The Future of Unions

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… The future of unions in this country remains to be determined. While a large majority of Americans approve of the idea of labor unions in general, relatively few workers are union members. Strong opposition to unions among Republicans may help forestall changes in labor laws that would facilitate union organizing efforts, despite the intentions of pro-union President Biden. CONTINUED

Frank Newport, Gallup

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A climate change retrospective

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Today is Earth Day, the 50th time that we, as a global collective, have celebrated our planet. It’s a time to appreciate the ground on which we stand and the skies above us. And ponder our own role in ensuring that future generations can enjoy them too.

As multiple reports have warned, the earth is rapidly warming. 2021 was one of the hottest years on record. In the US, annual wildfires out West have grown so intense the smoke spans the continent. The time to act on climate change is now. But will we?

Unfortunately, our polling shows that while people are willing to make changes, they generally aren’t opting for the most meaningful solutions. Part of this comes down to a lack of knowledge about what steps are most effective. CONTINUED

Clifford Young & Catherine Morris, Ipsos

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Biden Job Approval Stuck in Low 40s

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During Joe Biden’s fifth quarter in office, which began on January 20 and ended on April 19, an average of 41.3% of U.S. adults approved of the job he was doing as president. The latest average is essentially unchanged from the 41.7% in his fourth quarter but significantly lower than his first three quarterly averages. …

From a historical perspective, Biden’s fifth quarter average is lower than that of any prior elected president, except Donald Trump. CONTINUED

Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup

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Pessimism about the national economy and the direction of the country continues

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Americans continue to feel pessimistic about the direction of the country, the national economy, and the way President Biden has handled the U.S. relationship with Russia amid the war between Ukraine and Russia. Seventy percent say things in the country are going in the wrong direction compared to only 29% who feel things are going in a positive direction.

The dire outlook on the direction of the country is increasing among Democrats.

While Democrats are still more likely to feel optimistic about the direction of the country than Republicans or independents, only 49% of them say the country is heading in the right direction compared to 55% who said the same in last month’s AP-NORC poll. CONTINUED

AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

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Ron DeSantis’ governing strategy in Florida is paying off

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed controversial stances that have catapulted him into GOP stardom. From Covid-19 vaccines to critical race theory to the law critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay,” DeSantis has annoyed Democrats (and many medical professionals) and delighted his fellow Republicans.

He’s played to the GOP base — something you may not expect for a governor of a competitive state running for reelection this year.

But guess what? It’s working for DeSantis. His polling has improved since last summer, and he finds himself as the strongest possible competitor of former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. CONTINUED

Harry Enten, CNN

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Oregon: Voters are angry and worried

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Oregonians, you are an unhappy bunch. You think the state is heading in the wrong direction. You’re worried about housing costs, homelessness, crime, wildfires and droughts. You’re mad at the president, at the governor, at elected officials in general.

The candidates for governor feel your pain and in many cases, are echoing it right back at you – even if those frustrations you’re feeling are not always based in data.

Most election cycles, OPB partners with DHM Research to survey potential voters. In many years, we focus primarily on the candidates themselves. This year, we tried a slightly different approach: Spending less time asking about candidates and more time asking about issues. CONTINUED

Anna Griffin, Oregon Public Broadcasting