The family separation policy, the “travel ban,” the threat of a government shutdown if Congress doesn’t fund a border wall: Both as candidate and now as president, Donald Trump has consistently made his opposition to immigration the center of his politics. Of course, he’s not the only politician to do […] Read more »
Politics & Polls: The Centrist Paradox
The United States and Europe have seen a rise in outsider political movements, with more voters supporting populist authoritarian leaders who buck traditional cultural values than in the recent past. In this episode, Sam Wang interviews researcher and writer David R. K. Adler, who argues, contrary to contemporary belief, that […] Read more »
Americans are far more religious than adults in other wealthy nations
In 1966, Time magazine famously examined whether the United States was on a path to secularization when it published its now-iconic “Is God Dead?” cover. However, the question proved premature: The U.S. remains a robustly religious country and the most devout of all the rich Western democracies. In fact, Americans […] Read more »
Populist views in Europe: It’s not just the economy
Nationalist populism has become a major force in European politics. But while such populism has long been thought to have its roots in economic anxiety, a new analysis of Pew Research Center survey data suggests there are additional factors at play. Those who have a favorable opinion of populist parties […] Read more »
Is increasing diversity positive for the U.S.? A look at the partisan divide
According to a Gallup survey released on July 18, the American people now regard immigration as the single most important problem facing the country, and the share of the population expressing this view stands at the highest level ever recorded. This surge of concern crosses partisan lines: the share of […] Read more »
NATO Summit: Damage Control or Wrecking Ball for U.S. Image
While approval ratings of U.S. leadership took a beating worldwide in 2017, some of the most serious damage occurred among the United States’ NATO allies — the same group gathered this week in Brussels. NATO countries led the world with the largest declines in approval of U.S. leadership between 2016 […] Read more »