Even If It’s ‘Bonkers,’ Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories

A significant number of Americans believe misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus and the recent presidential election, as well as conspiracy theories like QAnon, according to a new NPR/Ipsos poll. … One of the most striking poll findings has to do with QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that gained […] Read more »

Good News About the Coronavirus Vaccine Is Becoming Contagious

Ever since the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine began last spring, upbeat announcements were stalked by ominous polls: No matter how encouraging the news, growing numbers of people said they would refuse to get the shot. The time frame was dangerously accelerated, many people warned. The vaccine was a […] Read more »

Intent to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Rises to 60% as Confidence in Research and Development Process Increases

As vaccines for the coronavirus enter review for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the share of Americans who say they plan to get vaccinated has increased as the public has grown more confident that the development process will deliver a safe and effective vaccine. Still, the […] Read more »

Belief in Conspiracy Theories Is a Barrier to Controlling Spread of COVID-19

Belief in conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic is not only persistent but also is associated with reluctance to accept a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available and to engage in behaviors such as mask-wearing that can prevent its spread, according to researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. In […] Read more »

Voters skeptical about potential COVID-19 vaccine and say that one this year would be rushed

Skepticism about getting a coronavirus vaccine has grown since earlier this summer, and most voters say if a vaccine were made available this year, their first thought would be that it was rushed through without enough testing. Just 21% of voters nationwide now say they would get a vaccine as […] Read more »

Ron Johnston: Human geographer who showed that voters are influenced not only by their beliefs, but by where they live and work

Ron Johnston, who has died aged 79, was a human geographer whose work in the field of electoral geography was drawn upon by political parties and policymakers, and influenced legislation on constituency boundaries. Also renowned as a historian of his subject, due to his magisterial account of Anglo-American human geography, […] Read more »