Kids ‘n Kinship provides friendships and positive role models to children and youth ages 5-16 who are in need of an additional supportive relationship with an adult. Here’s one of the youth waiting for a mentor:
First name: Aaron
Age: 9
Interests: Aaron loves sports. He hopes to play on a soccer or basketball team, and would like to learn how to play football. His favorite things about school are recess and lunch, and math and gym are OK, too. He is a pretty picky eater, he says, and his favorite food is noodles.
Personality/Characteristics: His guardian describes Aaron as “very smart, very sweet, and little sensitive.” Aaron likes being around people and likes to be funny. He says he has a lot of friends and was proud of himself for helping a new girl at school during recess.
Goals/dreams: Aaron’s 3 wishes would be 1) to have the super power to stop time or be invisible, 2) to have infinite money to buy a big house, but not mansion, and 3) to get a new car for his mom. When he grows up he dreams of being a famous soccer player and becoming a CEO of a new phone company. His guardian hopes a mentor will be another supportive adult in his life, and someone to help answer all his curiosities about life and give new experiences as he grows!
If you missed the just-ended 2025 Alaska cruise season, don’t worry your pretty little parka about it — your dream of glacier-gazing and totem-trail trekking is already within reach.
Alaska’s cruise season runs from late April to early October, but savvy travelers know the journey begins months earlier, when booking opens and prime itineraries start to fill. Still, many wait until spring to get serious about making that salmon-scented sojourn a reality.
Whether you work with a travel agent, deal directly with a cruise line or go it alone, it’s worth doing your homework. The ship you choose — and where it sails — can shape the entire experience. That’s true of any cruise, of course, but it’s especially critical in Alaska, a bucket-list destination where itinerary, cruise line and vessel truly matter.
Because this could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, let’s take some of the gamble out of your investment of time, money and expectations. By covering the basics, we’ll help ensure your Alaska adventure delivers a gold rush of awe, not a chorus of ah, shucks.
Charting the Inside Passage — and beyond
Alaska’s largest ports may peddle the same punny T-shirts and mass-produced snowdomes, but each has its own rhythm, history and bragging rights. Some itineraries favor glacier theatrics while others lean into cultural immersion, honoring the Tlingit people and Russian heritage. Whether you’re chasing wildlife, wilderness or waterfront charm, your choice of ports will shape not just your selfies, but your memories. Most weeklong cruises hit at least three of the big four: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. Let’s take a quick flyover of each.
An orca sighting brings a thrill to whale watchers in Juneau’s Auke Bay. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Juneau has perhaps the nation’s most forgettable capitol building — a drab neoclassical shoebox so uninspiring even the tour buses pretend it’s not there — and yet the widest and wildest range of shore excursions are offered here. This port is a launchpad for whale watching, and Juneau Tours (juneautours.com) is among the best at finding humpbacks and an occasional pod of orcas. Other popular options include the “Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip” with great views of the namesake glacier, and Mount Roberts Tramway, a high-wire wonder on clear days. Between all the shops, galleries, restaurants and bars within walking distance of most of the docks, Juneau (traveljuneau.com) has plenty to see and do without an organized tour, too.
Ketchikan’s iconic welcome arch proudly declares the port city as “Salmon Capital of the World.” (Photo by David Dickstein)
Ketchikan is compact, steeped in salmon lore and easy to explore on foot. Creek Street features shops on stilts and traces of its red-light past. Totem-rich Saxman Native Village offers a curated glimpse into Tlingit heritage, where towering cedar poles whisper ancestral stories. Just across town, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show (alaskanlumberjackshow.com) trades reverence for ruckus, complete with whirring chainsaws and roaring crowds. Modern-day Paul Bunyans compete in axe throwing, log rolling, speed climbing and carving, all wrapped in a scripted showdown that’s fast, loud and proudly touristy.
Sitka National Historical Park features approximately 20 totem poles along its forested trails. (Photo by David Dickstein)
While in Sitka, enjoy majestic Sitka National Historical Park, where trekking along totem-rich trails is free and just a short scenic stroll from the city center. For cruise tours that soar and splash, look to the “Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest” and bird-rehabbing Alaska Raptor Center.
Skagway tour highlights include the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and “Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Flightseeing” excursions. No visit to Skagway is complete without at least a peek inside the historic and colorful Red Onion Saloon.
Visitors to Icy Strait Point pause to admire a double rainbow arching over the shoreline. (Photo by David Dickstein)
A worthy stop on many itineraries is Icy Strait Point, a locally grounded alternative to the state’s busier cruise hubs. Built around a restored salmon cannery, circa 1912, Icy Strait Point (icystraitpoint.com) blends Tlingit cultural experiences with exhilarating excursions, locally owned shops and good grub and grog. Their famous Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary provides liquid courage to adults skittish about riding the world’s largest zipline or a gondola that climbs to a 1,550-foot summit.
The Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary is a house specialty served at Icy Strait Point. (Photo by David Dickstein)
We’d be remiss not to mention a multi-day, pre- or post-cruise excursion to Denali National Park, home of Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak. Roughly one in five Alaska cruise passengers venture inland for this add-on generally offered with one-way itineraries.
Whale of a season ahead in 2026
An estimated 1.8 million passengers will cruise to the Last Frontier next year. If these figures from government and industry sources hold, that will mark a third straight season of record-breaking tourism. Part of the projected growth stems from three brands making their Alaska debut. Together, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection account for less than 7% of the 728 sailings projected for 2026, dwarfed by the alpha grizzlies leading our roundup of cruise lines making waves in Alaskan waters next season.
Princess Cruises (princess.com) — The premium-class line is charting nearly 180 voyages next year aboard eight ships, including the new 4,300-guest Star Princess. Itineraries — both roundtrip and one-way — leave from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier, one of two gateways near Anchorage (the other being Seward).
Holland America, which has been sailing to Alaska longer than the Last Frontier has been a state, will make 135 voyages in 2026 on six ship, including the Westerdam, shown here. (Courtesy of Holland America via TNS)
Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com) — As the first major cruise line to operate in Alaska, this premium-class brand draws on what will be 79 years of experience next season. “Longer than any other cruise line and longer than it’s been a state,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management. That legacy affords guests preferred berth positions, maximizing port time, along with deeper access to Glacier Bay National Park. The venerable line is slated for 135 cruises aboard six ships — Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam — ranging from 1,432 to 2,650 passengers. Select voyages offer an optional, industry-exclusive overland tour into Canada’s Yukon Territory, with part of the route retracing the original Gold Rush Trail of 1898.
Norwegian Bliss docked in Juneau, Alaska’s most visited cruise port. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.com) — When it comes to consumer choice in 2026, the Last Frontier is anything but least for NCL, which is deploying five amenity-rich, mainstream-class ships for 87 sailings. NCL’s Bliss, Encore and Joy — three of the line’s impressive Breakaway Plus-class ships — will anchor a Seattle-based schedule of seven- to 10-night roundtrip sailings. Norwegian Jade (2,352 guests) will run weeklong itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier. For travelers aiming to conquer the 49th and 50th states in one go, Norwegian Spirit offers four 16-night voyages departing from either Vancouver or Honolulu.
Royal Caribbean International (royalcaribbean.com) — From skydiving simulators and robotic bartenders to classic cruise comforts, this mainstream-class line blends innovation with variety across its four-ship Alaska fleet. Serenade, Voyager, Anthem and Ovation — their full names all ending in “… of the Seas” — carry between 2,490 and 4,180 guests, and will sail a combined 79 seven-night roundtrips from Seattle and Vancouver.
Norwegian Bliss returns in 2026 for her eighth summer sailing to Alaska from Seattle. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Celebrity Cruises (celebritycruises.com) — A trio of premium-class ships will mix modern luxury with glacier-studded scenery on 56 seven-night sailings from Vancouver, Seward and Seattle. The 2,918-passenger Edge returns for a third season, bringing with it a unique outward-facing design featuring the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform at sea. Solstice (2,852 guests) and Summit (2,218) offer a more intimate, classic feel, along with what may be the industry’s finest collection of specialty dining rooms on a single ship.
Carnival Cruise Line (carnival.com) — Three Fun Ships will offer 53 itineraries for value-seeking cruisers in 2026. Miracle (2,124 passengers) and Spirit (2,700) will be homeported in Seattle for mostly weeklong sailings, while the 2,800-passenger Luminosa makes her Alaska debut from San Francisco. These roundtrips from the Bay Area include four sea days on 10-night itineraries — ideal for travelers who enjoy time on the open water.
Disney Cruise Line (disneycruise.com) — Promising mouse sightings — but not moose sightings — Disney ships helmed by co-captains Mickey and Minnie return to Alaska next season with 36 voyages from Vancouver. Their floating, premium-class theme parks, Wonder and Magic, each carry 2,713 guests and a cargo hold full of character charm.
MSC Cruises (msccruises.com) — The 3,223-guest Poesia, fresh off a major refurbishment that added the enviable MSC Yacht Club, is set for 20 roundtrips from Seattle. Club guests enjoy “ship within a ship” privileges that transform mainstream-category cruising into a temporary life of luxury.
Virgin Voyages (virginvoyages.com) — Virgin’s virgin season in Alaska has the adults-only, 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady making 14 roundtrip cruises of 7 to 12 nights from Seattle, plus two one-way sailings that either begin or end in Vancouver. Virgin falls into the premium cruise category.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com) — Offering an intimate, ultra-luxury experience aboard the all-suite 452-passenger Luminara, Ritz-Carlton will mark its Alaskan debut with 13 trips of seven to 11 nights between Vancouver and Whittier.
Windstar Cruises (windstarcruises.com) — Three of Star Seeker’s 13 itineraries next year will launch from Juneau, a port rarely used for embarkation. Vancouver and Seward will also serve as departure points for seven- to 12-night journeys aboard the 224-guest, boutique-style luxury yacht.
Passengers aboard the Norwegian Bliss capture the icy majesty of Dawes Glacier. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Azamara Cruises (azamara.com) — Specializing in small-ship cruising with a focus on destination immersion, Azamara, an upper-premium line, is taking guests to such quaint ports as Klawock and Wrangell on eight 10- and 11-night sails aboard the 702-passenger Pursuit.
Crystal (crystalcruises.com) — The gorgeous Crystal Symphony returns to Alaska in 2026 for the first time since 2019, offering seven ultra-luxury sailings from Vancouver and Seward. With longer port calls, curated shore excursions and intimate shipboard elegance, the 606-guest Symphony promises a refined lens on Alaska’s wild frontier for sails of seven to 11 nights. Crystal offers a four-day “Wild Whistler Adventure” pre-cruise extension on select Alaska sailings. Curated by Abercrombie & Kent, this add-on has guests traveling the Sea-to-Sky Highway in search of bonus wildlife and pinch-me moments.
A bald eagle perches on a spruce branch in Sitka, a classic sight in Southeast Alaska’s coastal wilderness. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Halloween is arguably a snapshot of the year’s buzziest pop culture moments, an homage, if you will, to all the trends and memes that had their 15 minutes of fame, brought back for one night as niche Halloween costumes.
If you’re looking for inspiration for costumes you can throw together (and, naturally, impress your friends on social media with), here are Halloween costumes from 2025’s biggest pop culture moments.
A Labubu on display inside The Labu’Tique Shop in Anaheim on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Local and out-of-town customers come to shop for everything Labubu, including many outfits and accessories. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Labubu
The must-have accessory of this year. By now, everyone’s heard of a Labubu, even if they still don’t quite understand the phenomenon. The costume is similar to any other animal costume: you’ll need a furry body suit and rabbit-shaped ears on a headpiece. To help distinguish your costume from the Easter Bunny, paint on the toy monster’s signature sharp-toothed grin and craft a PopMart tag and key ring. Bonus points if you can incorporate the blind box component.
Police officers work by a basket lift used by thieves Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 at the Louvre museum in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Just in time for Halloween this year is the world’s most talked-about burglary: the Louvre Museum jewelry heist. To accomplish this look, throw on a yellow or orange construction vest over a sleek black ensemble and pair it with a ski mask or black beanie. To make it more specific to the heist, you can wear a tiara and other jewels, and instead of a bag with a dollar sign, write “Louvre Jewels” on it.
K-Pop Demon Hunters
This image released by Netflix shows characters Zoey, from left, Rumi and Mira in a scene from “KPop Demon Hunters.” (Netflix via AP)
The Netflix movie is so popular that the streaming service is working with AMC to bring it to theaters. The most recognizable reference will be to the protagonists in the movie, the K-pop girl group Huntr/x members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. There are a few costume options with this, but their “Golden” outfits make for a great group costume. Additionally, there’s the Saja Boys, who are behind the film’s other catchy tune, “Soda Pop.”
Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film “Wicked.” (Universal Pictures via AP)
Wicked
Last year, the first installment of “Wicked” hit theaters just after spooky season, so Elphaba and Glinda weren’t quite as “popular” for Halloween costumes. Now, with the release of part two of the phenomenon, “Wicked: For Good,” just around the corner and nearly a year of fandom between the two, your favorite character from Oz could make the perfect Halloween costume. The two iconic witches will be the most recognizable reference from the musical, but there’s also plenty of supporting characters to make up the remainder for a group costume, including Fiyero, Boq, Nessarose, Madame Morrible, and the Wizard.
Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Taylor Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Hannah Kahn attends TikTok Debuts Taylor Swift Hub and Los Angeles Pop-Up to Celebrate Her New Album “The Life of a Showgirl” at Westfield Century City on Oct. 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Taylor Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Taylor Swift’s latest album has given Swifties plenty of options for Halloween costumes this year. The most on-the-nose will likely be a Vegas Showgirl costume, or one of the decades-spanning showgirl ensembles Swift wears in the “The Fate of Ophelia” music video.
And for those looking for a couple’s costume inspired by Swift and her recent engagement to Travis Kelce, besides the Eras Tour outfit paired with Kelce’s 87 football uniform, you can also reference their Instagram announcement post and go as an English teacher and gym teacher.
Blue Origin NS-31 Astronauts
This image provided by Blue Origin shows, first row, seated, from left: Lauren Sanchez and Kerianne Flynn and standing in back from left: Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe in West Texas. (Blue Origin via AP)
Remember back in April when Katy Perry and Gale King went to space? While the controversial voyage might seem like a lifetime ago, chances are it’ll be making some appearances again for Halloween. While this can be a group costume, it also works if you want to spotlight Perry and accessorize with a daisy and the Lifetimes Tour setlist.
(L-R) Yoonchae, Manon, Daniela, Lara Raj, Megan and Sophia of KATSEYE attend the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST on Sept. 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Teen Vogue)
Katseye Gap Commercial
The popular girl group has become well-known this year for their hit song “Gnarly,” which they performed for the first time in the U.S. at Wango Tango in May. However, the moment that many are still talking about is their Gap commercial. The ad campaign launched on the heels of Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle ad, which became a major talking point for political commentators over the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
The Katseye commercial not only featured the girl group and dancers (unlike the American Eagle campaign) but also a catchy dance to the throwback hit “Milkshake” that went viral on TikTok. The costume is also easy enough to pull from your closet if you’re in a pinch, just wear denim on denim.
Coldplay Couple
The fan cam seen round the world: Frontman of Coldplay, Chris Martin, could be heard saying “Oh look at these two” as what appeared to be a happy couple flashed across the screens. But the pair didn’t wave or smile; instead, they looked panicked, ducked down, and turned away from the camera. Martin jested, “either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
The video went viral, internet sleuths did their thing, and their identities were splashed across every gossip rag in town. To nail the costumes of the most infamous Astronomer executives ever (a New York data firm), you’ll need a CEO in a light blue polo and a head of HR rocking a black tank top. Be prepared to reenact the bit throughout the night.
Megan Thee Stallion enters the villa joined by contestants Iris Kendall, Hannah Fields, Amaya Espinal, Olandria Carthen, Michelle “Chelley” Bissainthe, Huda Mustafa and Cierra Ortega during Love Island USA season 7 episode 15. (Photo by: Ben Symons/Peacock)
Love Island Contestants
Love Island USA was the most talked-about show of the summer, and even if you didn’t watch season 7, chances are you’ve seen the chatter trending online.
The main component of the costume is the mic-pack necklace that the contestants wear. You can either wear a swimsuit, sunglasses, and a cover-up, or a going-out club outfit. Or if you want to be more specific to this season, you can wear a “Mommy’s Little Meatball” shirt. Another prop that will help make the costume more recognizable is printing out the confessional room background on a poster board and attaching it to your back for the night.
Dancing with the Stars
The ABC reality dance competition show is celebrating its 20th anniversary and experiencing a resurgence in popularity. While there’s always the ballroom dancer outfit to wear, you can also get even more specific with this season’s cast. Go as Robert Irwin and bring a crocodile as an accessory. Be one of the women of MomTok and carry around a Swig soda cup that everyone drinks on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Be Olympian Jordan Chiles and rock either a UCLA gymnastics or Team USA jacket with plenty of medals around your neck. Or go as comedian Andy Richter by wearing a tiara and a sash that says “People’s Princess” because if you know, you know.
Jet2 Holiday
It’s not often that the song of the summer is a song that was first released a decade ago, but that’s what happened when Jess Glynne’s 2015 single “Hold My Hand” got a new life in 2025 as the song from the “Nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday” commercial. Funny enough, the commercial is actually from 2024, but took off this summer. Because of this, expect to see plenty of Jet2 flight attendants. Bonus points if you can convince someone in the group to go as an airplane.
A cosplayer dressed as Wednesday Addams during New York Comic Con 2025 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop)
Wednesday Addams
Tim Burton’s “Wednesday” returned to Netflix for its second season this summer. Jenna Ortega’s more gothic version of the Addams family character has given the black dress and braids combo an updated look while still remaining a recognizable costume.
The First Wives Club or Annie Hall
FILE – Diane Keaton attends the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2024 collection during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 8, 2023. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Expect to see some costumes this year that pay homage to the late Diane Keaton. One that will likely be popular for trios is “The First Wives Club,” particularly the all-white set, with Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler all wearing it as they sing Leslie Gore’s girl-power anthem, “You Don’t Own Me.” Another great Keaton nod would be her iconic ensemble in “Annie Hall,” a look that Vogue World 2025 recreated as a tribute to the star just weeks after her death.
FILE – Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl
The start of the year gave us Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime show at the Super Bowl. The rapper’s grin to the camera while performing the diss track “Not Like Us” became an instant meme. The bell-bottom jeans and blue varsity jacket, paired with black gloves, a black cap, and a chain necklace (and a whole lot of swagger), will make this costume easily recognizable.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter will headline Friday night at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Here she performs on stage during the second day of the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Sabrina Carpenter has given her fans plenty of outfit inspiration to replicate for Halloween costumes over the past year. From her Short n’ Sweet Tour-inspired looks, to her music video for “Tears” from her latest studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” Most recently, the popstar played double duty on SNL, acting as both host and musical guest for the show’s Oct. 18 episode. Her “Manchild” outfit became a hit among viewers and is easy enough to replicate with a yellow top that reads “Live from New York” on the front and pink bottoms that read “It’s Saturday Night” on the back. Pair it with a hair brush and your hair in a high ponytail, and you’re set.
Superman
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows David Corenswet in a scene from “Superman.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
An oldie but a goodie. Expect to see the iconic superhero make a return this season, thanks to James Gunn’s latest iteration of the DC comic starring David Corenswet. The costume will likely go two ways: Superman in his timeless bodysuit and cape, or his alter ego, Clark Kent, dressed as a reporter with a Superman symbol peek-a-boo. It can be turned into a group costume with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, or Krypto, the superhero’s cape-donning canine.
Government Shutdown
FILE – A sign that reads “Closed due to federal government shutdown,” is seen outside of the National Gallery of Art on the 6th day of the government shutdown, in Washington, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
The 2025 government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is the second-longest in U.S. history. Surprisingly, turning this into a Halloween costume is easier than you might think. You can grab either an Uncle Sam or Statue of Liberty costume and wear a “Sorry We’re Closed” sign around your neck.
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By JONATHAN J. COOPER and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the tumultuous political climate marked by this year’s assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah and a Democratic legislator in Minnesota, younger adults are less worried about political violence than older adults, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
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About 4 in 10 U.S. adults are concerned about political violence directed at conservatives or liberals, the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found, but anxiety about violence on either side of the political spectrum is lower among young adults.
There’s also a substantial partisan divide, with Republicans and Democrats expressing high concern about violence against their own side — and fewer saying they’re worried about violence against the other side.
When it comes to fundamental rights, U.S. adults are most likely to say that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are facing a major threat. Fewer Americans see threats to the right to vote and the right to bear arms.
“I worry because anytime political violence happens, it seems like it can be a snowball effect,” said Ryan Striker, a 34-year-old music teacher in Manchester, New Hampshire, who is liberal but politically independent and opposes President Donald Trump.
In June, state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot to death in their home and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in what the Justice Department called the shooter’s “calculated plan to inflict fear and violence upon Minnesota elected officials and their families.” Kirk was shot dead in September while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University in what authorities also called an act of political violence.
Younger adults are less worried about violence, free speech threats
The poll found that 44% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about political violence directed at conservative political figures or organizations. A similar percentage, 41%, are concerned about violence directed at liberal figures and groups.
There’s a large divide among generations, however.
About half of adults age 60 and older are highly concerned about political violence directed at conservatives or liberals, compared with about 3 in 10 adults under 30.
“I remember Kent State. I was around then,” said Tony DiGiovine, a 74-year-old musician and retired electrical engineer from Phoenix and a Democrat. “The National Guard really isn’t trained to patrol our streets. Neither are our armed forces. Something’s going to go wrong.”
The National Guard shot and killed unarmed students who were protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University in 1970.
There’s a similar generational pattern when it comes to concern about limitations on liberals’ and conservatives’ free speech.
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults overall are “extremely” or “very” concerned about threats to conservatives’ or liberals’ free speech. But among adults ages 60 and older, about half are highly concerned about threats to conservatives’ free speech, while only about one-quarter of adults under 30 say the same. There’s a smaller but still substantial gap for liberals.
Fundamental rights seen as threatened
Asked whether various fundamental rights were under threat, the poll found about half of U.S. adults see a “major” threat to freedom of speech and about 4 in 10 say the same about the freedom of the press. Fewer, about 3 in 10, say there are significant threats to the right to vote and the right to keep and bear arms.
There was no age divide among Americans who see a “major” threat to free speech. The finding suggests that younger adults do think freedom of speech is threatened, but they’re less personally concerned about how it could affect liberals or conservatives than older adults.
“It’s concerning that we seem to be getting to the point where we stop talking, we stop compromising, and people vilify their opponents,” said Craig Tenhoff, 58, an independent of Simi Valley, California.
Only about 2 in 10 adults under 30 say the right to vote faces a “major” threat, compared with about 4 in 10 adults ages 60 and older.
Republicans worry about violence against conservatives, Democrats worry about it against liberals
U.S. adults who identify with a party are more likely to be worried about violence against organizations or figures that share their ideology, while most independents are not highly concerned about political violence in general.
About 6 in 10 Republicans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about political violence directed at conservative political figures or organizations, while only 27% are highly concerned about political violence directed at liberal political figures or organizations.
On the other hand, about 6 in 10 Democrats are “extremely” or “very” concerned about political violence directed at liberal political figures and organizations, while 38% are highly concerned about political violence directed at conservatives.
These findings are particularly pronounced among people at extreme ends of the political spectrum: Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are much likelier to be concerned about violence directed at their side than more moderate members of their coalition.
About one-quarter of independents are “extremely” or “very” concerned about political violence directed at conservatives or liberals.
Max Anderson, an independent who describes himself as liberal, said he’s concerned about violence from across the political spectrum.
“I think a lot of people my age aren’t generally doing good right now,” said Anderson, a 23-year-old college student in Fort Collins, Colorado. “So I think all of a sudden, those more extreme avenues of action just feel like a better option.”
There are major partisan divides about the extent to which freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to vote are currently threatened. About two-thirds of Democrats say freedom of speech and freedom of the press are facing a “major threat,” while only about 3 in 10 of Republicans say this about freedom of speech and about 2 in 10 say this about freedom of the press.
Jeff Milligan, a 72-year-old Republican from Logan, Ohio, said he’s more concerned about violence directed at conservatives than liberals. Milligan used to be more worried about threats to fundamental rights than he is now.
What changed for him?
“President Trump was elected,” he said.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,289 adults was conducted Oct. 9-13, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
