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!

The Republican National Convention is over and the assassination attempt on Donald Trump is already fading from the headlines, so what to make of the next set of polls? Our NPR/PBS News survey released last week helps show why you probably shouldn't read too much into the next set of polls...even ours!

Next, we're looking at cryptocurrency. You've probably heard of Bitcoin but, if you're like many Americans, you don't really know what crypto is or what is can do. So... we have Bina Ramamurthy @BinaUB from @UBuffalo on to break down cryptocurrency and the future of virtual money! And. if you're looking for more, check out her Blockchain ThinkLab and Coursera courses on the topic.

Finally, this week's fun fact covers the best time of year -- summertime -- and the best food of all. Ice cream! What's your favorite flavor? It starts there and we go way afield.

There has been a whirlwind of post-debate polling around Biden vs. Trump, but how accurate are they? We have @FiveThirtyEight's @gelliottmorris on with us to sort the good from the bad...and all the in-between.

Next, natural disasters only seem to be increasing with climate change, but are we prepared to give people warnings about them? We have @k_e_gray @unewhaven on to talk about our potential vulnerabilities as a nation facing disasters.

And, as summer hits its stride, step outside. Do you smell sunscreen, grass, or bbq? This week's fun fact tackles the smells of summer.

How will the Supreme Court's historic ruling on Presidential immunity from criminal prosecution impact the race for the White House? And, how with the historically bad debate between Biden and Trump impact the election? We're looking at the early polls and exploring whether ANYTHING will change what people think of these two historically unpopular candidates.

Then, as we celebrate Independence Day, we're looking at how Americans think about patriotism and the flag. And...no surprise...it's complicated by partisan differences.

Finally, do you know how many nicknames there are for the American flag? This week's fun fact looks at the fan favorite!

Our latest NPR/PBS News poll asks a hypothetical: Do you want your kid to grow up to be president? Perhaps after this week's debate, you won't be surprised what a majority of Americans think.

Then, Harvard's David Deming helps us sort through the growing debate about whether college is still worth it as costs -- and debt -- soar.

Finally, summer is concert season and this week's fun fact posits another hypothetical: who would you see if they were still touring?

maristpoll.com/podcast

A June presidential debate has never happened but that's about to change. With that in mind, we're looking into the data from our new NPR/PBS News poll about Biden v. Trump and a whole lot more. Including how they're tied on a very unenviable metric.

Next, should we pay college athletes? Student athletes already do get some compensation in some cases, but recent court rulings and settlements have blown the discussion wide open. We look at what Americans think and then get some expert insights from sports law attorney Luke Fedlam.

Finally, pull out your crystals and Yanni CDs for our fun fact...

Our first polls of the cycle are out, and we are discussing all the numbers from the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. These two states could determine control of the U.S. Senate.

Then, is technology ruining our children? We have seen a concerning rise in technology usage amongst the younger generations, especially boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic. How will this impact generations to come?

Finally, we wrap up with Lee's fun fact, perfectly timed for the hot summer days ahead. And it sparks a bit of a debate.

Nearly every piece of economic data says the same thing: The US is enjoying one of the strongest economies in our history. So, why do a majority of Americans think we're in a recession? There are a lot of theories about where this disconnect comes from, but here's a thought: Maybe so many of us maxing out our credit cards has something to do with it.

Next, nearly every piece of data also shows that, while married women have nearly closed the earnings gap, they're still getting the short end of the stick in other ways. Plus, what's happening in same-sex marriages?

Finally, for this week's fun fact, we're getting the good stuff. Just in time for the summer heat.

The race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump remains very stable in our latest poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour but that changes in potentially surprising ways once we bring third-party candidates into the mix. We're digging into these and other results from the survey.

Then, one study reports someone in the US is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. As college graduation season winds down, we're looking at the data and polls on sexual assault and harassment on college campuses. Kelly Yough, Title IX Coordinator at Marist College, joins to discuss how schools are trying to deal with the problem.

Finally, we wrap up with a comedic fun fact. Are you Team President Colbert, President Stewart, or President Fey?