Poll Hub
Each week, Poll Hub goes behind the science to explain how polling works, what survey really show, and what the numbers actually mean. Poll Hub is produced by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, home of America’s leading independent university public opinion poll, the Marist Poll. Lee Miringoff (Director of MIPO), Barbara Carvalho (Director of the Marist Poll), Jay DeDapper (Director of Strategy + Innovation), Mary Griffith (Associate Director), and frequent expert guests, dig deep to give you a look at the inner workings of polls and what they tell us about our world, our country, and ourselves.
How Did the Polls Do?
The 2026 midterm results are in! We break down who won, highlight the races that made the biggest impact, and discuss what the outcomes could mean for the future of American politics, from control of Congress to the gubernatorial races. We also look back at the contests we polled this fall, from Texas and Iowa to Ohio, Michigan, Maine, and New York. And about those polls... we take a look at how the final numbers stacked up on Election Day.
Plus, a fun fact that Elon Musk will love. In July 1997, just days after NASA’s Pathfinder landed on...
What’s a College Degree Worth?
Our final round of polls before Election Day is out, and we're looking into our data on Maine and New York. In Maine, the contest for U.S. Senate between Democrat Troy Jackson and Republican incumbent Susan Collins is competitive among likely voters. In the race for governor, Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles are tied, with independent Rick Bennett in single digits. Regardless of whom they support, most likely voters think Collins and Pingree will win. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul leads Republican Bruce Blakeman among likely voters. In both states, negative views of President Donald...
Safe Bets? Prediction Markets on the Line
Our new Marist Ohio and Michigan Polls look at the state of the 2026 midterms with Election Day looming. These polls now include likely voters, and in both, the critical U.S. Senate races are very close. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are neck-and-neck, and in Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown just edges Republican Jon Husted. Among registered voters, both Democrats hold leads similar to what they had in our September polls. Democrats have bigger advantages in the races for governor in both states, with Jocelyn Benson ahead in Michigan and Amy Acton ahead in Ohio. We...
Will the Cornell Case Lead to Real Changes
We return to Texas and Iowa with our second round of Marist Polls this election season. With Election Day just weeks away, the key races look much as they did in September. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico continues to edge Republican Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, and the governor’s race between Gina Hinojosa and Gov. Greg Abbott remains competitive. In Iowa, Democrats Josh Turek and Rob Sand also have the edge in the races for Senate and governor. We look at President Trump’s influence on the midterms and the issues shaping voters’ choices in two states he car...
Boomer Retirement Surprises
We've been doing a lot of polling lately, and our latest batch hits close to home! We polled voters in New York and Maine to find out what they're thinking and for whom they might vote. We dig into the data to explain why a relatively unpopular governor, Kathy Hochul, is up by 11 points in New York. And, we check out how famously independent Down East voters are weighing their options: Pick the beats-the-odds incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins or go with a Democrat.
For segment two, we look at how the largest and richest retirement group...
Midwest Midterm Matchup
Ohio and Michigan are two states to watch in this year's midterm elections. We break down our latest Marist Poll numbers in both states, including the contests for U.S. Senate in Ohio and Michigan as well as their respective gubernatorial contests.
We also examine the role President Trump is playing in voters’ choices in these two Midwestern states. For some voters, their congressional vote is primarily a vote against the president. We dig into how those views are shaping the political landscape in Ohio and Michigan.
The economy is also part of the picture. Oh...
Could These Red States Really Turn Blue?
The 2026 midterms are getting closer, and the latest polling gives us a look at where voters stand. This week on Poll Hub, we dig into our latest national poll, examining the congressional elections, the political landscape, the economy, and the issues shaping voters’ choices. We also take a closer look at new polling from Texas and Iowa and what those state-level numbers tell us about the political environment heading into November.
Then, we turn to a different kind of number: the price you pay. Surveillance pricing uses personal information, including location, browsing history, shopping behavior, and other da...
Killer AI Goes Mainstream
This time on Poll Hub, we’re devoting the episode to one topic that has, over the course of about a week, taken over the minds of Americans: Killer AI.
Although prominent experts have been warning about the possibility of superintelligent AI wiping out humanity for years, this week the conversation broke through into the mainstream. We dig through the muck to explore how AI experts are coming down on different sides of the argument, and how non-experts, including Donald Trump and other politicians, are weighing in as well.
We also remember that, just a fe...
Blame Canada? How Trump's Trade War Could Impact the Midterms
President Trump's latest trade war, this one with Canada, has sparked big tariffs, rising costs, and the possibility of electoral backlash in several states that will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress. The team looks at what Americans think of all this overall, but also how Republicans -- especially MAGA Republicans -- have darkened on Canada. And we look at how it's playing in states like Ohio and Michigan whose economies are deeply tied to Canada -- and where two key Senate races could be decided by the issue.
Next, we have done many segments on...
Flock Cameras: The Next Surprise Election Issue
Flock cameras are becoming an unexpected political issue, with Americans increasingly divided over the balance between public safety and privacy. We look at new polling on automated license-plate readers, including why many people recognize their potential to help solve crimes while remaining concerned about the collection, storage, and use of location data. We also examine the growing push for independent oversight and restrictions on how law enforcement can access the information.
Then, we turn to the ways our own childhoods shape the way we raise children. Americans are nearly evenly split between raising their kids similarly to...
Problem Polls, Billionaires, and One Big Goodbye
Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary delivered one of the biggest polling misses of the cycle. The final Marquette Law School Poll had Francesca Hong well ahead of the field, while eventual winner David Crowley remained in the single digits. A few weeks earlier in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed eked out a win in the Democratic Senate primary after polls had shown him running away with it. So, what happened? G. Elliott Morris joins the Poll Hub team to break down where the polling went wrong, why primaries can be especially difficult to measure, and what lessons pollsters can carry into th...
Changing Roles, Changing Rules
Women have transformed the American workforce, but the expectations surrounding work and family have not changed at the same pace. We look at how the traditional family model has shifted, from an era when Americans overwhelmingly believed mothers should stay home to today, when two parents working full-time has become much more common. Yet even when both parents work full-time, women continue to report taking on more parenting and household responsibilities. We also examine the progress women have made in leadership, education, and well-paying jobs, alongside the continued gender pay gap, and the divide over whether children are better...
The Future of MAGA
As the 2026 midterms approach, we're taking on a defining question in American politics: is MAGA the same as Trump, and is Trump the same as the Republican Party? MAGA has become the party's public face, yet many of Trump's own voters don't consider themselves part of the movement. We examine whether that coalition can hold together with Trump off the ballot, what happened the last time his name wasn't on it, and why one party is heading into November noticeably more motivated to vote than the other. It may be the clearest test yet of whether MAGA is bigger...
Are Data Centers the 2026 Election Surprise?
Artificial intelligence may be transforming the way we work, but the infrastructure behind it is creating new questions for communities across the country. As demand for AI grows, so does the need for massive data centers that power everything from cloud computing to new AI tools. While supporters point to jobs, investment, and economic growth, many Americans are raising concerns about electricity use, water consumption, environmental impacts, and whether local communities should bear the costs of powering the AI revolution. And the issue is blasting into election campaigns across the country ahead of the mid-terms. Is this the sleeper...
Looksmaxxing: New Name, Same Old Problem?
Americans are spending more time, money, and energy trying to change how they look. Many adults want to lose weight; millions are using GLP-1 drugs, and the anti-aging industry continues to grow. For teens, appearance concerns are increasingly shaped by social media, with girls reporting especially high levels of pressure to look good. At the same time, the rise of looksmaxxing shows how boys and young men are also being drawn into increasingly intense, and sometimes dangerous, efforts to improve their appearance.
Next, we're talking about “job lock" -- that's what a growing number of workers are in...
Pop Sports Politics: Too Much Mixing?
Politics is no longer confined to campaigns and government. It now appears across sports, music, movies, social media, and celebrity culture. In this episode, we explore how Americans feel about athletes and entertainers speaking on political and social issues, whether those messages influence public opinion, and why many people think politics has become too present in everyday life. And, we remember that, while this is not really new, from the 1968 Black US Olympians in Mexico City to politically-charged Oscars shows, it does seem more widespread than ever.
Then, we look at the continuing disability employment gap. More...
Age and Congress: How Old is Too Old?
In a week where one Senator died and another released hospital photos after public questions about whether or not he was alive, we're looking at what Americans think about our elderly political class. While Americans remain deeply divided on many political issues, there is broad bipartisan agreement on proposals like congressional age limits and term limits. This week, the Poll Hub team explores what the latest polling reveals about how Americans view the age of their leaders, why the issue has gained new urgency, and what the public wants the future of political leadership to look like.
...
China: Enemy? Competitor? Frenemy?
This week on Poll Hub, we begin with the complicated relationship between the United States and China. Americans see China as one of the country’s most important global rivals, especially when it comes to trade, technology, national security, and influence abroad. But public opinion is not only about conflict. Many Americans also understand that China remains deeply connected to the U.S. economy, making the relationship one that is difficult to define in simple terms.
Next, we look at a different kind of trust: the trust Americans have in one another. While declining confidence in government an...
Happy 250th Birthday, America!
America on its 250th birthday. As the country prepares to mark the occasion, public opinion shows a complicated picture of national pride. While many Americans still say they are proud to be American, that pride is not felt equally across political parties, generations, or views of the country’s future. This week, the Poll Hub team looks at what American pride means today and how it compares with earlier moments in U.S. history.
Then, we turn to another major generational moment: the oldest Baby Boomers turning 80. As millions of Americans enter older age, questions about death, ca...
Pride, Politics, and the Acceptance Divide
More Americans than ever identify as LGBTQ+, but the story of acceptance in the United States is becoming more complicated. As Pride Month comes to a close, we look at new polling that shows LGBTQ+ visibility at a record high, while public acceptance has slipped in recent years, and we are joined by Michael Bronski, whose landmark book, A Queer History of the United States for Young People, has just been re-released in a revised and expanded 15th anniversary edition. The updated volume now spans more than 500 years of history, bringing the story of LGBTQ+ Americans into the 21st...
World Cup...No Fever?
In our latest poll with NPR and PBS News, Donald Trump hits several record lows on his approval among Americans. The economy appears to be the main driver of this as rising costs continue to shape daily decisions, from filling up at the gas pump to planning a summer getaway. While most Americans still expect to take a vacation, many say financial pressures have forced them to adjust their plans. We also look at the political implications of those economic concerns as President Trump's ratings continue to slide. His approval on the economy has fallen to a new low...
Trillionaires in Space, or, To the Moon, Elon!
This week, Poll Hub examines the intersection of space exploration, private wealth, and public trust. SpaceX is preparing for a historic IPO that will make the company the most valuable in the world, at least for a time. It should also push Elon Musk’s personal wealth to a level never seen before. The conversation goes beyond the stock market to ask what this moment says about concentrated wealth in America, the role billionaires (and now trillionaires) play in public life, and how Americans view the relationship between money, influence, and power.
We also examine the future of...
Scam Nation & Vanishing Kids
We’re looking at one of the fastest-growing crime problems in America: scams. From fake texts and phone calls to online attacks and fraudulent charges, scams have become a constant part of daily life for many Americans. But the data challenge a common assumption: older adults are not the only ones being targeted. Younger and lower-income Americans are often more likely to report being victimized, while many people never report scams at all because they feel embarrassed, do not know where to turn, or assume nothing can be done. We break down who is getting scammed, how much money Am...
Young Male (American) Loneliness
We’re exploring a growing sense of disconnection in America. From loneliness to broader feelings of dissatisfaction, many people — especially men — are struggling to find meaningful connection, purpose, and support. What was once dismissed as a personal issue is now increasingly being framed as a public health concern, with the former Surgeon General even declaring an “epidemic of loneliness.” We break down what the latest research says about the rise in isolation, why young men appear to be disproportionately affected, and what may be driving this trend — from changing relationship patterns and declining social interaction to technology and shifting expectations...
Pure Politics Redistricting
Americans overwhelmingly oppose partisan gerrymandering in principle, with large bipartisan majorities saying congressional maps should not be drawn to favor one party and strongly supporting independent commissions over politicians controlling the process. However, attitudes become more partisan in practice, as many Democrats and Republicans support gerrymandering when it benefits their own side, revealing a tension between support for fairness and political self-interest, even as majorities say partisan redistricting is bad for democracy.
Then, Americans spent a record $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, nearly double what they spent in 2008, and the growth has been nearly uninterrupted for over...
The Bi-Partisan Billionaire Backlash
This week, we’re taking a closer look at one of the few issues that appears to unite Americans across the political spectrum: concern about money in politics. From campaign spending and lobbying to billionaire influence and “dark money,” recent polling suggests large majorities of Americans believe wealth and special interests now hold too much power in shaping elections and political decision-making. Many also say the current system weakens democracy and creates the appearance of corruption, concerns that cut across party lines. At the same time, campaign finance reform has historically struggled to become a top public priority, even as ele...
What Are We Thinking?
This week, we're breaking down our new national poll conducted with NPR and PBS News. President Donald Trump's job approval rating remains in the high 30s, with Americans' concerns cutting across multiple issues. Domestically, affordability remains a worry, and many say the economy is not working well for them personally. At the same time, views on foreign policy are also shaping public opinion, with a majority believing the United States’ position on the world stage has weakened. More than six in ten also say recent military action in Iran has done more harm than good. In this segment, we br...
Political Violence on the Rise
On this week’s Poll Hub:
After the recent shooting tied to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, we take a step back to look at how Americans are responding to the broader issue of political violence. New polling shows widespread concern that this type of violence is on the rise, but also a growing willingness among some to see it as justified in certain situations. We unpack what’s behind this shift, including generational divides, rising polarization, and how today’s political rhetoric may be shaping the way people think about conflict and accountability.
We also...
MAHA's Moment
On this week’s Poll Hub:
We open with a deep dive into the Make America Healthy Again”(MAHA) initiative and how it’s landing with the public. At a surface level, many Americans are on board with the idea of improving overall health across the country. But that broad agreement doesn’t always translate into strong alignment with the movement itself. In fact, when people hear more detailed explanations of the policies tied to MAHA, their reactions often become more mixed. In this segment, we look at what this disconnect tells us about how Americans process health-r...
Shifting Beliefs, Shifting Democracy
This week on Poll Hub, we explore how beliefs, values, and identity are shaped and reshaped across generations in American life. Drawing on new data from the Pew Research Center, the conversation looks at how many Americans were raised with strong religious identities and consistent practices, yet far fewer maintain those same levels of engagement in adulthood. We examine what drives this shift —from changes in family structure and upbringing to broader cultural influences —and consider how early experiences—whether religious or secular—continue to shape people’s sense of meaning, belonging, and identity over time. Marist Lecturer in Religious...
Mamdani's Moment
This week on Poll Hub, we take a closer look at where Mayor Zohran Mamdani stands after his first 100 days in office, based on the latest Marist Poll data. The numbers point to a noticeable shift in public mood: a plurality of New York City residents approve of the job he’s doing, and for the first time in months, more than half of residents say the city is moving in the right direction. That marks a meaningful change from earlier polling trends.
Beyond the topline numbers, voters are also forming clear impressions of his leadership style. Man...
Financial Trust and Foreign Tensions
On this week’s Poll Hub,
We start by unpacking a new Gallup survey that points to a notable global rebound in trust in banks and other financial institutions. While the United States is moving in the same upward direction, it still trails many other countries when it comes to public confidence. We take a closer look at why trust remains more fragile at home, exploring the lingering effects of past financial crises, differences in regulation, and what this gap could mean for the broader economy moving forward.
Then, we turn to a deeper dive into...
War Cracks GOP Coalition
On this week’s Poll Hub, we take a closer look at a country pulled in different directions: abroad and at home.
Americans are deeply divided over the conflict with Iran. Many see the conflict as a “war of choice,” not necessity, and most say the administration hasn’t clearly explained its goals. And, amidst rising economic concerns, especially gas prices, public skepticism only grows.
That divide is especially stark along partisan lines. Republicans overwhelmingly support military action, while Democrats and independents very much oppose it. Even within the GOP, however, there are signs of tension...
The Future of Cancer
On this week’s Poll Hub, we take a closer look at where things stand with cancer in the United States. It’s still one of the most widespread diseases in the country, but the story is more multi-dimensional than it used to be. Treatments have improved significantly, and people are living longer than before. At the same time, more people are being diagnosed, including younger individuals, raising important questions about what’s driving that increase and how much we still don’t fully understand.
We also explore how cancer care is evolving. New treatments like targeted therapie...
Perfectionism and Polling
On this week’s Poll Hub:
We take a deeper dive into the results of our newest national survey conducted with NPR and PBS News. The conversation looks at how Americans are feeling about the current political climate, including Donald Trump’s job approval rating and public confidence in the fairness and security of U.S. elections. We break down the data, explore where opinions differ, and discuss some of the factors that may be influencing attitudes across the country.
We also shift gears to talk about perfectionism. While striving to do things well can be motiv...
College, Careers, and Change
On this week’s Poll Hub:
We unpack how Americans’ confidence in higher education is shifting and what’s behind the change. Long viewed as a reliable path to success, a college degree is now being reassessed as concerns about cost, student debt, and real-world outcomes grow. We explore how attitudes differ across generations, political groups, and socioeconomic lines.
We also tackle the latest trends in remote and hybrid work, exploring how the workplace continues to evolve in a post-pandemic world. From flexibility and work-life balance to productivity and collaboration, we examine what Americans are gainin...
High Prices Are the State of the Union
On this week’s Poll Hub:
After a historically long State of the Union this week, we're asking if President Trump helped himself as new polling captures how lousy Americans are feeling about Trump’s priorities and the direction of his administration. Disapproval remains a key part of the story, but the data goes deeper, highlighting where the public sees alignment, where there’s frustration, and how these views differ across political and demographic groups.
In the second segment, we turn to an issue that helps drive those gloomy polls: grocery prices. Even as grocery inflat...
Dreams and Polling Development
On this week’s episode of Poll Hub, Peter Enns, professor at Cornell University and co-founder of Verasight, joins to explore how polling is evolving beyond traditional approval ratings. Rather than focusing solely on top-line numbers, Enns discusses how researchers are digging deeper into public opinion to better understand nuance, intensity, and underlying motivations.
As a lead researcher on The Breakthrough polling project, Enns is helping redefine how we measure public opinion by incorporating open-ended responses, topic modeling, and sentiment analysis. These tools allow researchers to capture, not just what people think, but how they think — r...
A Modern Valentine
On this week’s Poll Hub:
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we take a closer look at how politics is shaping modern dating. From abortion to transgender rights, recent polling shows a growing share of singles say a potential partner’s political views factor into whether they’d pursue a relationship at all, highlighting how deeply political identity has become woven into personal life. At the same time, the data points to widening divides by age and ideology, with younger adults and women especially likely to say mismatched views are a deal-breaker.
Plus, do Ameri...
The Ozempic Era
On this week’s Poll Hub:
GLP-1 weight loss drugs are everywhere: in ads, on social media, and, increasingly, in medicine cabinets. But, beyond the hype, what do Americans actually think about them?
Recent polling shows use of GLP-1s has more than doubled in the past year. At the same time, most Americans say willpower alone isn’t enough to manage weight long-term, reflecting a growing shift towards viewing obesity as a medical issue rather than a lifestyle choice.
Plus, our latest national poll takes a deeper look at how Americans currently view...