China: Enemy? Competitor? Frenemy?

from Poll Hub · host Lee Miringoff, Barbara Carvalho, Jay DeDapper, Mary Griffith

This week on Poll Hub, we begin with the complicated relationship between the United States and China. Americans see China as one of the country’s most important global rivals, especially when it comes to trade, technology, national security, and influence abroad. But public opinion is not only about conflict. Many Americans also understand that China remains deeply connected to the U.S. economy, making the relationship one that is difficult to define in simple terms. Next, we look at a different kind of trust: the trust Americans have in one another. While declining confidence in government and major institutions often gets the most attention, social trust has also weakened over time. Fewer Americans say most people can be trusted, and that decline can shape how people interact with neighbors, participate in their communities, and respond to shared problems. Finally, our fun fact takes us back to 1939, when young Americans were asked about iced tea. The results offer a light summer snapshot of what youth thought about one of the season’s classic drinks.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 10, 2026

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What this episode covers

As tensions between the United States and China continue to rise over trade, technology, and national security, we examine how Americans view China’s role in the world. Many see China as a rival or even a threat, but they also recognize how closely the two economies are connected. Then, we turn to trust in America — not trust in government or institutions — but trust in each other. From neighbors to strangers, Americans’ confidence in one another has declined over decades, raising questions about community and civic life and about whether trust can be rebuilt. And finally, we look back at a 1939 youth survey on iced tea and what young Americans had to say about one of summer’s classic drinks.