Poll Hub

We take a close look at the true role of the executive branch. From the limits outlined in the Constitution to the growing expectations placed on presidents, we explore how much power the Oval Office really holds versus how much the public thinks it should. As budget cuts hit beloved national parks, we dive into the relationship between federal spending cuts and the public's desire to protect the...

Could you go an entire month without the Internet? As technology advances, some argue we've become too dependent on it while others see it as unavoidable. Then, we shift gears to driving where most people think they are great behind the wheel and rate everyone else as less than stellar. We break down the numbers on road safety and people's attitudes about driving. Finally, our fun fact takes us ba...

For years, the debate over taxing the wealthy has been a key issue in political debates, but with billionaires now holding key positions in the Trump White House, are public attitudes shifting? We take a look at how Americans feel about taxation and how the issue splits by party. Then, from the Monopoly Man's missing monocle to misquoted movie lines, collective false memories have confused people...

The war between Russia and Ukraine has now dragged on for more than 11 years and it's been. over 3 years since Russia's full scale invasion. For most of that time, the U.S. has backed Ukraine financially and militarily but then Donald Trump returned to the White House and everything changed. We're looking at how American public opinion has shifted over the years and what a majority think of Trump'...

Tariffs are back in the spotlight, and while they're often framed as a tool for tough trade policy, the real cost tends to fall on consumers. As new tariffs target not just China but also our North American neighbors and European allies, we're taking a look at whether public opinion is shifting. Then, we're joined by Marist University Assistant Professor Dr. Sergio Pinto-Handler to discuss Cuba, a...

Six weeks into his second term, Americans have mixed feelings about President Trump's rapid-fire approach. While perceptions of the nation's direction have improved since 2023, majorities believe that Trump's deep cuts are causing more harm than good. We'll break down the numbers from our new NPR/PBS/Marist Poll survey. Next, scent is the strongest trigger of memory, and for many, a single whiff c...

As Black History Month comes to an end, Marist University's Dr. Robyn Rosen joins us to discuss the shifting national conversation on race and politics. With federal rollbacks of DEI programs, corporate moves away from cultural recognition, and evolving public attitudes, what does the future of civil rights look like? Then, while Americans seem to be increasingly rejecting the idea of toxic mascul...

President Trump's first month in office (Act II) has been a whirlwind of executive orders, controversial cabinet picks, and precedent-breaking calls to take over foreign countries. But since the most important issue to voters in 2024 was the economy, the team discusses why new polling suggests many Americans are questioning the administration's priorities. Then, another Trump action -- calling for...

Obesity and heart disease rates in America increased by almost 200% between 1999 and 2020. While obesity is one of several conditions linked to heart disease, it is the primary driver of this increase. Americans say they think it's a big problem, but far fewer think it's a problem for them personally. Then, everyone knows that Valentines Day is full of romance... assuming everything goes right! Fr...

Many Americans feel unprepared when it comes to managing their money. Are schools not teaching enough, or do we all need to be doing a little more? With Super Bowl Sunday approaching, our latest national poll takes a closer look at sports betting. Mobile betting is booming, but is it a win or a risk for Americans and the world of sports? We wrap it all up with a fun fact that might sting for some...

In the 2024 federal elections, candidates spent a staggering $3 billion, but does all that money truly influence voter decisions? We talk with UCLA Law Professor Rick Hasen about the role of campaign cash in politics and examine whether public financing initiatives are making a positive difference. Then, are we becoming too connected... or not connected enough? We explore the shifting attitudes su...

President Trump's recent tidal wave of Executive Orders has sparked a lot of debate among some in Washington, but will Americans care about his pardoning the January 6th insurrectionists or trying to end more than a century of birthright citizenship? There's mixed evidence. Loyalty programs were once hailed as a win-win for businesses and consumers, but now they are facing increasing skepticism. W...

As the Trump administration prepares to take office, Americans are (still) divided on key issues. From Trump's mass deportation plans to his possible pardons of convicted January 6th insurrectionists, we're going deep into the data from our latest poll with NPR and PBS News. We're also exploring how America's relationship with alcohol is changing. Could Dry January signal a broader trend towards s...

Recently, The New York Times ran a feature "How Top Pollsters Grade 2024’s Polls" that included Lee's analysis (and a sweet cartoon drawing of the legend himself!) and reached the conclusion, the polls were pretty damn accurate in 2024 despite the fact that most had Kamala Harris winning by a narrow margin. We discuss whether that's just wishful thinking or whether expectations have far outstrippe...

So-called May-December romances have been a standard feature in literature and movies...and life...forever. There are plenty of reasons for this but recently data has shown the age gaps narrowing. What's behind the change? Cognitive psychologist Dr. Haley Moss Dillon joins us to help us figure it out. Before we get to that, though, we always do an end-of-year poll with some fun holiday questions a...

This week on Poll Hub, we take a peek behind the curtain of our latest national poll to find out how voters are feeling post-election. Do they like Trump's transition actions so far? What about Biden's pardon of his son Hunter? Then,  Dr. D. Graham Burnett  of Princeton,  The Strother School of Radical Attention , and by extension, the  Friends of Attention , joins us to dig into the science behin...

Pollsters have been asking Americans about space for decades but the landscape -- spacescape? -- hasn't changed a lot. What began as a race to put a man in orbit between two superpowers has transformed into a race between private companies to make space travel cheap and easy. What do we think? Back here on Earth, you've probably noticed a lot more electric vehicles on the road over the last few ye...

Finally, get ready for a spirited debate with our "all-star" lineup for this week's Fun Fact. It's destined to steal the spotlight away from the turkey...although there's a surprising twist from the biggest football lover of them all!

Right, left, center? What is the "mainstream media"? Turns out the right answer probably is, no longer in existence. Our own Kevin Lerner, Marist Department of Communication Chair and an expert in journalism history, joins to help us figure out what dramatic changes in media and news means for democracy. Then, doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia, have been controversial topics for decades, lead...

Now that the election returns are (mainly) in, the exit poll data is available, and the pundits have weighed in, we're asking what REALLY made the difference for Donald Trump on Election Day. And that leads to a healthy discussion about whether most voters care more about issues or personalities. Since that took most of the show, we then cut right to the chase. We're bringing themed fun facts back...

The only time pollsters really know whether their work is accurate is on election days. This time around, the surprising outcome of the presidential race didn't mean the polls were off -- it's more of what we've come to expect in a 50-50 electorate. We're doing our first pass at this as we wait for full data to do a deeper dive. Then, we finish with a fun fact that St. Louis residents might not lo...

In this episode of Poll Hub, we dive into the fresh and final battleground numbers from Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Not only do these states form the so-called Blue Wall that any modern Democratic presidential candidate has to win, they're also home to three of the most competitive US Senate races. What do our final polls of these Great Lakes States reveal? Then, our insider's guide to...

We just released new numbers from the battleground states of Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina. While very little has changed since our polls from those states a few weeks back, there is a striking finding when we look at how voters are thinking about non-Presidential races on some ballots. Then, are authoritarian regimes really on the rise? We talk with author and professor @AnneMeng_ from @UV...

For decades, there's been a difference between how men and women vote. Not only which candidates they choose but how many register to vote and then show up at the polls. These so-called gender gaps are wider than ever. We take a look at recent polling data to explore why the political gulf between men and women is growing. Then, we explore the potential of year-round schooling in America. Dr. Caro...

This week, we take a closer look at fresh polling from the battleground states of Florida, Ohio, and Texas, where numbers might indicate closer races than expected...especially in these three states' critical senate races. Then, a recent @WSJ piece revealed how certain regions of the United States have become increasingly reliant on federal funding like Social Security, Medicare, or grants. We're...