Summary: At More in Common, we aim to provide Americans with new ways of thinking about our politics. Over the course of the year, we’ve surveyed Americans on a range of topics, from artificial intelligence to the role of religious identity. Here are some of the team's favorite findings.
2024 was a productive year: we produced six reports, launched our Americans in Conversation panel, and spoke at 51 presentations and conferences – almost once a week. Our research has been used to explain contemporary American life in a range of news outlets, including The New York Times, Deseret News, The Boston Globe, The Catholic Review, and The Fulcrum. And in an election year chock-full of coverage, More in Common’s post-election analysis made it to the front page of The Atlantic.
Continuing our tradition from 2022 and 2023, we close the year with our team’s favorite findings along with their favorite books, shows and podcasts that provided a mix of inspiration, new perspectives, and entertainment.
❄️Ashley Fabrizio, Head of Research ❄️
Republicans’ trust in elections doubled following the Trump victory. After Trump won the 2024 presidential election, 50% of Republicans report trusting election officials, twice the trust level (24%) seen in June 2024. Trust also increased among Independents, growing from 34% to 42%.
Why: That Republicans moved so significantly towards election trust post-election suggests that disbelief in U.S. election security is not necessarily a hard-to-dislodge, “sticky” belief; rather, it can be shifted quickly in a more trusting direction given supportive partisan rhetoric and leadership.
Recommendation: 📚 All the John le Carré novels
❄️Ben Baumann, Partnerships and Legislative Impact Associate❄️
Why: This is especially important to remember following the highly polarizing 2024 Election, as deep divisions persist. Amidst this polarization, the majority of Americans are eager to find ways to bridge these divides and foster unity.
Recommendation:📺 Night at the Museum
❄️Calista Small, Research Manager❄️
A majority of American adults are interested inparticipating in “bridging activities” across differences of race/ethnicity, political viewpoint, socioeconomic status, and religion.
Why: Fostering meaningful connection across lines of difference is one of the most important ways to build trust and warmth between groups –feelings that act as the social “glue” that holds a pluralistic democracy together. The fact that so many Americans express interest in forming these connections gives me hope that improving both intergroup relations and civic life in the US is possible.
Recommendation: 📚 My favorite non-fiction book this year was “Fire Weather” by John Vaillant. Heart-racing and eerily sublime, this book documents, hour-by-hour, the birth of the largest wildfire in modern Canadian history. It also sounds a clear alarm about the type of extreme weather that we can expect to see more and more of on a warming planet. I highly recommend it.
❄️Coco Xu, Research Manager❄️
Around half of Americans who attend religious services at least a few times a year want their religious leaders to provide guidance on navigating political division and cultural changes.
Why:The Promising Revelations study, launched this September after 18 months of hard work, has been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on. As a non-religious person, leading this research has given me first-hand experience with, and a profound appreciation for, the kindness and grace from so many people across faith communities. It has been deeply moving to witness how faith leaders respond to the call to serve their communities in these divided times and draw from their traditions to encourage self-reflection, humility, and bridge-building. The finding above shows that there is a demand for spiritual guidance on navigating societal change, and that faith communities can and should play a more active role in mitigating polarization by building healthy social norms and fostering belonging and social cohesion.
❄️Daniel Yudkin, Director of the Beacon Project and Senior Advisor ❄️
In our forthcoming Social Connection survey, we have found that people who have experiences of connection across difference are more interested in connecting again in the future.
Why: This finding suggests that experiences of connection may build on themselves in a virtuous cycle, since the more people connect, the more interested they are in doing so again. We call these “connection cascades” and suggest they may be a powerful tool for actors looking to increase connection across difference.
Recommendation: 📚 “The Limits of Liberalism” by Michael Sandel is a powerful critique of ideas we take for granted in our society. It has served as a cornerstone of my thinking around the Beacon Project, a new 5-year initiative at More in Common seeking to change how we think about our rights and responsibilities in the modern world.
❄️Emily Gerdin, Research Fellow ❄️
In our new Promising Revelations report, we have a series of findings showing how important religion and religious identity remain to young people in the US, despite a general perception that religion is declining. In particular, we find two “perception gaps” from within religious groups: American Jews over 30 underestimate the importance of religion /being Jewish is to Jews under 30, and similarly Muslims over 30 underestimate the importance of religion/being Muslim is to Muslims under 30.
Why: To me, our findings suggest that faith remains an important feature of young Americans’ lives, but older generations may not see this because young people engage with their faiths differently than they do. Piety to a young person may not mean following the same traditions as older generations or even mean regular service attendance. If faith-based institutions and religious leaders want to attract younger generations, they need to meet them where they’re at!
Recommendation: 📚The Jasmine Throne, the first book in Tasha Suri’s Burning Kingdoms trilogy. In my free time, I mostly read epic fantasy, and this is one of my favorite books that I read this year. Three strong women stage a revolution in a world heavily inspired by ancient India. I also rediscovered Agatha Christie this year, and my top Christie rec is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
❄️Fred Duong, Research Fellow ❄️
I have two findings that loom large in my mind. The first is from The Priority Gap: Americans significantly underestimate how much Democrats prioritize inflation, which I believe suggests a major reason why Kamala Harris lost.
The second, our report on AI attitudes, Beyond Hope and Hesitation, reveals that 76% of Americans believe AI will make humans lazier—a concern that surfaced unprompted across many of our qualitative methods. To me, this reflects not just a prediction about AI but a broader dissatisfaction with the role of technology in our lives, an attitude that I don’t think is taken seriously enough.
Why:These findings reflect how collective perceptions—whether accurate or not—shape meaningful concerns that leaders and decision makers cannot ignore. To address pressing issues, effective solutions need to thoughtfully engage and address these shared beliefs.
Recommendation: 📚📺Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World stuck with me. Well written and wide-ranging, she explores how doppelgangers can both inspire a deep uneasiness and a reflection on identity, what it means to be an individual in our increasingly interconnected and capitalistic world. (Shoutout to my wonderful MIC colleague Jordan Wylie for the recommendation!) My favorite movie I saw this year was Hoop Dreams (1994). It centers on two young boys aiming to make it to the NBA, and it’s a deeply American story, encompassing sports, race, economic realities, striving, family and community. It’s a 3 hour documentary, but so compelling from start to finish.
❄️Jason Mangone, Executive Director ❄️
In our study Promising Revelations, we found that Gen Z reports the same rates of church attendance as Baby Boomers. I also find the concept in that report of “Collateral Contempt” to be a very powerful lens of analysis, and one that we’ll think about using in other areas outside of religion.
Why: On the first point, asking people to self-report whether or not they attend religious services is not the same thing as going to a bunch of Temples, Churches, Synagogues and Mosques, and collecting the demographic information of those actually in attendance. But it does tell you that people responding want to be perceived as being the sort of person who attends religious services. As I’ve spoken with various groups of young people in the past year, I’ve noticed that many talk about their religious background in a way that would have seemed anachronistic even 5 or 10 years ago, and they also talk about where they attend church wherever they’re at school. I know that the sorts of people who would show up to see me talk are predisposed to be institutionalists, but it nevertheless gives me hope that we’re at the beginning of an institutional revival, if not a religious revival. On Collateral Contempt, I think there are a lot of ways in which our politics has corrupted our ability to use culture as a tool to allow people from different backgrounds to hold surprising areas of commonality. I’m very interested in exploring the other ways this plays out.
Recommendation: 📚📺 🎧The best books I read this year were A River Runs Through It and Young Men and Fire both by Norman Maclean; The best movie I saw this year was either The Killer or Zone of Interest; and the best podcast I listened to this year was Conversations with Tyler, in particular the episode with Stephen Kotkin.
❄️Jazmin Kreimer, Head of Development ❄️
81% of Americans agree the United States should be a place where individuals of all religious beliefs and no religious beliefs feel that they belong, and more than 7 in 10 Americans across faith groups are open to interacting more with someone from a different religious background.
Why: Promising Revelations has been my favorite MIC project so far. I’ve found so much value in the deep relationships I hold with people in my life who come from different religious backgrounds than my own and feel encouraged that Americans continue to want to see our country be a place of religious inclusivity.
Recommendation: 📺 I Saw the TV Glow – a trippy, nostalgic, gut wrenching existential horror about identity, isolation, finding connection and meaning in fandom, and the nightmare of living an inauthentic life of unfulfilled potential. Equally beautiful and disturbing, this movie shook me deeply.
❄️Jordan Wylie, Research Fellow ❄️
Favorite MiC Finding: The strongest predictor of interest in cross-group interaction is perceived community norms, or the belief that cross-group relationships are common and valued.
Why: This finding is really encouraging because norms are more malleable than demographic factors like age or income or traits like intellectual humility or extraversion. This means that there are likely opportunities to design interventions that effectively shift norms and promote positive cross-group interaction, a core tenant of a well-functioning society.
Recommendation:🎧 Many Minds Podcast – This has quickly become my new favorite podcast this year, and it’s a great one for anyone interested in science. It's an interview-style series that explores research on the incredible diversity of life on Earth, including the personalities (and language capabilities) of birds, the morality of rats, the allure of stories, allomaternal care, and more.
❄️Julia Coffin, Head of Partnerships ❄️
“I would like all Americans to understand that just because we’re Muslim doesn’t make us any less American than they are. We like baseball. We like hot dogs, albeit beef hot dogs. We like playing with our children. We like to do all the same things that every other American likes to do. We pray five times a day, we go to a “church” on a Friday instead of a Sunday, and we believe that all of us are equally blessed and are going to make it to heaven. I would like Americans to know in a nutshell that we’re all Americans, that we’re good people and that if you get to know us, you’re really going to like us.” – Bradley, 44-year-old mixed-race man, Muslim, slightly liberal Independent from California
Why: This year, I participated in in-depth interviews, casual conversations, and focus groups with faith leaders and Americans of faith as part of our Promising Revelations study. Rich in humility, curiosity, and faith, these conversations challenged my assumptions, pushed me to wrestle with big questions, and offered a constant source of hope. Bradley’s quote stood out because it beautifully captures the essence of pluralism: valuing our differences while celebrating the shared humanity that connects us. It’s also such a good lesson in compelling storytelling—relatable, authentic, and infused with humor.
Recommendations: 📚📺
Shrinking (Apple TV) – I laughed and cried through this exploration of grief, healing, and the messy ways we navigate relationships. The show powerfully models how to repair harm and embrace the challenge—and necessity—of forgiveness, offering a hopeful reminder that growth and connection are possible, even in our darkest moments.
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker – This book is full of practical tips that transformed how I approach hosting. While I may have taken her advice, “don’t be a chill host” a bit too seriously (cue an overly detailed run-of-show for Thanksgiving dinner…), it has taught me to bring greater care and intentionality to my gatherings—whether it’s a team meeting or dinner with friends.
❄️Kate Carney, Deputy Director ❄️
When asked which identity is most important to them, Americans are least likely to say being a member of a political party (only 9%!). Instead, a large majority of Americans, across different religious traditions, put their family roles, faith, or being American at the center of their identity.
Why:We often default to sorting everything and everyone into one of the most divisive binaries: red vs. blue. Yet, for most Americans, political identity is not their primary way of seeing themselves. In 2025, the challenge before us is to take off the polarizing political lens so that we can more clearly see people for who they are and open up opportunities for meaningful connection.
Recommendations: 📚📺
Undivided by Hahrie Han— a powerful story that captures how an evangelical church in Cincinnati, Ohio brought together thousands of people across race, class and political differences to drive change in themselves and their community.
At Home by Bill Bryson –a history of the evolution of the modern home and every-day things we take for granted. "Whatever happens in the world eventually ends up in our home, in the paint, the pipes, the pillows, and every item of furniture.”
The American Question – a great overview diving into history, personal stories, and expert interviews to answer the ultimate question: Can America rediscover its unifying values and restore trust among its people?
❄️Paul Oshinski, Research Manager ❄️
I do not have a specific finding in mind, but I am constantly reminded of the staying power of our Perception Gap research—specifically, the contrast between what we think “the other side” believes and what they actually believe.
Why:This framework has profoundly shaped how I interact with others. It has taught me the value of questioning assumptions about people in different groups and the importance of engaging with those who hold views different from my own.
Recommendation:📺 The Iron Claw
❄️Rabhya Mehrotra, Political Analysis and Communications Associate ❄️
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe the state of the US-Mexico border is an emergency or major problem (70%) – but also believe that America is a nation of immigrants (73%) and reject family separation (65%).
Why: I grew up in – and recently moved to – a politically homogenous community. After a few months at More in Common, of my favorite aspects of the job is the opportunity to meaningfully study different beliefs from mine. One of the clearest lessons I have gained from this newfound exposure is that vote choice fails to capture the nuance and diversity of Americans’ political beliefs. Immigration is a clear example where voters across the aisle share a mix of both concerns and sympathies. I frankly wish all my peers knew about our research. I think it would make them a lot less judgmental.
Recommendation:📺 🎧 My favorite movie was Perfect Days, which is a beautiful story about the quotidian life of a Japanese toilet cleaner. And I probably listen to the Caroline Polacheck remix of Everything is romantic at least once a day ....
❄️Samantha Hasani, Democracy Communications and Research Associate ❄️
Americans of both parties overlook commonality in attitudes towards the country. Democrats estimate that just half (51%) of Republicans agree with the statement that “I’m proud to be American, though I acknowledge my country’s flaws.” In reality, Republicans overwhelmingly agree (94%). Similarly, Republicans estimate that half of Democrats agree with this statement, yet most Democrats agree (81%).
Why: I think this finding gets at the underlying misperception both sides have of each other as being unpatriotic in some way. When I share this insight with family members across the aisle, Republicans and Democrats alike are not only surprised but even seem almost happy to hear this. Aided by this particular finding, I feel like I have watched the aggression that undergirds polarization diffuse on someone’s face in real time.
Recommendation:📚📺 Any book by Mieko Kawakami; the movie Past Lives fundamentally altered my framework for thinking about my own my family’s immigration story/the experience of immigrating in general. I have also seen every season of Love Island UK at least 3 times – I am not being hyperbolic.
❄️Stephen Hawkins, Global Director of Research ❄️
Among Republicans, trust in election officials doubled after the 2024 election. Prior to the election, 24% expressed trust, versus 50% today.
Why: To me, this suggests that election distrust was at least partly an expression of contempt for the Biden administration--a form of protest, rather than a deeply held conviction. And I think that's good news!
Recommendation:📺I am excitedly watching the Dune: Prophecy series. (I will also use this space to provide a public service announcement: I sincerely believe that the movie Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola was the most incoherent, unwatchable mishmash of ill-conceived ideas ever assembled for the big screen. I will forever be worse off for having watched the half of it that I endured before leaving the theater. Do not waste your time!)
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