Quick snapshot:
- Nearly 3 in 5 Americans said extreme heat now feels like a normal part of summer.
- AI reached beyond chatbots, with around 1 in 2 expecting it to push up the cost of everyday tech.
- Politics and public trust stayed in focus, while more than half felt election betting was wrong for democracy.
- Nearly 2 in 3 discovered a possible Ozempic side effect they had not heard about before.
- The World Cup gave soccer a chance to move up the table, while the Buck Moon gave Americans a reason to look up.
Week 27 of 2026
Summer heated up fast. Europe had already endured deadly heat waves, and the US was feeling the burn too. Scientists said climate change was making extreme heat more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense. For 58% of Americans, that now felt like a normal part of summer.
Fourth of July plans did not escape the weather. A major heat wave swept across much of the country before storms knocked out power for thousands. Nearly half (49%) said the weather affected their holiday plans.
Turning offices into homes hit a bump in New York. Part of a former Midtown office tower buckled during an office-to-apartment conversion, forcing an evacuation. The incident knocked confidence, with 75% saying it made them feel less confident about office-to-apartment conversions.
AI’s rapid growth came with a higher price tag. Demand for memory chips is pushing up the cost of phones, laptops and other devices. Nearly half (48%) felt frustrated that AI could make everyday tech more expensive.
The World Cup gave soccer a chance to move up the table. When asked which major US sport it could catch in popularity, Americans put football and hockey almost level, both at around 29%.
Week 28 of 2026
Summer’s weather story carried into another week. Wildfire smoke from Canada drifted into parts of the US, bringing hazy skies and unhealthy air. For 42% of Americans, the first reaction was worry, while 26% said it now felt like part of life.
Time was back on the agenda too. The House passed a bill that could keep daylight saving time all year and end the twice-a-year clock change. Most Americans (55%) said they were not fans of the current system; 45% preferred lighter evenings year-round.
Election trust returned to the spotlight after President Trump gave a speech focused on voting and the 2020 election. Around 30% felt the speech was mainly trying to create doubt. Americans were almost evenly split between concern about false claims hurting trust (31%) and real problems being ignored (30%).
Lettuce made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Taco Bell pulled shredded lettuce from some stores after an FDA warning linked to an illness outbreak. Caution spread beyond fast food, with 42% saying they would avoid lettuce even at grocery stores for now.
Mental health treatment moved into new territory after Eli Lilly announced a deal involving psychedelic-based medicines. The biggest group (41%) said the approach looks promising but needs caution.
Week 29 of 2026
The strikes continued, and so did the questions about what they really cost. The US says it has already spent $37.5 billion after 11 straight nights of strikes. Around 60% said they trust US leaders little or not at all to be honest about the real cost.
Trade tensions were rising too. President Trump proposed a 50% tariff on goods from Canada, a move that could push up prices and strain ties with a close neighbor. More than half (55%) said the plan feels too extreme.
Space delivered a surprise.t. Scientists found a sugar molecule, also found in raspberries, in a cloud near the center of the galaxy. For 31%, it was enough to suggest space may have helped life on Earth get started.
Weight loss drugs came with a new discovery for many Americans. Researchers said Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro may be linked to a higher risk of hair loss; 62% said they had not heard about the possible side effect before.
And in a headline that sounded more like science fiction, OpenAI said some of its models effectively hacked another AI company. After hearing the story, 33% said they would avoid connecting AI tools to sensitive accounts or files.
Week 30 of 2026
Politics moved at market speed this week. Truth Social began selling faster access to major political posts, including President Trump’s, to Wall Street trading firms. That did not sit well with many Americans, with 41% calling it an unfair setup and 35% saying paid access like this should be stopped.
The Trump administration signed a 30-year nuclear energy deal with Saudi Arabia, promising major business for US companies. But Americans were looking past the money too. Around 53% supported the deal, while 52% worried about the nuclear risks.
At the same time, US-Iran tensions were rising again. Many Americans think the latest attacks could keep the situation tense for at least another year.
Election betting raised a different kind of red flag. As more money flows into markets where people can bet on political outcomes, 55% said it feels wrong for democracy.
Johnson & Johnson then brought an old controversy back into view with a proposed $5.5 billion talc settlement. The company now sells a cornstarch version of its baby powder, but many still want reassurance. Around 30% said they would research it first before using it.
Away from the week’s heavier headlines, the Buck Moon offered a moment to look up. Just over half (52%) said sky events like this feel like a nice reset.
All statistics are based on real-time responses collected from the OnePulse community in July 2026.
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