Poll Hub

This has been a summer defined by extreme weather events. Record-breaking heat, deadly wildfires, intense hurricanes, unprecedented rainfall, devastating floods, and more. If all these symptoms of climate change have you worried, you're not alone. We talk with Dr. Steven Taylor about how the changing climate is leading to heightened anxiety, especially among younger people.Then, fast fashion brands like H&M and SHEIN are mainstays of the fashion world, producing new styles at a head snapping pace for eager consumers. But, at what cost to laborers and the environment? Jodi Hartmann from the Marist College Fashion program helps us dig in.Finally, did you want single or double espresso for your sixth grader? Our fun fact travels way back in time to a point where a lot of Americans thought that was a legit question (well, maybe not the espresso part).

Our latest poll is out, and we're breaking down the data on Trump's legal woes, Biden's approval rating, and the 2024 election.Then, we're switching gears to something more otherworldly... aliens. With the latest House hearings on ETs, we are looking at Americans' very weird and somewhat confounding views on such questions as, have aliens visited, are UFOs spaceships, and is the U.S. Government covering it all up? But maybe best of all...are clients friendly?Finally, we finish with a look to the past about the future of working. What would you say to a three-day workweek?

One of the most prominent culture war issues of our time is also one of the most dangerous...for kids. Transgender health care and rights are front and center in our political debate and, recently, conservatives have moved to focus on trans kids. We look at where Americans land in this discussion and dig into how schools are - and aren't - helping the children they're supposed to be educating and protecting.Next, almost no one argues America faces a housing crisis. There are simply too many people unable to find affordable homes to rent or buy. One problem is many Americans support programs to add housing but reject programs to do so in their own neighborhoods. We explore why that's probably more than just a case of NIMBYism.Finally, a fun fact that addresses the most important part of your day… the meal you can’t go without!

We begin by looking at the results of our new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. A majority of Americans agree that climate change is affecting their communities--whether from wildfire smoke, blazing temperatures, or disastrous floods. However, since 2018, the number of Americans who think climate change is a major problem or should take precedence over economic growth has decreased. We discuss why that might be.Next, how soon is too soon? A question the Poll Hub team asks as new numbers reveal that Trump is taking a clear lead amongst his GOP competitors. We discuss trends we have seen in the past, and if this election cycle is likely to follow.We end with a poll asking which animal would be the most preferable replacement for the bald eagle-- and let's just say that no one's first pick was a catfish.

Barbie is the hottest movie of the summer AND a battle in the culture wars. For this segment, we kicked the men out of the studio so the women on our team could talk about the journey Mattel's doll has made throughout the years. The intergenerational panel talks about the movie's themes of gender roles and feminist perspectives. And, as the movie faces mixed reviews, we hear reactions from the women on the Poll Hub team on which parts of the movie resonated with -- or confused them -- the most as well as their personal anecdotes surrounding Barbie dolls.Then, we bring the men back for a fun fact on a quality a majority of women find to be important in a husband. Don't worry-- it can easily be learned!

Most Americans believe that it is the government's responsibility to ensure the safety of the food they eat. Yet, opinion divides about whether or not these institutions have the best interest of the public in mind. With the World Health Organization's recent concerns about Aspartame, a common sweetener present in some of our food and drinks, individuals may be more likely to set aside diet sodas. Yet, other food safety concerns may overshadow the importance of this one.Then, while AI has been perceived as a means of cheating, some experts believe it can improve the classroom experience by fostering critical thinking. AI may prove to be a powerful motivator and tool for educators, but there are still challenges to overcome.With many people facing extremely hot weather this summer, the thermostat is one attempt at temperature regulation. But, what exactly is the magic number? The Poll Hub team is divided on this one!

Between the floods in NY and New England, the vast and historic heat wave across the Southwest, Canadian forest fire smoke creating historically bad air quality, and the earth having multiple back-to-back hottest days in recorded history all over the past month, you might not think climate change is still an issue. But, you’d be wrong. Still, a LOT has changed in how Americans think about it since Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth made it a mainstream issue.Next, voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Hey Google are in many American homes. We use them to turn on lights, check the baby, play some music, and add groceries to the list. They are the most ubiquitous form of AI but is this price of convenience a big threat to our privacy? Drew Prindle @GonzoTorpedo is a Senior Features Editor @DigitalTrends and joins the pod to answer that, and other questions that Siri and Alexa won't.Finally, the fun fact is pretty simple. How many pairs of shoes do Americans own? Is it sexist for Jay to think he knows how this will stack up by gender? Or is it sexist for society to force women to need so many shoes... We'll stop there.

A majority of Americans agree that teachers should be the ones responsible for setting school curriculum. However, book bans and laws prohibiting teachers from discussing content related to racial and LGBTQ+ issues highlight how politicians are getting directly involved in the education system. Public opinion shows parents think that the government has much more important responsibilities in protecting children from harm.The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued a warning in May about the danger social media poses to children's mental health. The document has recommendations that may not entirely line up with public opinion on the issue. Jacqueline Nesi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University (@jacquelinenesi), helps us decode the warning and suggests that a coalition of efforts will be necessary to protect children.With July Fourth behind us and the rest of summer laying out ahead, it's time to satisfy all of your summertime food cravings! This week's fun fact will have you reaching for...?

This special edition of Poll Hub represents a break from our past 299 episodes, not only because our student producers researched and wrote it all, but also because we focus on a single topic. We have special segments on earworms, one-hit wonders, and Americans' view of rock music, plus all this:We start with "Why music?" How did a podcast that covers public opinion and survey science end up with a special episode on music?Then, we explore the correlation between a person’s age when a song is a hit and how much they love that song years later. The scientific term for this is “music reminiscence bumps” and it occurs due to the intense emotional and hormonal development that happens during that age. Music creates strong emotional memories. In fact, the emotional attachment grandparents and parents have to the music from their youth carries on to their kids and grandkids.Next, it turns out the music we listen to can tell us about our personalities. Musicologist Nolan Gasser (@nolangasser) tells us how music shapes who we are and how we feel. He's the author of Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste and the architect of the Music Genome Project at Pandora.We follow with some science. It turns out that music can directly impact the chemicals in your body. Ellen Dissanayake, a former Affiliate Professor of Music at the University of Washington and the author of 5 books, describes how mother-infant songs help answer the question, "Which came first: music or language."Then, we turn to the business of music. A lot has changed about the way we listen to music in the past few years, but not as much as the way we buy it -- or don't! Jason Lipshutz, the Senior Director of Music at Billboard, explains how streaming music has overturned the industry, potentially giving artists more control over the careers, while also depriving them of income. And, yes, Taylor Swift is a big part of this conversation.Finally, we end, as always, with a sort-of "Fun Fact" -- this one involving the whole team and each of our brushes with music fame. One member of our team almost ran over the band she was going to see, and another stepped on the toe of a legendary singer but had no idea who he was.Many thanks to the Athen Hollis, Eve Fisher, and Emily DuPointe for their hard work. And additional thanks to all the students over the last five years who've helped make Poll Hub a great show to be a part of...and hopefully to listen to!

We start out by taking a look at the results of the new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll that was released Friday. The majority of Americans believe that Trump has either done something illegal or unethical. Republicans, on the other hand, still have a very favorable impression of Trump.It means he still likely has the inside line to the nomination, but other data in the poll suggests he would have a very tough time winning the general election if it were held today.While this is all uncharted territory, Nixon and Watergate does offer some parallels, including strong Republican support to the bitter end.

Many Americans have said the economy is in a recession for almost a year, but it's not. And, economic data shows that things are actually pretty good and/or getting better in terms of unemployment, income, and inflation. Why the disconnect? It's the same for crime – even though crime rates have generally been dropping for decades, a majority of Americans have said, in most years, it's getting worse. We unpack what's driving the divergence.Next, should teachers carry guns on campus? The RAND Corporation decided to ask...teachers, and the results are interesting. Teachers' opinions differed based on location, gender, and race. But, maybe most surprising, when asked about their main safety concerns at school, "active shooters" ranked seventh. "Bullying" was number one by a wide margin. Are we having the wrong conversation? RAND StudyWe end with a poll from 1965 which asked about predictions for 1985. Amidst questions about whether communism would be defeated and if we'd land a man on the moon, pollsters came up with a very different kind of question that's perfect for summer...even if it's pretty misogynistic to ask it.

The public health emergencies for COVID are largely over around the world and by nearly all accounts, people in most places are living like they did pre-pandemic. Yet, scientists warn the pandemic is not really over and plenty of risk from variants and new viruses remains. Did we learn anything from last three years? Or are we just happy to have gotten through it?Then, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made a deal on the debt limit that, barring any surprises in the Senate, should be a done deal before the June 5th default date. There's been plenty of political posturing aimed at swaying Americans but we wanted to know how much Americans actually know about how Congress spends our tax dollars. It isn't pretty.And with Memorial Day behind us, summer plans are coming into focus. If money was no object, where would you go? We checked out how Americans in 1950 answered that question and compared their responses to ours. How VERY different!

We start with a deep dive into the data of our new poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour. Americans favor the Biden position of raising the debt limit separately from any discussion about spending cuts, but, if default happens, they would pretty much blame both sides equally. Then, friend-of-the-poll and longtime Texas journalist John Sparks joins us in studio to help us understand if national Democrats should still be thinking the Lone Star state will soon turn purple. Colin Allred – former NFL star and current Congressman – is taking on incumbent GOP Senator Ted Cruz. But is it a pipe dream? And, since Sparks is perhaps the rare Texan who's also a GIANT Yankees fan, the fun fact unites Lee and John is a detailed discussion of polls showing their team to be the most loved...and hated...in major league baseball.

Since the start of the COVID pandemic, data shows more young people are choosing to skip college. High tuition costs and a very strong job market are partly driving this but, if it continues, will those who passed on college suffer over the long term? And, how can the economy deal with fewer skilled workers?Next, how much do you recycle? Polls show Americans are very pro-recycling and many of us do our part. But we look at data showing a lot of recycling might be going in the garbage.Finally, with graduation season upon us and the last day of school approaching, we found a Fun Fact from 1949 that asked Americans their thoughts about how students could spend their summers more "productively"...

A new book called Culture Shock explores how the pandemic affected the workplace and offers data-backed solutions to employers grappling with the new normal: Workers reluctant to come back to office full-time and employers desperate to fill those desks. Gallup's Jim Harter and Jim Clifton wrote the book and Harter joins us to discuss.A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Biden with a new low in support that lags behind both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. There has been a lot of coverage around this poll. People say it's an outlier, plain inaccurate, or that the journalists are incorrect about it. We break down the facts.Last but not least, we have a fun fact pitting Mother's Day and Father's Day against each other.

While marijuana is still federally illegal, it's legal in nearly every state for recreational or medical use -- or both. But new health studies raise the question, have states moved too far, too fast? We look at both public opinion data showing a lightning-fast change in public opinion and scientific research showing pot may not be as benign as many think. Then, our star team of student producers come to the other side of the microphone to talk about something they know much better than the regular geezer hosts: Does Gen Z face a tougher life ahead than their parents have? Athen, Eve, and Emily tell us how new polling data on that very question squares with their own experiences. Finally, the whole gang joins for a fun fact about the one thing everybody -- well - all but 7% in one poll - loves. Ice cream!!

First the team dives into the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll. It covers everything from Trump and Biden to abortion. We asked a lot of questions and we're breaking down all the results.For decades, the employment gap between black workers and white workers has always favored white workers, but is this gap shrinking? Guest Valerie Wilson @ValerieRWilson joins us to talk about a new study showing a shrinking gap and what this means for Americans.Finally, what's worse: being an only child or a twin? This week's fun fact will decide!

Axios recently ran a piece looking at Gallup Poll data showing 49% of Americans identify as independents -- a big increase over the past decade. But...is this really accurate? The Washington Post's Phillip Bump and Charles Franklin from the Marquette Poll have serious doubts. We'll explain why the Gallup data isn't really the issue. Next, has the pandemic made workers lazy? New data shows that workers are working fewer hours than pre-pandemic -- but there are big differences among different groups. We have special guest Anthony Klotz, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University College London School of Management, on and we're asking how much of the change can be attributed to the pandemic and how much is something greater. Finally, we dive into our fun fact that has us reminiscing. Want to feel nostalgic? We're figuring out the best way.

On April 6th, Tennessee House members Justin Pearson and Justin Jones -- who are Black and Democrats -- were expelled from the chamber by a supermajority of Republicans ostensibly for violating "decorum" by protesting on the floor of the legislature. They, along with a white Democrat who was not expelled, were protesting the Republican push to make it easier for Tennesseans to get guns in the wake of the mass shooting at a school in Nashville. Did that action go too far, even for Republicans?Next, ChatGPT is a new Artificial Intelligence program sweeping the nation, but is it as smart as the hype says it is? Turns out, at least in some cases, ChatGPT is making stuff up! And, in one case, it made up poll results so...we have some thoughts about that.Finally, we end this episode with our fun fact. Lee's gonna love this one. What's America's favorite sport? We're finding out!

Trump's indictment made history this week but will it make any difference to his support -- or lack thereof -- among various groups of Americans? We're looking back through over seven years of Marist Polls to see what history tells us.Then, there's been a precipitous -- even shocking -- drop in U.S. life expectancy. Dr. Scott Kush from the Life Expectancy Group is here to help us understand why. The obvious answer, COVID-19, doesn't really hold up since other countries quickly bounced back from declines.And, ever thought about life beyond Earth? This week's fun fact gets a little extra-terrestrial.

Our latest poll dives into topics like crime, a TikTok ban, restricting drag shows, and universal healthcare. Americans have their set opinions on some but you may be surprised about some others.On the heels of yet another mass school shooting in the U.S., we are looking at red flag laws -- one of the few gun restrictions that has some bipartisan support. How effective are they? What do Americans think about them?And, we finish with a Fun Fact that has us asking, what were those pollsters up to when they thought up this question?

FiveThirtyEight recently released its 2023 pollster ratings, and while the Marist Poll got a best-in-show "A", some in the industry question the accuracy and impact of the ratings. Natalie Jackson (@nataliemj10) from PRRI and the National Journal has some strong opinions on the matter and she's breaking down why this way of ranking isn't necessarily good.And, we end on a positive note. In this week's fun fact, we're finding out what decade Americans think has the best music.

A recent report from KFF found a discrepancy between the experiences men and women have when visiting the doctor or accessing medical care in other ways. A new KFF survey found women say they face a lot of dismissiveness and dehumanization and a Danish study from 2019 shows doctors diagnose illnesses in women later than men. Are they connected?Next up, that old saying “you’re only as old as you feel” is apparently pretty accurate – but also leads to a really interesting question -- “so, how old do you think you are versus what’s on your driver's license?” We’re bringing in a range of ages to talk over a new study about that subject.And, we end with a hearty: Erin go Bragh! Lee’s Fun Fact is all about the day we’re all a bit Irish – St. Patty’s Day! How do you celebrate?

Joe Biden has signed huge new programs to keep the American economy growing while also making it greener but there's a big problem -- there aren't enough workers to do it all. During the Trump Administration, legal immigration dropped substantially, and it hasn't rebounded much under Biden. Americans generally support legal immigration but are against illegal immigration. Is that distinction lost in the political crosstalk? Next, the team looks at the other side of the coin. With a lack of immigration and a workforce, how will Social Security continue to function? Americans seem to support and not worry about Social Security, but all signs point to it being in trouble. Finally, have we got a fun fact for you. We are looking at Brits vs. Americans. Who can fight more animals... or at least believes they can?

There's new CDC data showing a concerning trend in teenage girls' mental health. Feelings of sadness and hopelessness for teenage girls are much higher than for boys and the gap is widening. Guest Dr. Nicholas Allen @Prof_Nick_Allen breaks down how the pandemic and social media may have played a role in this, and how we turn a corner.Society often has a negative connotation of nepotism as seen in a recent poll, especially when it comes to politics. However, data shows Americans' feelings about it in their own lives is quite different.Finally, we get to this week's fun fact which all coffee lovers will want to hear. We're looking at 1949 and 2021 to see how America's coffee habits have changed. Do we go out more or have we become at home baristas?

Our latest national poll is out and we are giving an inside scoop on the numbers. Biden and Trump's approval ratings are showing notable trends. As the tech industry faces scrutiny in the Supreme Court, our data reveals what Americans think the government should do when it comes to regulation. And, we asked about American support for Ukraine in a way that tells a different story from some in the media.Next, we welcome Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief of USA Today (@susanpage) to discuss how CNN's Don Lemon's critiques of Nikki Haley have re-sparked the long, ongoing conversation about how women are treated in politics. The number of women in Congress is going up, but is this really proof of progress? Certainly Lemon isn't the first or last to criticize female candidates based on their gender, but does the reaction to it indicate things are getting better?And finally, have you ever thought about your forever flavor? We are with this week's fun fact.

Not to get to maudlin, but what happens when one of the most influential generations in American history dies out? In The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America, Washington Post columnist Philip Bump @pbump dives into this question. He joins us this week to knock down (some) Boomer stereotypes and to put into perspective just how much the generation changed politics, culture, and the economy. And, they’re not done yet! Bump talks about how the new battle between Biden and the Republicans over Social Security is a major part of Boomers' likely last act.We end with a question about what type of chocolate Americans prefer that quickly shifts to a more existential one: is white chocolate really chocolate?

Data shows Americans have been especially pessimistic lately when it comes to President Biden and the state of the economy. However, numbers show the economy is about as good as it's ever been and it's just fact that Biden has accomplished more in his first two years (whether you like what he's done or not) than nearly any other president in history. So what's behind this giant disconnect? We look at political science, public opinion science, and journalism to find some answers.Then, it's on to potential demographic changes in the 2030 Census. NPR correspondent Hansi Lo Wang @hansilowang walks us through the proposed changes and then helps us understand what they could mean for the Census, pollsters like us, and all the industries that rely on polling data.And, just in time for Super Bowl weekend AND Valentine's Day, a survey question of critical importance: Do Americans have a greater love of love or a love of sports? We have new data from our latest Marist Poll plus a surprising trend in the answer.

Our first poll of 2023 is out and we asked about a lot of things, including what Americans think the State of the Union is, Biden's latest approval rating, and how big a problem extremism is for both parties. We found some surprises there. We also asked about social media and Americans have an interesting take on the media's effects.Is tipping out of control? We look at how the pandemic has affected the practice of tipping in the United States. Internationally, the U.S. is one of the only countries in which tipping is common and, with so many service worker in tip-based jobs living at or below the poverty level, we ask, is it realistic to keep the practice?In honor of Groundhog Day and the ultimate question of two more weeks of winter or spring, we look at who Americans trust more: a furry animal or the TV weather star.

The recent Speaker of the House election ended with Kevin McCarthy winning (barely) and with Americans having little confidence Congress will accomplish anything in the next two years. Americans hope their representatives work with Biden, but do not seem optimistic. It comes as the Biden Administration resets for both a divided government and an expected re-election campaign. How will the mess in the House influence the 2024 race?Then, we get into rank choice voting. After its Broadway debut in the New York City mayoral elections in 2021, it played a starring role in the Alaska elections in which a Democrat beat two Republicans – including Sarah Palin – to become the state’s lone House member. There are at least 27 bills being introduced across the country to use RCV. Has its time finally arrived? We finish with Lee's Fun Fact from 1990 looking at what music Americans were listening to...and we have some issues with how the survey was written.

Even as Americans in general have slowly moved away from identifying as either a Democrat or Republican over the past couple of decades, younger voters are already there. In fact, Millennials are bucking a trend among Boomers and members of the Silent Generation who’ve become less likely to be independents as they age – Millennials have become continuously more likely to identify as independents.Then, a recent study from Stanford published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science found the stress of living through the pandemic physically changed adolescents' brains and prematurely aged them by at least three or four years. So, it appears that the pandemic not only adversely affected adolescents’ mental health, but also accelerated their brain maturation. These findings have critical implications for researchers who are conducting longitudinal studies that were interrupted due to pandemic-related shutdowns. Our special guest is Dr. Ian H. Gotlib (@GotlibLab) from Stanford University who is a co-author of the study.We finish up with Lee's Fun Fact from 1949 when Americans had high hopes for the Atomic Age.

Almost since the founding of the nation, immigration has been a political flash point. Since 2016, when Donald Trump rode his pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to the White House, most Republicans have supported very tight restrictions to immigration of all types. Over the last year, the number of people crossing the southern border has hit record levels and, this week, Biden made his first visit to the border as President. So, we're marking the occasion by looking at polling on immigration over the last 30 years -- and we've found some surprising changes.Next, we welcome back Marist Communications/Journalism professor Kevin Lerner (@KLerner) to talk about how social media has moved away from being a virtual town square and the "great leveler" to being a series of tribal destinations. Now sites for specific groups have gained traction, especially political ones. Twitter has been challenged by a host of conservative apps like Parler, Gettr, Truth Social, Rumble, and Gab. And, as Elon Musk made big moves at Twitter to un-ban some infamous right-wing extremists, liberals have headed to Post.social, Mastadon, and Hive. As part of our conversation, we're releasing results from our December poll on Musk's Twitter purchase. Marist Poll Tables (Musk/Twitter)We finish with a Fun Fact that's older than Lee! It's all about how bad we can be at predicting the future. Plus, we get to close out the show with a favorite TV show theme song.

The first week of 2023 has brought a historic spectacle to Congress.Republicans eked out the majority in the House in the midterm elections but can't agree on a Speaker. Whatever eventually happens, what will it mean for how the House operates (or doesn't) over the next two years? How about for Republican and Democratic changes in 2024? We look at our recent polling data to see what Americans think of Congress and what they expect of this already dysfunctional 118th Congress.Then, CNN's Polling & Analytics Editor, Ariel Edwards-Levy (@AEdwardsLevy) joins us to talk about a recent high-profile New York Times article that has raised a fair amount of ire among pollsters. What's the problem? We're talking aggregators, polling methods, responsible journalism, and taking responsibility. Heavy stuff!We end in 1957 with a Gallup Poll that asked a question that needs to be read carefully, lest the answers give the wrong impression.

The U.S. Census reports there are now more than 1 million same-sex couple households in the nation and our expert guest, Dr. Shoshana K. Goldberg, Director of Public Education & Research at the Human Rights Campaign, says it's more than just a milestone. In the same month that the President signed a bi-partisan bill to make same-sex marriage legal (the Supreme Court ruled that way several years back but it was never written into a law), our new poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour charts the dramatic changes in how Americans see this ritual.For our final Poll Hub of 2022, we take a look at our annual year-end poll which surveys Americans about how they approach the season (festive or frustrated), how they're shopping (online or in-store), and what the most annoying word of this year has been. Then, we head into the Roper archives to pull out three seasonal poll questions from the past so we can survey our entire team to see what they think. And predictably, we have something to say about the questions!

As 2022 winds down, Washington will see big changes as a new Congress will be seated in a few weeks – with a big difference over the current one – Republicans will control the House. What do Americans expect from this arrangement? Our poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour indicates there's little hope for much accomplishment and Americans broadly agree on something else: our democracy is seriously threatened.Then we welcome McClatchy's veteran Congressional reporter David Lightman to get a deeper understanding about what’s likely coming. What will the divided government Americans voted for in November do – especially with 2024 already on the horizon and a potential Trump-Biden rematch sucking up all the oxygen in the room. And, we’re wrapping with a seasonal Fun Fact with polls from opposite sides of the globe. Ho ho ho! Let’s go!

The 10th anniversary of the horrific mass school shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut is on December 14th, 2022. The people of the town have noted prior anniversaries quietly and that’s expected again. But 10 years on, we wanted to see what – if anything – had changed: in policy, in public opinion, in the number of additional shootings.Then, the pandemic sparked a mass early retirement party for older Americans and that could be very problematic – maybe not for them but certainly for everyone else. We’ll explain.And, we end with...a very final end...extinction. It’s a poll question we would have never thought to ask. Intrigued?

Sure, the 2022 elections aren't even officially over yet, but with Trump already announcing his run for President in 2024, we're looking at new polling showing he may be facing a very uphill climb. Then again, Joe Biden is no more popular for 2024 so what -- or who -- do Americans want? The data suggests they may not know, but they do know who they DON'T want.Next up, smoking is making a comeback but not exactly the way you might think. Young adults are smoking cigarettes less than ever, but they're smoking something a little more green at increasing rates. We're also looking at how smoking rates are linked to geography, education, and politics -- is it correlation, causation, or coincidence?Finally, while we're on the topic of cigarettes, Lee's Fun Fact takes us back to 1939, when cigarettes were only one popular way to ingest tobacco.

The "Red Tsunami" was downgraded to a "Red Wave" on election night before ending up as a "Red Ripple." So, why did so many in politics and the media get it wrong? A lot are blaming "the polls" but we're explaining why that is simply not true. As we've said on Poll Hub for years, quality polls are entirely different from aggregators that average surveys from everyone -- including organizations with no track record and no transparency about their methods or funding. So...we have some advice.Then, looking at the main issues of concern to voters in the midterms, the opioid crisis barely registered, despite killing over 100,000 Americans last year. Freelance journalist and recovering addict Zachary Siegel (@ZachWritesStuff), who also hosts Narcotica Podcast (@Narcocast) about mental health and addiction and co-writes Substance, a Substack about drugs and crime, is here to help us understand the disconnect. Zach takes us on a deep dive into why such a huge problem, that's impacting so many American families, isn't more important to voters.We end the show with some food for thought, and everyone's got a different opinion on Lee's yummy Fun Fact this week.

We made it! Election Day is behind us and most of the votes have been counted, so, now it's time to see how WE did. Our final polls showed close races and we were on the money. We discuss how we changed how we poll in order to adapt to a changing world and how that may have made our polls more accurate. We're also sorting through the rubble of the massive number of new and/or untested polls that flooded many states late in the game. Did they change the narrative this year for better or worse?Speaking of which, how did all those polls get rolled up and incorporated into the aggregators and forecasters that have become so popular with political pundits and reporters? This was NOT a good cycle for them and we explain why. Plus, how those arguing for the politeratti that give more weight to the early vote data were proven correct.And, we POLISH up this week's episode with an interesting one from the halcyon bygone fifties. What item were people buying in grocery stores, five & dimes, and shoe stores? And why does Lee think about football when he hears about it?

We're diving deep into the data from our new national poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour to spot the national trends that are shaping this election. While many results seem to favor Republicans in general, one really stands out for how big a change it is from prior years' polling -- and it could signal a stronger Democratic showing than some expect.We've also wrapped our final battleground state polls and the results from Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona are a mixed bag for both parties. There are very close senate races that will be decided by whose voters actually cast ballots on Election Day itself.We end with a not-at-all Fun Fact from 1937 that asked voters some very pointed questions about religion and gender. Why? Because history may not repeat, but it echoes...

We've been polling key states since Labor Day and this week we released new numbers from Ohio and North Carolina. Both feature retiring GOP Senators, meaning open seats with no incumbents. Democrats are hoping to grab one or both to add to their bare-minimum majority while Republicans want to keep them in their column. Ohio shows a notable increase in the top concern of voters... what has changed since our last report? In North Carolina, the race is close as a surprising number of voters still don't have an opinion of either major candidate.Next up, some call them smartphones, others, "adult pacifiers." We're joined by Shiri Melumad (@ShiriM528), Assistant Professor of Marketing and Wolpow Family Faculty Scholar at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (https://marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/_whrtn71/ ), who gives us an insight into the world's attachment to smartphones. Are phones bad? Good? Both? Neither? And, should we differentiate between the content we see and the actual phone itself?Finally, a seasonal Fun Fact. We pulled up a 1960 poll to see what time of year people enjoyed the most, and, let's just say, we don't really agree with most in that survey.

We devote the episode to our conversation with Steve Thomma, who's been involved in covering the White House as a reporter since Ronald Reagan's second term and now serves as Executive Director of the White House Correspondents' Association.Steve talks about how the relationship between the White House and the journalists assigned to cover it has seemed to worsen almost continually since the 80s. He notes the criticism of both the Trump and Biden teams and how more access to the President hasn't always meant better information.We also talked about how reporters deal with Presidential untruths -- "lies" is a word only recently used by major American media -- and how the press has evolved to report on them. And, what about candidates and politicians refusing to talk to, or even allow into news conferences, reporters they don't like? Steve has some thoughts about that.Then, to wrap up, we invite Steve -- a Chicagoan -- to explain how his hometown could fall so far behind NYC in a critical poll from 1955. He also explains, in minute detail, what makes a Chicago hot dog so superior to all others.

First stop, colorful Colorado. It seems like both parties are revved up for the upcoming election, with big majorities of Dems and Republicans saying they will definitely vote. What does this mean for the incumbent Democratic governor and senator?The Lone Star State is next, and Texans on both sides are surprisingly confident in elections to be "fair and accurate" in November. Will the o'reliable red state remain red, or could Beto O'Rourke find success this time around?And finally, New York. In such a heavily Democratic state, incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul should be a shoe-in. After all, not many states give President Biden a high approval rating, but will campaigning on crime pay off for Republican Lee Zeldin?

Our latest national poll with NPR has good news for Democrats...and Republicans with roughly four weeks to the midterms. For instance, Joe Biden's approval rating keeps trending up but Republicans are more enthusiastic to vote. And then there's this: We asked if people thought their favored candidate should concede if he/she/they lost the election. We dig into all the results.Next, crime has been a long-time GOP campaign issue and why not? Over many decades, more voters see Republicans as better able to handle it than Democrats. But, will it work this time around or will it be trumped by other issues important to swing voters such as abortion?And, for Lee's Fun Fact, the team discloses their own bad habits as we talk about Americans' most likely guilty pleasures engaged in when no one else is around.

Our battleground state polling continues, as we take a look at Arizona and Pennsylvania. In one way, little has changed in Arizona since the nail-biting 2020 results, as the Governor's race is nearly dead even. But what is different is what appears to be ticket splitters giving the Senate contest a very different look. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is looking pretty solidly blue, as Democratic candidates in both races lead with considerable margins. We have looked through the data to understand what groups in each state are driving the divergent results.Next, it's all about predicting the future as we focus on polls and forecasts. We're joined by Data Editor for The Economist (@TheEconomist), Dan Rosenheck (@DanRosenheck), who easily switches between detailed explanations of how he's built the publication's election forecast model for the midterms to why so many people misunderstand how forecasts differ dramatically from polls. And, he gives the odds on Aaron Judge beating Roger Maris's record.Finally, let's face the (fun) facts- growing old is a part of the road trip of life, but where will you end up? Do people retire to the place they want to or the place that just makes sense?

Our first election season polls of battleground states start in Georgia and Ohio where marquee Senate races are very close but the contests for governor in both states are less so. We look deep into the numbers to explain what's going on and what to watch for in the final seven weeks of the campaign.Next, American families are cutting back on spending...and commitment. Our latest poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour shows a tough time for family finances but a great labor market. NPR's Global Economics Correspondent, Stacey Vanek Smith (@svaneksmith) joins to discuss what our results might mean and what she heard from some of the people we polled and she called.We finish with this week's fun fact which comes from the distant past (well it was Lee's birth year so not THAT distant). We thought the answer to a 1951 poll question was so interesting that we'd ask it again in 2022. More then seventy years later, the answer is both very different and oddly similar.

Does history repeat or just echo? Plenty of smart people have begun looking at the state of our hyper-partisan and hyper-fractured political landscape in America and fearing we're headed for a new civil war.One of them joins us to discuss why the idea isn't so outlandish to those who look at what has precipitated civil wars in recent decades.Stephen Marche, author of The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future, says there are plenty of warning signs but, if one came to pass, it wouldn't look anything like the one we experienced over 160 years ago.And, catch this: a majority Americans think a new civil war is possible.You can follow Stephen Marche on Twitter @stephenmarche, or find his book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Next-Civil-War/Stephen-Marche/9781982123215

The FBI's investigation into the removal of documents from the White House by former President Donald Trump is stirring the pot amongst voters. Did he do something illegal, unethical, both, or neither? And, how does this affect his Republican base? We discuss this and more as we look toward the 2022 midterm elections.Next, the everlasting effect of the COVID pandemic on school kids' education. We are joined by the Director of the Center for School and Student Progress at NWEA (formerly Northwest Evaluation Association), Dr. Karyn Lewis, who further explains just how far behind kids are in their curriculum post-COVID, as well as alarming school testing results. Where do we go from here and how do we get back on track?Finally, we're talking about Joe…coffee that is. Take a sip and sit back as we take a look at how many people actually drink coffee in the United States and how this has changed from years past.You can follow Dr. Karyn Lewis on Twitter @karynlew and @NWEA for more information.

The Poll's America Now Index has been reporting on the mood of the nation for several years and has never been quite like this. There's no getting around that America's mood is dreary and inflation is not the only (or maybe even main) reason. The funk is widespread as all four categories we track fell and several specific areas hit historic rock bottom. Some reasons may be obvious but looking deeper at the data yields some additional clues of where we are -- and where our mood may be headed.Boston-based think tank Populace released a report in August that detail significant gaps between what the authors called peoples' "public" and "private" opinions on hot-button issues like COVID masking, abortion, public schooling, and racism. To determine what these "private" opinions are, Populace used a time-tested method employed by researchers for decades. But they used it in ways that may not show exactly what they say.And, for the Fun Fact...laughter. Do you laugh out loud when you find something funny? Most of us do, but not everyone has that kind of funny bone.

The conventional wisdom in politics all year has been Republicans will win back the House and maybe the Senate on the wings of Joe Biden's low approval ratings and the economy's high inflation rate. But, ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, that narrative has been suffering. On Tuesday, New York voters chipped away further. We look deep into contests right in Marist's backyard to see what the results really say about the November midterms.Next, we welcome author and U.C. Santa Barbara lecturer Bella DePaulo (@belladepaulo) who coined the term "Singleism" more than a decade ago. Now it's in the dictionary. She explains how society and the law discriminate against single people -- single women especially -- and why some studies about how staying single is hazardous to your health are bunk.Then, we return to the subject of last episode's Fun Fact -- ice cream. Why? Do we really need a reason? This time, we're looking at a bunch of data from the U.S. and the world to see what flavors are the biggest faves. And make sure to stay to the end to hear about the weirdest flavor Jay has ever had. Hopefully it won't "bug" you too much...