Pew poll finds most Americans think the nation's best years are behind

A recent Pew Research Center poll shows that a majority of U.S. adults believe the country’s best years are already in the past. The survey found widespread gloom about conditions 50 years from now, with 44% describing the outlook as pessimistic compared with just 28% who are optimistic. The poll also highlighted sharp divisions in sentiment along racial, income and partisan lines.

These findings reflect a broader sense of uncertainty among Americans about the nation’s future trajectory.