Poll Hub

Pollsters have been asking Americans about space for decades but the landscape -- spacescape? -- hasn't changed a lot. What began as a race to put a man in orbit between two superpowers has transformed into a race between private companies to make space travel cheap and easy. What do we think?

Back here on Earth, you've probably noticed a lot more electric vehicles on the road over the last few years. But for every Tesla, Bolt, and Ioniq, Americans are still buying far more gas and hybrid cars. What's the real future of EVs? Marist College Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Dr. Ramesh Laungani (@DrRamBio), joins us to drive us through the developments.

And, for our first December fun fact, we're regifting old polls for the season.

Finally, get ready for a spirited debate with our "all-star" lineup for this week's Fun Fact. It's destined to steal the spotlight away from the turkey...although there's a surprising twist from the biggest football lover of them all!

Right, left, center? What is the "mainstream media"? Turns out the right answer probably is, no longer in existence. Our own Kevin Lerner, Marist Department of Communication Chair and an expert in journalism history, joins to help us figure out what dramatic changes in media and news means for democracy.

Then, doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia, have been controversial topics for decades, leading to ethical, religious, and medical debates. But, decades after Dr. Kevorkian put a name and face on the practices, they're much more widespread and accepted. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, bioethicist, oncologist, and professor at Penn, tells us why public opinion about the options is not really based on reality.

Finally, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, we compared our turkey cooking expertise. Whether you're a master chef or just hoping not to burn the house down, this week's fun fact will have you gobbling and ready for the holiday.

Now that the election returns are (mainly) in, the exit poll data is available, and the pundits have weighed in, we're asking what REALLY made the difference for Donald Trump on Election Day.

And that leads to a healthy discussion about whether most voters care more about issues or personalities.

Since that took most of the show, we then cut right to the chase. We're bringing themed fun facts back for the Thanksgiving season. Our stomachs were growling, and the turkeys were gobbling for this one.

The only time pollsters really know whether their work is accurate is on election days. This time around, the surprising outcome of the presidential race didn't mean the polls were off -- it's more of what we've come to expect in a 50-50 electorate. We're doing our first pass at this as we wait for full data to do a deeper dive.

Then, we finish with a fun fact that St. Louis residents might not love...

In this episode of Poll Hub, we dive into the fresh and final battleground numbers from Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Not only do these states form the so-called Blue Wall that any modern Democratic presidential candidate has to win, they're also home to three of the most competitive US Senate races. What do our final polls of these Great Lakes States reveal?

Then, our insider's guide to Election Night. As the results come in over the course of the night, which states and which districts are we watching? We'll give you the goods.

Finally, you may not be able to see it, but we have our costumes on! We bring the season to a close with our final spooky fun fact of the month! Joined by our former Poll Hub producer and creator of the spooky fun fact series, Athen Hollis, to help our hosts answer this scary question.

AND...Election Day is November 5th, so don't forget to vote!

We just released new numbers from the battleground states of Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina. While very little has changed since our polls from those states a few weeks back, there is a striking finding when we look at how voters are thinking about non-Presidential races on some ballots.

Then, are authoritarian regimes really on the rise? We talk with author and professor @AnneMeng_ from @UVA about her research on the rise, or lack thereof, of far-right leaders around the world. Is the threat here in the U.S. real, inflated, or imaginary. Or all three?

Finally, Halloween is just one week away, and we stick with our theme and wrap the show with another frightening fun fact.

For decades, there's been a difference between how men and women vote. Not only which candidates they choose but how many register to vote and then show up at the polls. These so-called gender gaps are wider than ever. We take a look at recent polling data to explore why the political gulf between men and women is growing.

Then, we explore the potential of year-round schooling in America. Dr. Carol Rinke, Professor of Education at @Marist College, joins us to discuss how this model has been implemented and the benefits or challenges associated with transitioning away from our usual academic calendar. And, what about summer vacation!?!

Finally, we stay on theme this month for our fun fact. Fruit instead of candy? Gross! What do you expect when you go out on Halloween night?

This week, we take a closer look at fresh polling from the battleground states of Florida, Ohio, and Texas, where numbers might indicate closer races than expected...especially in these three states' critical senate races.

Then, a recent @WSJ piece revealed how certain regions of the United States have become increasingly reliant on federal funding like Social Security, Medicare, or grants. We're joined by one of the reporters behind the story, @AaronZitner, to break down the findings and explain how these areas are often strongholds for Republican voters.

Finally, a surprising number of people believe it might be possible to communicate with the dead. We keep the spooky season alive with our fun fact this week!

This week on Poll Hub, we have two new polls for you! How do New Yorkers feel about Mayor Eric Adams and his federal indictment? Should he stay or should he go? Plus, we dive into the data from our brand-new national poll on the Presidential race with our partners NPR and PBS. Spoiler alert! The gender gap is incredible!

Then, the two in our twofer, we continue talking with Marist College President Kevin Weinman about how the college prepares students for life after graduation and the impact of AI on education. We brought on Caroline Smith and Luke Sassa, two Marist seniors, to ask some tough questions!

Finally, spooky season is upon us! We got our spell book and cauldrons out to craft up the fun fact this week!