In the annals of presidential campaign history, Robert Woolley is not especially well-known. … But as the 2016 presidential cycle begins — and trust us, it is underway — every campaign will in part echo what Woolley did for Woodrow Wilson a century ago. … Woolley, who had worked as […] Read more »
Dramatic depictions of torture increase support for it
… Pop culture depictions generally show torture to be effective at eliciting actionable intelligence, often in a ticking time bomb scenario that fails to reflect reality. Similarly, public opinion polls ask about support for torture under the presumption that it works. What impact does framing torture as effective have on […] Read more »
Swing Voters Hold Key to Immigration Debate
The winner of a political argument is often determined by two things: timing and framing. In the case of immigration reform—at least the specific battle over President Obama’s executive order last week—the policy is put in place, and it is unlikely that it will be successfully legislatively or judicially overturned […] Read more »
Republican Party factions and the Hobby Lobby decision
… Cases like the Hobby Lobby contraception case bring a new frame to social issues. Instead of using a culture war frame, as in the 1980s and 1990s, or the idea of returning to traditional values, these debates cast social issues in terms of religious liberty. (Obviously, there are also […] Read more »
Parties Are More Consequential than Clever Framing: Estate Tax Edition
… Framing effects, while real, are not as powerful and omnipresent as people sometimes imagine. In experiments, framing in news reports and survey questions can change opinions. But while framing can change mass opinion on an issue, it often doesn’t in practice. The reason is that framing effects are much […] Read more »
Focus on Growth to Frame Priorities
Republicans define Democrats as a party for the 47% who are takers. Democrats define Republicans as a party for the 1% who are wealthiest. And meanwhile, a majority of voters questions who is looking out for their interests, and an increasing number concludes the answer is no one. Narrowly focusing […] Read more »