Do Americans really want the United States to retreat from the world?
On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx sits down with Rachel Hoff, Policy Director at the Ronald Reagan Institute, to examine the Institute’s 2026 summer survey and what Americans actually believe about U.S. foreign policy, NATO, Ukraine, and America’s role on the global stage.
Hoff discusses polling showing strong support for American international engagement and the principle of “peace through strength,” including surprising findings among younger self-identified MAGA Republicans. The conversation also examines NATO, support for defending allies, U.S. weapons for Ukraine, European-funded weapons purchases, and what Americans believe a potential end to the Russia-Ukraine war should look like.
The conversation covers:
Hoff also explains how partisan politics can influence foreign-policy attitudes while broader support for American leadership remains remarkably resilient.
00:00 — Introduction
01:08 — Rachel Hoff’s background growing up in Japan
04:17 — The Reagan Institute’s 2026 summer survey
05:34 — Do Americans want greater global engagement?
07:12 — What younger MAGA Republicans actually believe
10:02 — How the Reagan Institute conducts its polling
13:49 — Reagan, Trump & “peace through strength”
16:23 — Partisanship and American global leadership
18:10 — Foreign policy vs. domestic spending priorities
20:05 — What Americans think about NATO
23:23 — American support for Ukraine
26:32 — European-funded U.S. weapons for Ukraine
29:34 — How Americans think the Ukraine war should end
32:06 — Russia, Ukraine & America’s allies and enemies
34:18 — Is America still a “shining city on a hill”?
36:09 — Where to find the Reagan Institute polling
36:50 — Closing