As the United States enters 2026, the national mood regarding the country’s balance sheet is sour. Following a tumultuous 2025, marked by historic government shutdowns and record spending, a new report indicates that the vast majority of the electorate is demanding immediate legislative attention to the nation’s financial health—and, in particular, its $38 trillion national debt. According to the January 2026 index sponsored by the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation, released Wednesday, 82% of vote ...