Poll Hub

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel in what is being termed "Israel's 9/11." The terrorist attacks on civilians, including barbaric killings of children and a massacre at a music festival, have shocked the world. In the past, Americans have not had strong opinions on the conflict in the Middle East. But the most recent polling, from just before the attacks, showed Democrats have growing support for Palestine and Republicans are still hard set on supporting Israel. Will that change now?

Then, Republicans may have a hard time agreeing on a new Speaker of the House, but their constituents don't seem to love what they've done by kicking out Kevin McCarthy. Actually, most Americans don't support the move, but do they actually care?

Our new poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour is out and the data covers how Americans feel about the Republican candidates, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and the legal battles of both. The results show Americans making an interesting comparison.

Then, a silly question considering you're reading this: Are you a fan of podcasts? More and more Americans are but, with their success, comes a common modern media problem: misinformation. Melissa Kiesche from Edison Research helps us answer if we can trust podcasts like the one you're listening to now!

And, we finish with the fun fact that is perfectly suited for the season.

First, writers and actors walked out in Hollywood and now auto workers are picketing car factories. The companies involved have noted how much these strikes cost Americans in terms of missing entertainment and potentially higher car prices, but a majority of Americans appear to be on the side of the strikers. Maybe more so now than at any time in past half-century.

Then, new research shows there are big generational divides over the perception of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Not surprising, perhaps, but some of the details are.

And we end with a fun fact from the same universe: At what age did high schoolers have their first alcoholic drink back 1957? We get into a side discussion on what "have" means!

Federal government shutdowns are new, but they've become increasingly common as our politics has become ever-more polarized. But shutdowns during Clinton, Obama, and Trump all reflected much more poorly on one party. If House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shuts things down, will he help seal his party's fate in 2024?

Then, Americans are heading to the altar much less often than we did just a few decades ago. What's up? We're digging into a heap of data to understand why the bloom is off the (marriage) roses.

This week's fun fact has us wondering, would you go see the movie of your life?

Affirmative action has been overturned, so... what now? Barbara Mistick (@barbaramistick), president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, joins the team to discuss what this could mean for the future of colleges, diversity levels, and the job applicant pool.

Is parenting harder now than it was 20 years ago? New data says parents think it is. Dr. Kathleen Vigil, professor of education at Marist College, joins us to explain that, while parenting has never been easy, adding rapidly evolving technology into the mix seems to have created a perfect storm. 

And, special thanks to Katie Ferrara for her song "Apple Picking"...we love it!

Age. A tricky topic, especially in politics. A lot is being made of Joe Biden's age, but also that of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Diane Feinstein, and Donald Trump. Polls show Americans want younger leaders but...they keep electing old ones. Maybe it's not just about age...

Then, a new paper by some polling industry researchers has us asking their question: Are we asking the wrong questions in our polls? When nearly everything is viewed through a partisan (or tribal!) lens, how can we get respondents to tell us the truth? Maybe they actually already are.

And, we finish with a question that seems very dated. It's about a million dollar lottery. A million bucks? Isn't that what a scratch off is nowadays?

Joe Biden ran on a platform of dealing with the huge burden of student debt that impacts tens of millions of Americans -- many in their 30s and 40s. But now that the courts have killed his cancellation plan, will the administration's latest plan for trying to limit the damage so much debt is doing to families and the economy as a whole, actually work? And where do Americans land on these questions?

Then, a subject that's little discussed but is as old as time. Sex work. Technology has dramatically changed some things about sex work -- but not others. Dr. Samantha Majic from the John Jay Scholl of Criminal Justice and Dr. Melissa Hope Ditmore join us to discuss what's happening.

Finally, we are ending off on a meatless note. Our fun fact looks at vegans and vegetarians, are they going out of style?

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 Study

We 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.