Industry Insights
by: Candyd Casidsid
Mar 02, 2026
 
6 min read

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February 2026 US Public Opinion Snapshot

February 2026 was loud, layered, and fast-moving. As winter routines returned, headlines stretched from the Grammys and the Super Bowl to Big Tech on trial, healthcare costs in the spotlight, and debates around leadership and trust.

This monthly snapshot captures how people across the US reacted to the stories that landed as winter set in, routines restarted, and patience was tested. All insights come from real-time responses shared by the OnePulse community as the month unfolded.

Week 5 of 2026

The Grammys felt bigger than music this year. Kendrick Lamar picked up multiple wins, while Bad Bunny made history as the first artist to win album of the year with a record sung entirely in Spanish, during a night when many stars spoke out on immigration. The moment clearly resonated, with 56% saying Bad Bunny totally deserved the win.

What happened on stage continued to ripple well after the show ended. President Trump pushed back against a joke linking him to Jeffrey Epstein, denying the claim and floating possible legal action. When asked about the response, 53% said Trump was wrong to threaten a lawsuit.

From the Grammys to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Bad Bunny was everywhere this week. 7% said they plan to learn Spanish ahead of the show, but the message from him was simple: don’t worry about the words, just dance.

The Justice Department released more than three million pages tied to Jeffrey Epstein, raising new questions about what the records reveal and who could be named. When asked what matters most now, 73% pointed to accountability for everyone involved. That concern carries over to trust, as 67% said they have low confidence in the government’s ability to handle the information responsibly.

Switching gears, attention also turned to astrology with the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse on February 17. This rare zodiac year is tied to bold changes and fresh starts. When asked what kind of change they’re most open to in 2026, people pointed most often to taking better care of themselves, pursuing creative goals, and making career moves.

 

Week 6 of 2026

The Super Bowl proved again it’s still TV’s biggest night. Super Bowl LX drew about 125 million US viewers, with a record 137.8 million tuning in at its peak. Among Pulsers, 64% watched. Of those, 30% said they were glued because of the game action, while 25% stayed for Bad Bunny’s halftime show.

In California, a major court trial put Big Tech under a microscope. Parents argue that platforms like Instagram and YouTube were built in ways that can harm teens’ mental health. 68% said they’ve personally seen social media negatively affect teenagers.

Back in Washington, hearings over heavily redacted Epstein documents turned tense. 54% said the redactions raise red flags. More than half (57%) want the government to release more information, and 35% are looking for accountability from leaders. Many described their reaction as frustration, disappointment, and anger.

James Van Der Beek was a household name in the 90s and 2000s. After a three-year battle with colorectal cancer, his family shared that medical bills reached into the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, and asked for public donations. The story sparked a wider conversation about healthcare costs, and 70% were surprised to learn the well-known actor faced overwhelming medical bills.

Meanwhile, scientists shared a lighter headline. New research suggests frog calls may shift with water temperature, acting almost like tiny weather signals. 63% think animals can sense climate shifts better than we realize.

Week 7 of 2026

The Trump administration kicked off the first meeting of its new “Board of Peace” in Washington. What started as a plan to oversee rebuilding Gaza is now expanding to tackle conflicts around the world, with Trump even floating the idea that it could one day replace the United Nations. But 56% of Americans believe he’s seen more as a disruptor than a peacemaker, and 46% think people globally view him negatively right now.

The meeting brought together officials from dozens of countries, with major funding promises on the table. Not every ally signed on, and some chose to sit it out, 47% of Americans saw that as a sign of growing divisions.

Online, a different kind of debate took off after Barack Obama said “they’re real” when asked about aliens on a podcast. He later clarified that while life elsewhere in the universe is possible, he saw no evidence Earth has been visited. Even so, 69% think the government is hiding information about UFOs.

In business news, Depop is being sold to eBay for $1.2 billion, less than what Etsy paid for it in 2021. 45% aren’t sure the resale app will feel the same under eBay.

Looking back at reality TV also sparked conversation. As a new docuseries revisits America’s Next Top Model, about 8 in 10 support re-examining older shows in some way. 46% say only if serious issues are involved, while 34% believe it’s important to reflect.

And then there was Punch, the baby monkey who was seen clutching a stuffed toy after struggling to bond with his troop. More than half (55%) say they caught the video, and when it comes to stories like this, 3 in 10 believe we may project human emotions onto animals too easily.

Week 8 of 2026

President Trump delivered a nearly two-hour State of the Union, calling this moment a new “golden age” for America. The speech was long and confident in tone. Still, 56% said they don’t feel like the country is in a golden age right now.

In polling news, Gallup announced it’s stepping away from tracking presidential approval after almost 90 years. The focus will shift toward broader issues shaping daily life. Even so, 40% said presidential approval ratings still matter and remain an important pulse of the country.

Liquid Death leaned into its dark humor with a $495 Bluetooth speaker-urn made with Spotify, complete with a personalized “eternal vibe” playlist. It’s part speaker, part keepsake. 32% said humor does belong in conversations about death because it helps people cope.

Snapchat introduced its first creator awards show, The Snappys, putting influencers in the spotlight. As platforms compete for attention and loyalty, 46% said at least some social media creators deserve awards shows like traditional celebrities.

Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken, long seen as a small win against rising prices, is now facing lawsuits over “preservative-free” labeling. Even with questions swirling, 41% said that price still represents a smart deal in today’s grocery aisle.

And then there’s Punch, the baby monkey who once clung to a stuffed toy after struggling to bond with his troop. Now, he’s grooming and being groomed by other monkeys, a quiet sign of progress. When asked if we project human emotions onto stories like this, 75% said yes; most people admit it’s easy to see ourselves in Punch’s story.

All statistics are based on real-time responses collected from the OnePulse community in February 2026.

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