Americans’ confidence in the nation’s major institutions continues to lag below historical averages, with two institutions — newspapers and organized religion — dropping to record lows this year. The overall average of Americans expressing “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in 14 institutions is below 33% for […] Read more »
Economic hardship and politics in Indiana
The rise of Donald Trump should inject a dose of humility into those of us who practice political science or political journalism (I plead guilty on both counts). With a few honorable exceptions, we didn’t predict what was coming, and we couldn’t believe the evidence of our own senses as […] Read more »
Americans’ Views of Socialism, Capitalism Are Little Changed
Even though Bernie Sanders, a self-described “Democratic socialist,” has generated strong support for his presidential campaign, Americans’ image of socialism is no better now than it was six years ago. Thirty-five percent of Americans have a positive view of the term socialism, similar to what was found in 2012 and […] Read more »
Progressives Win on Economy vs. Trump-Nationalist Agenda
The Reagan Era produced a Republican Party trusted on the economy and left conservatives hegemonic on economic ideas and policy – small government, top-rate tax cuts, and deregulation to power growth. Even after trickle-down policies nearly destroyed the economy, this conservative hegemony was left unchallenged by President Obama who made […] Read more »
Reaping as they sowed: How the culture wars are smiting the GOP
… If it wasn’t obvious before, it’s become hi-definition clear in the past few weeks that the culture wars, long a powerful wedge that Republicans wielded against the Democrats, have now become a dagger that cleaves GOP ranks down the middle. … The wedge of the culture wars still cuts […] Read more »
Google eyes move into political polling work
Google is using the excitement surrounding the 2016 election to seek a foothold in the political polling industry. The Internet giant has been pushing its survey products to the staffers and operatives who work for presidential and congressional campaigns, as well as the journalists who cover them. CONT. David McCabe, […] Read more »