Public debates on the campaign trail have long been a central component of American political culture. While the questions asked and the issues addressed have changed over time, the importance of the public debate itself has not.

In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz reviews some of the most memorable moments in recent American political campaign debates, from the funniest to the cringiest. Some of these clips will remind viewers of American greatness. Others remind us of the hypocrisy, bitterness or silliness which some have come to expect.

Politicians worldwide and throughout history have invested immeasurable time and resources into perfecting their narrative pitch to a public audience. Today, new technologies enable us to track which speeches perform better to which audiences, and we can track that data down to each second and every word.

In this 20-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz uses Instant Response technology to review ten of the most popular political speeches in recent U.S. history, revealing in detail the words and ideas that have inspired Americans across generations. These speeches received overwhelmingly positive reviews from Americans across the entire political spectrum.

Increasing polarization has consistently ranked as a top political concern for Americans in recent years. Americans are divided by culture, religion, policy, ethics, information sources, and at times, even by core values.

In this unique, 24-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz dives fearlessly into these myriad divisions with ordinary Americans from across the country. The resulting shouting match is sometimes difficult to listen to but ultimately reveals some of the key fears and misperceptions that divide us as a country.

Content warning: This video contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse and rape.

A well-informed public, sustained by a free and independent press, has long been considered one of the most vital pillars of a healthy democracy in the modern world. And yet today, in the United States, this pillar is in danger of collapsing, as fewer and fewer Americans express positive trust in “the media” as a whole.

In this 30-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans how they think news media companies performed in recent coverage of key topics, including the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. Their replies reveal Americans’ lack of trust in the news media industry, and more profoundly, the underlying distrust and suspicion they have of each other.

Congress is once again approaching a possible federal government shutdown. Like several before, this shutdown originates from unresolved disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on federal spending and budget priorities. Pundits have speculated about the political future of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the wake of this uncertainty.

In this 29-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks Americans for their opinions on a possible government shutdown and what programs they would choose to cut if they had to be the ones to resolve these spending disputes.

African youth represent a seismic demographic shift not only for their continent, but for the entire world. Some of the world’s largest economies are expected to emerge in Africa before the end of this century, and today’s young generation will be the driving force of that change.

In this 48-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz asks a room full of young students at the African Leadership University a number of deep questions, including what Africa and pan-Africanism means to them, what issues the continent has to confront, how they perceive their relationship to the outside world, and what their beliefs and perceptions are of the United States, China, corruption and foreign aid.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. political and military forces have directed tremendous resources towards Ukraine’s defense. But GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has argued that the U.S. should seek an immediate peace agreement using current lines of control, a proposal that rewards Russia with permanent territorial gains.

In this 35-minute episode of America Speaks, political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz interviews a group of 15 Iowans at political “ground zero” to assess their opinions on Ukraine, Putin, Zelenskyy, Ramaswamy’s proposal and the outcome of the war.

They believe schools are failing our children. They say you can love gay people but disapprove of their lifestyle. They’re convinced the 2020 election was stolen. And they don’t trust our current government. Who are they?

They’re a group of born-again and evangelical Christians from Iowa and, in the latest hour-long episode of America Speaks, they sit down with political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz to discuss what matters to them most.

You’ll hear their views on public schools, the culture wars, and the upcoming election, but what they have to say about Donald Trump as our next president may surprise you most.

In a recent poll, some 63% of Republicans say they want former President Donald Trump to run for president again. But if there was a candidate able to rise from the GOP pack as a viable challenger to President Joe Biden, would Republicans take a second look at their options?

In this 39-minute episode of America Speaks, a group of undecided GOP voters — many weary of Trump’s negativity — sits down with political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz to weigh the pros and cons of each of the alternative GOP candidates.

A Quinnipiac University poll shows that nearly half of American voters (47%) would consider voting for a third-party candidate in next year’s presidential election. It’s another indication that many Americans are displeased with former President Trump and President Biden as candidates for president in 2024.

In this 24-minute episode of America Speaks, a group of voters dissatisfied with both Trump and Biden sat down with political analyst and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz to discuss why they don’t like the two likely nominees, what they’re looking for in a candidate, and whether they think a third-party candidate could win.
You may be surprised to hear who they think could be viable alternatives.