What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending April 28, 2018

Good news this week — including an historic meeting of the leaders of North and South Korea — countered the drone of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of purported Trump campaign collusion with Russia and the dirge of former FBI Director James Comey over his waning career.

Voters are closely divided over whether Mueller will wrap up his probe of the 2016 election any time soon, but just over half think Congress may need to save his job from President Trump.

The Senate Judiciary Committee shared that sentiment Thursday voting 14-7 to approve a measure aimed at preventing Trump from firing Mueller.

Yet as Mueller’s investigation wears on and Comey’s book drops more inside information about the 2016 election, more voters now think a special prosecutor should be assigned to investigate the FBI. 

This week’s Rasmussen Minute looks at fired FBI Director Comey’s clawing characterizations of Trump as he promotes his new book, "A Higher Loyalty," and openly admits his bias against his former boss.

Meanwhile, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence yesterday release its redacted 243-page Russia investigation final report. Among it’s findings: “no evidence that meetings between Trump associates—including Jeff Sessions—and official representatives of the Russian government—Ambassador Kysliak—reflected collusion, coordination, or conspiracy with the Russian government."

French President Emmanuel Macron used part of his state visit this week with Trump and Congress to convince the United States to adhere to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. 

However, as the deadline approaches for Trump to decide whether the United States will withdraw from that deal, a majority of voters continues to believe it has done little to cease the development of nuclear weapons in Iran. 

After the U.S. Supreme Court hearing Wednesday regarding the legality of the president’s so-called travel ban to block potential terrorists from entering the country, news reports say the Supreme Court justices appear to favor the temporary restrictions.

Voters still tend to support Trump’s temporary ban on newcomers from certain countries, and more voters than ever now agree that it’s intended to stop likely terrorists.

Michigan recently introduced legislation to make English the official state language, making it one of 32 states to do so, while a bill to do the same on a national level was reintroduced in Congress last year. As they have for more than a decade, most Americans support such legislation. 

Some are sensing a shift afoot in U.S. politics, for example, as black entertainers like Kanye West begin to express support for Trump and their displeasure with the Democratic Party.

Also, polling suggests the emergence of a new breed of Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) that has nothing to do with its namesakes of old. “These new Republicans In Name Only don’t care if Republicans are in charge of Congress if the end result is just another do-nothing, anti-Trump Congress, particularly if Trump can force the Democrats to field some more moderate candidates,” Rasmussen Reports Managing Editor Fran Coombs says. 

But voter distrust in the political news they see every day is continuing to grow, while 57% of voters say they don't believe political polls, although Democrats express more confidence in them than others do.

In other surveys last week:

-- For the first time in nearly 60 years, someone without the last name Castro will rule Cuba. But will things change? Nearly half of U.S. voters don’t think so, but they still feel the United States should improve its relations with the Communist nation.

-- Several recent cases have challenged freedom of speech on college campuses across the United States. Nearly half of Americans think college students have less freedom of speech these days, and few think professors and administrators promote the free exchange of ideas.

-- Before her death last week, the Bush family announced it would pursue comfort care rather than medical intervention for Barbara Bush’s failing health. It’s a tough choice for Americans, but many would make the same decision for their loved ones. 

-- Gas prices are starting to surge around the country, and Americans are feeling the pain already. 

-- Forty percent (40%) of voters now think the country is heading in the right direction. 

Visit the Rasmussen Reports home page for the latest current polling coverage of events in the news. The page is updated several times each day.

Remember, if it's in the news, it's in our polls.