one
62%
57%
66%
29%
78%
90%
59%
66%
58%
68%
62%
Is not
13%
16%
11%
28%
9%
0%
0%
13%
19%
13%
13%
Will be big part of finance
25%
31%
20%
33%
25%
18%
23%
33%
23%
21%
25%
Will not
39%
36%
40%
26%
48%
48%
44%
34%
38%
41%
39%
None of these
3%
1%
4%
2%
1%
4%
0%
3%
3%
4%
3%
Don't care
5%
10%
1%
11%
3%
0%
8%
8%
3%
3%
5%
49% approved of the accounts (which were then targeting at $2k deposit), 39% disapproved with 15% approval among GOP, 41% independents, 78% Democrats
43% said these accounts would make a meaningful difference in the wealth gap, 47% said it would not
8% said the program would be enacted, 79% said it would not (what was enacted was $1k deposit, not $2k)
Most nations in the developed world today have an independent central bank. International studies have consistently shown that central banks with a higher degree of independence are more effective at maintaining stable price levels. T specifically designed to carry out its responsibilities without interference or control from the vested interests inherent in electoral politics.
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