And a few examples of this phenomenon? “About 30% of CNN viewers and 32% of CBS viewers said the national debt was only $5 trillion or less. For context, the U.S. national debt has not been that low since 1995, more than 25 years ago,” Mr. Haskins said. Yes, well. As of Tuesday, the U.S. national debt was $28.1 trillion, according to the Treasury Department. Meanwhile, Fox News viewers and audiences who watch one of the aforementioned alternative networks were most likely to accurately identify the national debt, with 35% and 37%, respectfully, making the correct selection. The intricate poll of 2,000 likely U.S. voters was conducted by Rasmussen Polls for the Heartland Institute April 29-May 3 and released Tuesday. The survey queried respondents on the U.S. national debt, the percentage of Americans without health coverage, and tax rates paid by wealthy individuals and families. Find the results at Heartland.org.