Public Agenda

08/12/2026

Third spaces are vital infrastructure in a healthy democracy, key to building civic trust among communities.

In a new piece, Public Agenda Director of Communications Brian Schulz explores how physical spaces are essential to building human connection from a unique perspective: amusement parks.

Read the full piece here:

By Brian Schulz I’m a roller coaster enthusiast. The idea of traveling across the country—and the world—with the express purpose of experiencing a new roller coaster is, to me, the absolute best way to spend my free time. I’ve ridden hundreds of coasters across North America and Europe, driv...

07/21/2026

Join Public Agenda and New Voters on Thursday, July 30 at 7:00pm ET for a live virtual session covering new research into the attitudes and experiences of young men. Researchers from both organizations will break down findings and delve into what does—and doesn't—resonate with students and young people's firsthand experiences.

Register free here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hECKp9EQRvC-Rc1nJlouHw #/registration

06/18/2026

A lot of people are talking about young men—we've listened to them.

Join Public Agenda, Sam Pressler, and Riki Conrey, PhD on Thursday, July 9, 2:00pm ET for a live virtual session covering new research on young men's social connectivity, attitudes toward economic opportunity, digital engagement habits, and more. In addition to sharing and discussing findings, panelists will field questions from the audience.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lRiALclwRjOKPwBAYkfjFw?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9rAXg87eDJFbei2NKUciRWvs2iysgiE5sdl5YqwJnJDRyDAVPeYIK3Mx7YFdHqXEA0qqP0 #/registration

06/03/2026

How do young men navigate their careers in an economy that's shifting beneath their feet?

Public Agenda asked them directly—and they had a lot to say. Following up on our recent Listening to Young Men research, we sat down with focus groups to dig deeper into young men's views on financial stability, work-life balance, how social media affects opportunity, the kinds of careers that fit with their identity, and more.

Hear from them directly in our new report: https://publicagenda.org/resource/young-men-26-fg/

Insights from Post-Survey Focus Groups Rebecca Silliman, Brian Schulz, and Andrew J. Seligsohn, PhD Young men in America are not thriving. They are increasingly disengaged from educational institutions, entering the labor force at declining rates, and experiencing mental health challenges at increas...

06/02/2026

Last month, Public Agenda celebrated the culmination of our 50th Anniversary year in New York City.

For five decades, we’ve turned insight into impact, discerning the real priorities of the American people and driving change to address them. We could not do this alone—to that end, Betty Sue Flowers, Senator Bill Bradley, and Philip K. Howard were honorees in light of their remarkable contributions to Public Agenda.

However, much like democracy itself, Public Agenda is a collection of dedicated individuals working toward a common goal, and all of our friends, supporters, and partners over the years have our unending gratitude. Thank you to all of those who have been a part of Public Agenda’s journey thus far.

We look forward to another 50 years!

05/13/2026

NEW from Public Agenda: There is widespread agreement that young men in America are not thriving. While there has been a great deal of talk about young men, there has been far less listening to young men.

To that end, new Public Agenda research does precisely that: listens to what young men think and believe, providing a deep look at their values, experiences, aspirations, and attitudes in areas such as higher education, economic opportunity, social connection, and civic participation.

We found that there is much more than meets than eye to these individuals. Dig into the insights here: https://publicagenda.org/resource/young-men-26/

Thanks to The Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, AFT, New Voters, and more for their support and assistance of this work.

“The biggest challenge men face today is identity. Historically men would have a tribe, have a local community, whether it’s church and you are kind of just part of the organization. Now we live in a globalized world, and so we fix our identity to whatever we are politically or a video game or i...

04/28/2026

New from Public Agenda: distrust toward Washington is high, but that's not the whole story.

Despite skepticism toward politicians and elite actors, Americans still see their place in a government by the people, especially at the ballot box and within their own local communities.

Unpack the nuances in the latest piece from Public Agenda: https://publicagenda.org/news/distrust-confidence/