Local News Trust Is Recovering

A 2026 Pew survey finds trust in local news rose to three‑quarters of U.S. adults (75%, up from 70%), while trust in national outlets also climbed to 62% from 56%. The increase is visible across partisan groups, though Democrats remain more trusting than Republicans, and trust in social platforms remains comparatively low. — If sustained, rising trust in local media could blunt calls for sweeping platform or regulatory fixes, reshape congressional scrutiny of media–government ties, and alter where voters seek reliable information ahead of elections.