How corrupt is government in the U.S.? Why are Americans so down on their institutions -- and how did we get here? Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, joins the podcast to discuss the rise of populism, the role of modern media and more.

Americans' confidence in media has fallen to record lows. There are critiques aplenty of the media, but what does the conversation about declining trust often miss? And was there really ever a “golden era” of journalism? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Wesley Lowery joins the podcast to discuss.

Confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court is at a record low, but should the court care about its public image? Dahlia Lithwick -- senior legal correspondent at Slate, host of the podcast "Amicus" and author of the upcoming book Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America -- joins the podcast to discuss.

As the two-year anniversary of one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history approaches, how do Lebanese adults feel about their justice system and how this case is being dealt with? “The challenges that Lebanon is facing are more than any one country can handle,” says Kim Ghattas, who joins the podcast to discuss the multiple crises that people in Lebanon are enduring.

Public confidence in U.S. institutions is down to a new low in Gallup’s trend spanning more than four decades. Which institutions have lost the most confidence -- and are there others that remain largely trusted by the public? Confidence in institutions is the “glue that keeps society together,” says Gallup senior editor Jeff Jones, who joins the podcast to discuss the latest findings.

Two years of a booming U.S. housing market have brought great wealth to many, while others are now locked out or unsure about their next steps. Are there similarities to the housing bubble of the 2000s -- or are these new, uncharted waters? Dr. Len Kiefer, deputy chief economist at Freddie Mac, joins the podcast to discuss the factors that led to the current state of the market. He also shares what to watch for in the future and offers advice to prospective homebuyers.

Organized labor in the U.S. is having an “exciting and interesting moment.” How much of a factor has the pandemic played in its resurgence? What factors should employees consider when voting to unionize? And how are companies reacting to labor organization efforts? Dr. Thomas A. Kochan, Post-Tenure George Maverick Bunker Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a faculty member in the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research, and Dr. Harry C. Katz, Jack Sheinkman Professor of Collective Bargaining and Director of the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell University, join the podcast to offer their expert insights.

How is the world feeling? According to Gallup's annual Global Emotions report, people across the world are sadder and more stressed, marking a new high in the Negative Experiences Index. Gallup managing editor for world news Julie Ray joins the podcast to discuss where in the world these negative experiences have increased the most. Later, Dr. Carol Graham -- senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and Gallup senior scientist -- talks about the drivers behind negative emotions and the importance of hope.

Is anyone actually winning the war in Ukraine? Are European leaders already positioning themselves for post-conflict relations with Russia? George Friedman, founder of Geopolitical Futures, joins the podcast to discuss China’s and Germany’s positioning throughout the conflict, U.S. standing in NATO and more.

Gallup began fielding its poll on abortion last month right as news broke about the leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. It now has data that provide a fresh look at Americans’ views on the issue as the fate of Roe v. Wade hangs in the balance. Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of U.S. social research, joins the podcast to discuss the latest on public attitudes on abortion, views on its moral acceptability and how important the issue is to Americans’ vote.