Poll Hub

Higher education has been in the news A LOT lately between protests, student loan debt, and questions about the value of a degree. Amidst this, confidence in colleges and universities has been shrinking among Americans. To shed some light on the issue, we brought in two Marist seniors for our interview of Marist College President Kevin Weinman. They have some tough questions and Weinman has a particularly interesting perspective on higher ed and the Dow Jones Industrial Average... This is part one of a two-parter!

We're also diving into some key state polls, focusing on our new numbers out of North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona. Harris and Trump are this close in all three states even when the down ballot senate and governor's races lean strongly Democratic. What's going on?

We finish with a fun fact that begs the question, who came up with these answers? The most popular TV genre is...

While Donald Trump and plenty of Republicans have argued American elections are rife with fraud, numerous investigations (including some funded and directed by Trump-aligned individuals) have, over the years, shown it to be vanishingly rare in this country. But, election fraud IS real in some democracies around the world. What's the truth about election fraud versus voter fraud? Dr. Melissa Gaeke, Director of the Center for Civil Engagement and Leadership at Marist College joins us.

Plus, our first polls of the cycle from Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin give a look at just how close and important this so-called "Blue Wall" is to both campaigns. Harris is up or tied with Trump in all three and two have critical senate races. Ours a part of a slew of polls. How do people know what to believe?

Finally, ever dreamt of being in the political spotlight? Our fun fact looks at how your past could influence your decision.

Did Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump accomplish what they needed to do in Tuesday night's debate? We break down the key moments from the matchup and look ahead to what's next for the Harris and Trump campaigns.

Then, where does the presidential contest stand? We provide expert analysis of the shifts in candidate support, according to the new NPR/PBS News/Marist national poll.

And, we wrap things up with a fun fact that might leave you looking for a nap. Not to worry, it won't put you to sleep!

Public opinion polls taken just after Labor Day in presidential election years are, perhaps surprisingly, VERY accurate in predicting the winner on Election Day...of the popular vote at least. So, despite a very noisy and busy two month stretch to the finish, the history of polling indicates what we see now is most likely what we'll get in November.

Then, gender dysphoria is on the rise among Americans, but the treatments for it are hotly debated. Some politicians advocate cutting off access to these treatments for people under 18 -- and a few advocate cutting it off for everyone -- but what do Americans think? And, how much of what we hear is factual versus scare tactics? We talk with Dr. Jack Drescher of Columbia University.

Finally, we look at two questions from the 2000s about reality TV. And in a rare moment, all four co-hosts agree on our answer!

We explore the shift from the Great Resignation to the Big Creation, where millions of Americans have quit their jobs, not just because they are unhappy, but to pursue better opportunities or even start their own businesses. We talk to Jim Garter from Gallup to see what this movement could mean for the future of work in the U.S.

Then, we look at the resurgence of nuclear energy with Marist College Professor Jessica Boscarino. Specifically, the way public support is growing despite the lingering memories of disasters. We dive into the reasons behind supporting nuclear energy and consider whether it can overcome its past and play a role in clean energy.

Finally, if you were an iPod, just how American would you be? This week’s fun fact will make you think twice!

The Democratic National Convention has been picture-perfect for the party, injecting a lot of energy into the race just as Kamala Harris pulls ahead in most national polls. But the big question remains: can they count on a post-convention bounce?

At the same time, Project 2025 — a “comprehensive blueprint designed for the next conservative administration" — has become a weapon for Democrats and a bother for Republicans. Despite Trump’s recent attempts to distance himself from it, the plan continues to attract attention and support among conservatives. Just how many people are truly aware of Project 2025?

Finally, we bid a bittersweet farewell to our longtime producer. After many episodes, we take a look back at some of their favorite Poll Hub moments as she prepares to sign off from her final Poll Hub episode. 

When you think of Botox, your mind may wander to aging Hollywood stars who've become strange versions of their younger selves. But data shows Botox isn't just for people with wrinkles any longer. Botox is trending for pre-wrinkled younger people, and it may be a mixed bag.

Then, who's using cannabis? Since the drug has been legalized in most of America, we wanted to know how it's going. R. Lorraine Collins of @UBuffalo joins to check in on the state of legal weed. With so much rapid change, who is using it now and how much are they using?

Finally, what are those college kids drinking?! Well, this week's fun fact tells us what was the popular college beverage was back in 1939!

Kamala Harris has picked Tim Walz as her running mate and the DNC is right around the corner. The race is on and our new poll with NPR and PBS News shows things have changed quite a bit since Joe Biden left the race.

Then, speaking of vice presidential candidates, JD Vance's comments about "childless cat ladies" has made waves. Plenty of people were offended but there is truth to the notion that there are more childless Americans than there used to be. Michigan State's Jennifer Watling Neal joins to discuss her research of Americans who've chosen not to have kids.

And, finally, a sendoff for one of our favorite student producers, Delaney Hayes, who is off to law school and then ruling the world!

We're asking a crucial question: Is it news or nonsense? With more people getting their news from social media platforms and AI-produced visuals flooding the zone, there is a lot of room for misinformation. This week, we bring Marist Journalism professor Kevin Lerner back on the show to help us break down how to spot misinformation and find credible news sources.

Then, tens of millions of Americans use this platform for entertainment and endless scrolling, but, for some, it's a full-time job. The U.S. government is pushing the Chinese-run company to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States, but what does this mean for everyday Americans? We are joined by TikTok influencer Maddie (m00bie) Schrader to discuss the ban President Biden signed into law and its implications for both users and influencers.

We finish with a Lee-less fun fact. Can we even do that? It's about something so ubiquitous that we barely think about it, even though most of us had never heard of it 30 years ago.

Joe Biden ended his campaign and Kamala Harris very quickly became the almost-certain Democratic nominee. The next day, we asked Americans in a one-day survey with NPR and PBS News what they thought. The results say a lot but we're also discussing why a one-day poll can tell us only so much.

Then, the COVID pandemic exposed deep flaws in our country's nursing homes, but what is being done to fix them? We talk with R. Tamara Konetzka from the University of Chicago to get a better sense of what's wrong with the system and whether the huge batch of ageing boomers might change that.

Finally, what will you be watching during the Paris Olympics? We find out what America has to say in this fun fact!