America has never actually welcomed the world’s huddled masses

… The outcry over resettling a relatively small number of Syrian refugees — far fewer than France vowed to take in even after the attacks — isn’t an exception; it’s more like the rule. Yes, the United States has been generous: Since 1948, close to 4 million refugees have come […] Read more »

Americans more fearful of a major terror attack in the U.S.

Fears among Americans about terrorist attacks on U.S. soil have risen sharply a week after a major assault in Paris killed 130, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, which finds a majority believing that the country is at war with “radical Islam.” CONT. Scott Clement & Juliet Eilperin, […] Read more »

Terrorism Fears Rise Post-Paris; Most Back Force, Oppose Refugees

With terrorism fears near a post-9/11 high in a new ABC News-Washington Post poll, majorities of Americans back increased use of military force, including ground forces, against the Islamic State, and more than half oppose admitting Mideast refugees to the United States. CONT. Gary Langer, ABC News Read more »

Carson Wins on Personality, Trump on Terror in Bloomberg Poll

Republicans overwhelmingly pick Ben Carson over Donald Trump for having the better temperament to be president, but they have far more confidence in the billionaire than the retired surgeon to take on terror, handle Russian President Vladimir Putin and fix immigration. The latest Bloomberg Politics national poll shows the two […] Read more »

How terrorist attacks can change opinions and elections — including the 2016 election

… For the past 10 years, we have researched the connection between terrorist threat and public opinion. In our book, “Democracy at Risk,” and in our more recent work, we argue that public attitudes and evaluations shift in at least three politically relevant ways when terrorist threat is more prominent […] Read more »

Where Does The 2016 Race Stand Post-Paris?

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris there’s been a lot of chatter here in DC about their impact on the 2016 elections. Will the “outsiders” be pushed out as voters flock to more traditional and experienced politicians? Will terrorism and security, two issues that have fallen […] Read more »