Other than sleeping and working, Americans are more likely to watch television than engage in any other activity. A wave of new social science research shows that the quality of shows can influence us in important ways, shaping our thinking and political preferences, even affecting our cognitive ability. CONT. Jonathan […] Read more »
The More You Watch, the More You Vote Populist
Does watching television make people stupid? Are stupid people more likely to vote for populist parties? And can these effects linger for years, or even decades? If you had asked me a few days ago, I would have been highly skeptical of these claims. They sound far too much like […] Read more »
Don’t fool yourself. The political center won’t recover anytime soon.
British media and political elites are chattering about a possible new, centrist party forming after 12 members of Parliament defected from the Labour and Conservative parties. Such speculation from elites is understandable, as the defectors’ anti-Brexit stance largely mirrors their own. But, once again, they are missing the forest for […] Read more »
Trump’s International Ratings Remain Low, Especially Among Key Allies
America’s global image plummeted following the election of President Donald Trump, amid widespread opposition to his administration’s policies and a widely shared lack of confidence in his leadership. Now, as the second anniversary of Trump’s election approaches, a new 25-nation Pew Research Center survey finds that Trump’s international image remains […] 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 »
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 »