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The states revealed as best to start a family amid cratering belief in the American Dream
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For those chasing the American dream, a new study has some insightful information about what it takes to attain it – along with data that might determine the best states to set down roots.
Declining marriages and broken families are crippling predominantly blue states, while red states thrive with better economic mobility, education and lower crime, according to a 2026 Family Structure Index released Tuesday by the Ohio-based Center for Christian Virtue.
In partnership with the Institute for Family Studies, the report examined three core factors: marriage rates, family stability and fertility rates. It also tracked cost of living, religious participation, family instability, and education levels, finding wide gaps across states that affect the «health and attainability of the American Dream.»
«This report should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and community leaders across the country,» CCV President Aaron Baer told Fox News Digital.
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A 2026 report by the Center for Christian Virtue and Institute for Family Studies compares red and blue states on family stability. (iStock)
Baer added that government programs alone «can’t replace strong families.»
«No amount of paid family leave, childcare subsidies, or social experimentation will rebuild the foundation that families provide,» he said. «If those policies were enough, states like California and New York would be leading the way. The data show otherwise. If we’re serious about reducing poverty and expanding opportunity, we need to strengthen the institutions that have always made America strong: faith, family, and economic freedom.»
The report finds that only 1 in 3 Americans believe in the American Dream.
The index clearly shows geographic divides. Red states like Utah rank first in family stability, while blue states like New Mexico trail behind.
Rocky Mountain and Great Plains states generally have higher marriage and fertility rates, according to the report.
Behind Utah, the rest of the top 5 states for family stability were Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.
The bottom five states: Vermont, Nevada, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and New Mexico.
These differences are now impacting where people choose to live, according to the report.
South Carolina, for example, has seen marriage rates rise and its ranking on this list improve; while Hawaii has fallen as marriage rates decline and housing costs remain high.
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As these pressures grow, more Americans are leaving high-cost blue states for more affordable red states.
«Strong families are the foundation of a healthy society,» Baer said in a press release. «This report shows that when family structure weakens, the effects ripple outward to our schools, our communities and our economy. But it also makes clear that this is not inevitable. There is a solution and a path forward.»
Notably, the report highlights a clear link between family structure and economic outcomes.
States with more married parents saw lower child poverty rates, better educational outcomes, less crime and stronger economies, while those with higher shares of single-parent households face long-term challenges.
Other contributing factors also emerged.
States with higher religious participation saw higher birth rates, while expensive housing markets are tied to lower fertility rates, according to the report. Education also plays a role as more college-educated adults are more likely to form stable families due to economic security.
Since 2000, the national index score has dropped from 100 to 87.3, signaling a decline in family structure, the report added. While marriage rates have stabilized in recent years, fertility rates continue to fall and pose lasting constraints for future generations.
However, these trends do vary across both red and blue states, according to a CCV spokesperson, who said the report «also underscores that these trends are not confined to any one region or political ideology.»
The findings have prompted calls for policy changes focusing on strengthening families and economic conditions.
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A 2026 Family Structure Index report finds red states outperform blue states in family stability, economic mobility, and education. (iStock)
«The lesson going forward is clear,» Baer said. «Red and blue states alike should advance policies that make housing more affordable, ensure good-paying jobs are within reach, keep taxes low, and expand access to quality education.»
Baer added this comes down to the impact of stable households.
Stable two-parent homes are linked to higher college graduation rates and a better shot at reaching the middle class, the report said. Married adults are also about 80% less likely to live in poverty than single adults.
«Family structure is one of the strongest predictors we have for whether children and communities are thriving,» University of Virginia sociology professor and lead researcher Brad Wilcox said in a press release. «States that are doing well in this area have markedly lower levels of child poverty, as well as higher rates of economic mobility and homeownership.»
For many, economic realities have continued to fuel skepticism about the American Dream. Since 1980, fewer adults ages 25 to 54 have been able to buy homes, and only about 50% of those born in the 1980s earn more than their parents—down from 90% among those born in the 1940s.
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Marriage rates fell sharply from 2000 to 2010, followed by a 17% drop over the next decade, as «upward mobility has been cut nearly in half over two generations,» the report said.
«This isn’t just about statistics,» Baer said. «It’s about real children and real futures. If we want to see our nation thrive, we have to be serious about strengthening marriage and supporting families in every community.»
family personal freedoms, economy, politics, state, faith personal freedoms, utah, republicans elections, democratic party
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Irán y EE.UU. preparan una nueva ronda de diálogo: negocian una moratoria en el enriquecimiento de uranio
Estados Unidos e Irán se preparan para mantener una nueva ronda de negociaciones, posiblemente el fin de semana otra vez en Pakistán, para acercar posiciones sobre los plazos de una eventual moratoria del enriquecimiento de uranio iraní y el futuro del estrecho de Ormuz.
El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, dijo que el diálogo se retomaría “en los próximos días” en Islamabad, la capital paquistaní.
“Deberían quedarse allí, de verdad, porque algo podría suceder en los próximos dos días y estamos más inclinados a ir allá“, dijo en una entrevista telefónica con un periodista del New York Post.
El gobierno paquistaní envió a ambas partes una propuesta formal en un intento por llegar a un acuerdo que ponga fin a la guerra en medio de un frágil alto el fuego que incluye un doble bloqueo estadounidense e iraní al estratégico estrecho de Ormuz, por donde pasaba el 20% del petróleo del mundo.
El punto clave hoy es el enriquecimiento de uranio iraní. Washington exige una moratoria de 20 años, entre otros puntos, mientras que Teherán acepta un plazo menor de tres a cinco años, segun varios medios estadounidenses como Axios, The New York Times y The Washington Post.
“Es difícil predecir qué consideraría aceptable cada parte. Sin embargo, creo que podría haber margen para un compromiso entre la congelación de cinco años propuesta por Irán y los 20 años de Trump”, dijo a TN el analista egipcio Mehran Kamrava, profesor de ciencias políticas de la Universidad de Georgetown, en Qatar.
Hay optimismo en Islamabad
El gobierno de Pakistán, el principal mediador en el conflicto, se muestra optimista sobre la posibilidad de volver a sentar a ambas delegaciones en una mesa de diálogo, después del fracaso de la primera ronda celebrada el fin de semana pasado.
“Las cosas se están moviendo positivamente y existe la posibilidad de que las delegaciones mantengan una segunda ronda de conversaciones a finales de la semana o principios de la siguiente”, dijo una fuente diplomática citada por EFE.
Irán desafió el bloqueo de EE.UU. al estrecho de Ormuz. : “El enemigo quedará atrapado en un vórtice mortal”. (Foto: Reuters)
El principal punto que aleja hoy a ambas delegaciones de un acuerdo es la cuestión nuclear. Pero las posiciones no son insalvables, según estiman analistas.
De hecho, la postura de la Casa Blanca no es inflexible. Los negociaciadores no exigen una prohibición total del enriquecimiento de uranio por parte de Irán, sino una moratoria de 20 años de toda actividad nuclear, con varios condicionamientos no detallados.
“Esto permitiría a los iraníes alegar que no renunciaron definitivamente a su derecho, en virtud del Tratado de No Proliferación Nuclear, a producir su propio combustible nuclear”, escribió The New York Times.
El gobierno de los ayatollah dijo que estaban dispuestos a aceptar una moratoria de hasta cinco años.
En la práctica, no es una propuesta muy diferente a la que Irán puso sobre la mesa de negociaciones en Ginebra en febrero pasado, pocos días antes de que estallara la guerra.
Leé también: “Pensé que tenía coraje”: Trump ahora cruzó a Giorgia Meloni por su defensa al papa León XIV
“Un gran desafío para el gobierno de Trump es que, para el régimen iraní, su programa de enriquecimiento nuclear ha sido fundamental para su causa durante muchos años. Forma parte de su identidad, es motivo de orgullo nacional y se ha esgrimido como una de las razones por las que la población debe soportar privaciones económicas”, dijo Christine Wormuth, directora de la Iniciativa contra la Amenaza Nuclear, citada por The Washington Post.
Irán sostiene que su capacidad nuclear apunta a fines civiles y pacíficos (como el caso de la Argentina), pero en los últimos años enriqueció uranio hasta niveles cercanos a los necesarios para la fabricación de armas nucleares.
Trump sostiene que Irán posee unos 450 kilos de uranio altamente enriquecido al 60% y exige su entrega. Según expertos, se necesita enriquecerlo hasta el 90% para construir armas atómicas. Irán se negó a desprenderse de este material, pero ofreció diluirlo para que no pueda utilizarse con fines nucleares. Pero este proceso puede revertirse.
De concretarse un acuerdo, no sería la primera vez que se pacte una moratoria. El acuerdo de 2015 firmado por Barack Obama preveía una prohibición de 15 años. Este pacto permitía a Irán enriquecer uranio hasta un 3,67% en cantidades limitadas para fines médicos y de investigación. Pero había un dato clave: en 2030 desaparecerían todas las restricciones. Trump rompió el pacto tras asumir su primera presidencia tras tildarlo de “horrible”.
Otros puntos claves en las negociaciones
El enriquecimiento de uranio no es el único punto que separa a ambas delegaciones.
También se deberá llegar a un acuerdo sobre el restablecimiento del libre tránsito por el estrecho de Ormuz, hoy virtualmente cerrado por Irán y también bloqueado por Trump.
Esta situación generó una crisis internacional que tuvo profundas consecuencias en el comercio mundial y en el alza del precio del barril de petróleo y de otros insumos. Irán exige el pago de un “peaje” sobre el paso marítimo, algo rechazado de plano por Washington y sus aliados occidentales.
Pero además, Trump exige el cese del apoyo iraní a sus grupos proxy como el Hezbollah libanés, el Hamas palestino o los hutíes de Yemen.
En contraste, Irán pide recuperar fondos bloqueados por las sanciones internacionales que ascienden a alrededor de 6000 millones de dólares producto de sus ventas petroleras. El dinero está retenido en Qatar.
“Existe un diálogo continuo entre Estados Unidos e Irán y se están realizando avances para intentar llegar a un acuerdo”, dijo un funcionario estadounidense citado por el sitio Axios.
En tanto, fuentes diplomáticas de países mediadores, como Pakistán, Egipto y Turquía, creen posible que el alto el fuego se extienda de 45 a 60 días para dar tiempo a ambas partes a limar un acuerdo que ponga un final a la guerra.
Irán, Donald Trump
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Tensions between Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday after the U.S. president publicly rebuked one of his closest European allies, accusing her of lacking «courage» and failing to support Washington’s efforts against Iran.
In a phone interview with Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump called Meloni «unacceptable» and said he was «shocked» by her stance, according to the outlet’s English-language version.
The dispute with Trump was further fueled by Meloni’s criticism of his recent remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, which she called «unacceptable,» prompting Trump to respond that «she is the one who is unacceptable.»
In a scathing rebuke of the Vatican’s call for Middle Eastern de-escalation, President Trump took to Truth Social to blast Pope Leo XIV. Labeling the Pontiff «WEAK on Crime» and «terrible for Foreign Policy,» Trump warned him to «focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.» The post, which quickly went viral, accused the first American Pope of «catering to the Radical Left» at the expense of global security.
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In the interview to Corriere della Sera Trump also reiterated criticism of Pope Leo XIV, saying the pontiff «has no idea what’s going on in Iran» and «doesn’t understand» what is at stake.
Tensions between Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
She «isn’t giving us any help, I’m shocked by her,» Trump said about Meloni in the six-minute conversation.
He went further, accusing Meloni of relying on Washington while refusing to act.
«They depend on Donald Trump to keep it open,» he said, referring to global energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The comments mark a sharp shift in tone toward Meloni, who attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration and was praised by him as «a great leader» just weeks ago.
The White House and Meloni’s office did not immediately respond.
The public rift comes as Meloni has begun distancing herself from both Washington and Jerusalem amid mounting domestic and political pressure over the widening Middle East conflict.
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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer applaud, following the official signing of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, during a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
On Tuesday, Meloni confirmed in a statement that Italy had suspended the automatic renewal of a long-standing defense cooperation agreement with Israel, signaling a significant recalibration in ties.
«In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,» she said, according to Reuters.
The move follows recent tensions between Rome and Jerusalem, including Israeli warning shots fired near Italian troops serving in southern Lebanon under a U.N. mandate, as well as growing Italian criticism of Israeli military operations in the region.
Israel downplayed the impact of the decision, saying the agreement was largely symbolic and «has never contained any substantive content,» Reuters reported.
In Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the government following Italy’s move.
«Italy’s decision to suspend the defense cooperation agreement with Israel is another embarrassing failure of the prime minister and the non-existent foreign minister,» Lapid wrote on X.
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is greeted by US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley (L) upon arrival at the White House South Portico in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. European leaders join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in talks with US President Donald Trump on August 18, as they try to find a way to end Russia’s offensive. The leaders heading to Washington on Monday to appear alongside Zelensky call themselves the «coalition of the willing.» (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
«Meloni is not a left-wing progressive European leader,» she added. «She belongs to the conservative right and understands the need to fight terrorism.»
Meloni’s shift reflects what analysts describe as a broader political repositioning, as the war’s economic fallout, particularly rising energy costs, weighs heavily on Italy’s import-dependent economy and public opinion.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Meloni, reaffirming Italy’s alliance with the United States while emphasizing that cooperation must be grounded in «loyalty, respect and mutual frankness.»
The escalating tensions highlight growing fractures within Western alliances as the U.S.-led confrontation with Iran reverberates across Europe, forcing leaders like Meloni to balance strategic partnerships with domestic political realities.
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A ship is seen passing through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)
The Israel Defense Ministry declined to comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
benjamin netanyahu, donald trump, war with iran, iran, foreign affairs
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Spanberger’s ‘unconstitutional’ push to redefine presidential elections makes voters ‘NULL AND VOID’: critics
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One of the Democratic Party’s rising star governors, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, is being slammed for signing a bill to award the state’s presidential electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.
The bill signed by Spanberger adds Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact, an interstate agreement between states to award the entirety of their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. Virginia Republicans railed against the bill, arguing it makes the state’s votes «NULL AND VOID.»
This comes as Spanberger, who was recently selected to deliver the Democrats’ response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, has seen her approval ratings plummet. Critics have accused her of abandoning her centrist campaign message to advance far-left policies.
Criticisms of Spanberger erupted anew after news broke that Spanberger had approved the bill. The Virginia Republican Party posted on X that «fake Moderate Spanberger just signed a bill to render Virginians’ vote for president NULL AND VOID!»
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A 4th grader works on an election-themed art project at Heather Hills Elementary School in Bowie, Md., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
The GOP said that under the bill, «all of Virginia’s Electoral College votes will go to the winner of the national popular vote — no matter who wins the popular vote in our Commonwealth.»
The party called the move «an unconstitutional assault on our democracy.»
However, Spanberger won praise from groups that oppose the Electoral College. Stand Up America, a progressive voting rights organization, hailed the move, with Executive Director Christina Harvey calling it «an important step forward for representative democracy.»
«Virginia has set another powerful example for other states of how to stand up for representative democracy even as they come under increasing pressure from the Trump administration,» said Harvey, adding, «The presidency should be won by the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide—not just the right combination of battleground states.»
She said, «this brings us one step closer to a system where Americans’ votes for President and Vice President count equally, no matter where they live.»
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact operates on a conditional trigger that keeps the law dormant until it can guarantee a victory for the national popular vote winner. While member states pass the legislation individually, the compact only activates when the total electoral weight of all participating states reaches a majority of the Electoral College, at least 270 electoral votes.
With Virginia officially joining, the compact currently sits at 222 electoral votes, meaning it remains 48 votes short of the threshold.
SPANBERGER DENIES ‘DEAL’ WITH SWING-DISTRICT DEMOCRAT AS GERRYMANDERING CLAIMS ABOUND STATEWIDE
The Virginia State Capitol during the inauguration ceremony of Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger in Richmond on Jan. 17. State Democratic lawmakers have introduced more than 50 new tax or tax increases to the legislature for things like dog walking, deliveries and dry cleaning. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)
Until that 270-vote mark is met, the law has no effect, and member states continue to award their electors based on their own internal state results.
National Popular Vote, the organization advancing the compact, also celebrated Virginia being added, saying in a statement that the compact «will guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.»
Patrick Rosenstiel, a spokesperson for National Popular Vote, told Fox News Digital he is «grateful» to Spanberger and the Virginia Legislature, saying «their support builds critical momentum for our movement to give 63 percent of American voters what they want, a national popular vote for President.»
«With Virginia’s 13 electoral votes, the National Popular Vote Compact is 48 electoral votes short of reaching the 270 required to activate it,» Rosenstiel noted, adding, «We’ll continue our state-by-state work until the candidate who wins the most popular votes is elected president and every voter is treated equally in every presidential election.»
The group noted that similar bills have been introduced in Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada.
Under the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, no voter will have their vote cancelled out at the state-level because their choice differed from plurality sentiment in their state. Instead, every voter’s vote will be added directly—without distortion—into the national count for the candidate of their choice. This will ensure that every Virginia voter is relevant in presidential elections moving forward.
Spanberger has also recently been accused by former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin of «illegal and unconstitutional» gerrymandering amid her push to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps.
Virginians will vote April 21 on Spanberger’s redistricting referendum, a move that Youngkin said would give Democrats 10 of the state’s 11 congressional seats.
Spanberger signed hundreds of bills passed by the majority-Democratic legislature on Monday. She also vetoed a few bills relating to unregulated skill-gaming machines and a proposed Fairfax County casino and sent back dozens with proposed amendments.
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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger responds to President Donald Trump’s, unseen, State of the Union. (Steve Helber/Reuters)
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Among the bills that Spanberger signaled support for with proposed amendments was a slate of new restrictions on gun ownership, including a ban on «assault weapons,» as well as restricting law enforcement from assisting with immigration enforcement.
Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger’s office for comment.
democrats elections, abigail spanberger, governors, virginia, the electoral college
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