Voters split on speech‑based funding bans

A YouGov poll finds Americans are evenly divided (42% support, 42% oppose) on a proposal to bar federal funds to entities whose employees have made statements condoning political violence. Republicans back it by wide margins (75% support) while most Democrats oppose it (64%). In contrast, majorities oppose most symbolic Kirk commemorations beyond lowering flags. — This reveals a live constituency for using federal purse strings to police employee speech, signaling how future culture‑war policy may be implemented through funding conditions rather than direct speech laws.

Sources

Republicans are three times as likely as Democrats to say they'd call the police if they suspected someone of being an illegal immigrant

2025.12.01 80% relevant

Both pieces report survey evidence of sharp partisan divides about using institutions and public resources to police behavior: the YouGov poll shows Republicans far more likely to endorse coercive enforcement (calling police, sending troops, expanding military equipment to police) while Democrats favor redistributing police budgets toward social services—mirroring the prior idea that publics are split on using funding or policy levers to police speech and conduct.

Majorities say many proposed commemorations of Charlie Kirk go too far

2025.10.01 100% relevant

YouGov’s measurement of support/opposition to Rep. Van Orden’s defunding proposal and the 75% Republican support vs. 64% Democratic opposition.