--- title: "Voters want Congress to focus on economy and Iran war, poll finds" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/voters-want-congress-to-focus-on-economy-and-iran-war-poll-finds" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/voters-want-congress-to-focus-on-economy-and-iran-war-poll-finds" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/voters-want-congress-to-focus-on-economy-and-iran-war-poll-finds.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/voters-want-congress-to-focus-on-economy-and-iran-war-poll-finds" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-22T16:46:08.254Z" source_reported: "2026-10-22T16:12:37.000Z" updated: "2026-10-22T16:46:08.254Z" trust_score: 40 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 40 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-22T18:00:14.759421+00:00" --- # Voters want Congress to focus on economy and Iran war, poll finds *A new AP-NORC poll indicates public priorities for the incoming legislative session.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 40 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to a named poll, but no specific figures are given. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The digests agree on the central claim, but offer little detail or context. - Hype 40 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use phrases like 'prioritize' and 'want' which are mild but fair. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Voters want the next US Congress to prioritise making life more affordable, according to a new poll. - Ending the war in Iran is also a key focus for voters, the poll found. - Fewer voters want Congress to focus on President Donald Trump, whether for investigation or support. - The poll was conducted by The Associated Press and the National Center for Public Opinion Research. A new poll indicates that American voters want the next Congress to focus on economic issues and the war in Iran, rather than on matters concerning President Donald Trump. The survey, conducted by The Associated Press and the National Center for Public Opinion Research (NORC) at the University of Chicago, suggests a shift in public priorities for the incoming legislative session. The poll found that a significant majority of voters wish for the next Congress to address affordability. Additionally, ending the conflict in Iran emerged as a prominent desire among the electorate. Conversely, the number of voters seeking an emphasis on President Donald Trump, either through investigations or support for his agenda, has decreased. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the reports below mention the specific percentage of voters who want an emphasis on President Donald Trump, only that fewer voters want this focus compared to other issues. The right-rated outlets did not run this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 20 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 40% (8) - Centre: 55% (11) - Right: 5% (1) 5 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-22T18:00:14.759421+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-22T18:15:21.334Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Fakti.bg reported that American voters want the next Congress to cut spending and stop the war, rather than engage in a "vendetta against Trump." The report highlighted that voters want the next Congress to focus more on lowering the cost of living and ending the war with Iran than on investigating President Donald Trump or supporting his policy agenda. It noted that about 8 in 10 registered voters consider lowering the cost of living a top priority. ### Centre - The Record and WBAL both reported that voters prioritise costs and Iran over investigating Trump for the next Congress, according to an AP-NORC poll. These reports stated that voters from both major political parties want the next Congress to focus on affordability and ending the war in Iran. WBAL noted that this desire holds true regardless of the election outcome. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 7 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 13 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [www.prensa-latina.cu](https://prensa-latina.cu/2026/10/22/deseos-de-votantes-en-eeuu-bajar-costo-de-la-vida) — U.S. Voters' Wishes: Lower Cost of Living - News Press in Latin America - [fakti.bg](https://fakti.bg/world/1092837-amerikancite-iskat-kongresat-da-svali-razhodite-i-da-spre-voinata-a-ne-vendeta-sreshtu-tramp) — Americans Want Congress to Cut Spending and Stop the War, Not a Vendetta Against Trump - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/10/22/next-congress-priorities-poll) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, poll finds - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/voters-prioritize-costs-and-iran-over-investigating-trump-for-next-congress-ap-norc-poll-finds) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Con - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/voters-prioritize-costs-and-iran-over-investigating-trump-for-next-congress-ap-norc-poll-finds) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds – WTOP News - [goSkagit](https://goskagit.com/news/politics/voters-prioritize-costs-and-iran-over-investigating-trump-for-next-congress-ap-norc-poll-finds/article_3381d3c8-030d-55b4-a257-4716a4a353be.html) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds - [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/eeuu/votantes-de-eeuu-quieren-que-el-proximo-congreso-se-centre-en-precios-e-iran-no-en-trump-encuesta-b3071549.html) — US Voters Want the Next Congress to Focus on Prices and Iran, Not Trump: Poll - [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/10/22/eleitores-dos-eua-querem-que-congresso-priorize-custo-de-vida-e-fim-da-guerra-no-ir.ghtml) — U.S. Voters Want Congress to Prioritize Cost of Living and End of War in Iran - [nowgeorgia.com](https://nowgeorgia.com/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - Now Georgia - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/us-government/11242048/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows.html) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [Chicago Tribune](https://chicagotribune.com/2026/10/22/congress-iran-trump-ap-norc-poll) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/trump-midterms-congress-elections-iran-costs-inflation-441515a34e4b28c812f694754ac0582a) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds - [Bluefield Daily Telegraph](https://bdtonline.com/news/entertainment/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a/article_60264144-8a1a-542c-859b-a35dc97081c4.html) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [Goshen News](https://goshennews.com/news/national_news/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a/article_f7c8d891-edc7-5731-b89a-4225983dbe58.html) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/10/22/nation/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [KOB 4](https://kob.com/ap-top-news/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [KXL](https://kxl.com/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [WFTV 9 abc](https://wftv.com/news/politics/voters-want-next/WWXPOXNUSQ6KNCSTMGX744EGAE) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [WJAX](https://actionnewsjax.com/news/politics/voters-want-next/WWXPOXNUSQ6KNCSTMGX744EGAE) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/10/22/voters-want-the-next-congress-to-focus-on-costs-and-iran-not-on-trump-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows) — Voters want the next Congress to focus on costs and Iran, not on Trump, a new AP-NORC poll shows - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/united-states/voters-prioritize-costs-and-iran-over-investigating-trump-for-next-congress-ap-norc-poll-finds/article_df9abb71-405f-5a79-a20b-5c37993a3749.html) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/voters-prioritize-costs-and-iran-over-investigating-trump-for-next-congress-ap-norc-poll-finds/article_4c1bef59-d881-5c16-8577-922f22023107.html) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/22/voters-prioritize-costs-and-iran-over-investigating-trump-for-next-congress-ap-norc-poll-finds) — Voters prioritize costs and Iran over investigating Trump for next Congress, AP-NORC poll finds ## Questions **What do voters want the next Congress to focus on?** A new AP-NORC poll indicates that voters want the next US Congress to prioritise making life more affordable and ending the war in Iran. Fewer voters expressed a desire for Congress to focus on President Donald Trump, whether for investigations or support. **Who conducted the poll?** The poll was conducted by The Associated Press and the National Center for Public Opinion Research (NORC) at the University of Chicago. This collaboration aims to gauge public opinion on key issues for the incoming legislative session. **Did any right-rated outlets cover this story?** No right-rated outlets covered this story among the sources provided. The available reports came from left-rated and centre-rated outlets, as well as unrated sources. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/voters-want-congress-to-focus-on-economy-and-iran-war-poll-finds. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Voters want Congress to focus on economy and Iran war, poll finds", https://mediabias.news/politics/voters-want-congress-to-focus-on-economy-and-iran-war-poll-finds