Partisan Perception Shift on U.S. Science

A large October 2025 Pew survey (n=5,111) finds Democrats have moved sharply toward saying the U.S. is 'losing ground' in science compared with other countries (a +28 percentage‑point change since 2023), while Republicans see less decline and are more open to private funding driving progress. This is an empirical partisan realignment in how citizens evaluate national scientific standing and the role of public investment. — If sustained, this shift will affect congressional support for federal science budgets, the framing of industrial‑policy programs, public compliance with science‑led policy, and which constituencies defend or attack science institutions.