Poll Hub Podcast
Poll Hub goes behind the science to explain how polling works, what polls really show, and what the numbers really mean.
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Jun 04, 2026
Scam Nation & Vanishing Kids
Scams have become one of the most common crimes in America, but the victims are not always who people assume. We break down who's getting scammed, why most victims never report it, and whether government or tech companies are doing enough to stop it. Then we turn to family size: Americans are having fewer children, even though many still say two or three kids is ideal. We look at what is driving the gap between the family size Americans want and the reality many are facing. And finally, our fun fact explores what Americans think may happen after this life.
May 29, 2026
Young Male (American) Loneliness
We start with what many are calling an epidemic of loneliness and discontentment, and the unique ways this crisis is affecting young men. We explore what may be driving these trends, how attitudes toward relationships, purpose, and social connection are changing, and what the data reveal about modern isolation. We also take a closer look at our sense of smell, something many people naturally lose with age, but that took on new attention during COVID-19. We examine what the research says about how our noses changed during and after the pandemic. And, for our fun fact, we're taking another crack at last week's fun fact about summer vacation. Will this time be better?
May 21, 2026
Pure Politics Redistricting
America has embarked on an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting-palooza, aimed at removing as many seats as possible from the opposition party in state after state. It turns out that most Americans don't support this redistricting...in principle. That's the key phrase, however, as we'll discuss. Then, do you buy scratch-offs? But lotto tickets? Only play when Mega Millions reaches a billion? Americans seem to love their lotteries, but is that a good thing for the country? Finally, as we head into the long weekend that unofficially starts the summer season, our fun fact is about summer vacations. And it's a weird set of answers that were provided.
May 14, 2026
The Bi-Partisan Billionaire Backlash
Something we all seem to agree on: There's too much money in politics and billionaires have too much sway over Washington. We dive into all things money in politics on our newest episode. Then we turn to pets: Americans are increasingly placing at least as much importance on their furry friends as on parenthood. For many that means prioritizing their pets as if they are family. And lastly, how often do you remember your dreams?
May 08, 2026
What Are We Thinking?
We are discussing our new national poll conducted with our partners NPR and PBS News. On issue after issue, a majority of Americans disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. One of the biggest disappointments seems to be on the economy. We're looking at how Americans’ views of the economy have shifted over the past year. Spoiler alert: Sentiment has steadily worsened. And, we finish with an extra relevant fun fact for one member of our team: How old is 75?
May 01, 2026
Political Violence on the Rise
On this week’s Poll Hub: Following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, we're looking at rising concerns about political violence in the United States and what recent polling reveals about how Americans view it. While large majorities say politically motivated violence is increasing, a growing share also believes it may be justified under certain circumstances. Next, we turn to how Americans are thinking about renewable energy today. While support for sources like wind and solar remains strong overall, it has declined in recent years and become more divided along political lines. At the same time, opinions shift when it comes to cost, reliability, and local impact, revealing a growing gap between broad support in theory and hesitation in practice. And, lastly, we continue with this topic by discussing the growing debate of hybrid vs electric vs gas powered cars.
Apr 24, 2026
MAHA's Moment
On this week’s Poll Hub: We begin by looking at the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement and what Americans really think about it. While many express general support for its health-focused goals, fewer people strongly identify with the movement, and opinions shift when more details about its policies are introduced. We explore what this gap reveals about how Americans interpret health reform, politics, and messaging around public well-being. Next, we turn to growing concerns among Americans about drinking water and the tradeoffs between tap and bottled water. With drinking water pollution ranking as the nation’s top environmental concern, many Americans rely on bottled water. At the same time, concern about plastic pollution remains extremely high, creating a contradiction between environmental values and everyday behavior. We break down what the data shows about trust, habits, and environmental impact. And, finally, for our fun fact, we are talking about fast food frequency! maristpoll.com/podcast
Apr 17, 2026
Shifting Beliefs, Shifting Democracy
On this week’s Poll Hub: We begin by examining how Americans’ religious beliefs and practices are changing across generations. Findings show that while most U.S. adults were raised with a strong religious identity and regular participation in organized religion, far fewer are maintaining those same levels of practice in adulthood. Next, we turn to how social media is shaping Americans' thinking about democracy itself. A recent study finds that heavy social media users are more likely to feel politically empowered and believe citizens can influence government, but they are also less likely than lighter users to say democracy is the best form of government. And finally, we go way back to the 40s and talk about minimum wage for our fun fact. maristpoll.com/podcast
Apr 10, 2026
Mamdani's Moment
On this week's Poll Hub: 100 days in, new numbers on Mayor Zohran Mamdani from our new NYC poll. A plurality approve of his job performance, and more than half of New York City residents say the city is now headed in the right direction — a major shift from just a few months ago. Then, the latest podcast from Marist comes from the Center for Sports Communication -- "Point Taken" is off to a great start, and we're talking to the Center's Director, Andrew Elrick about it. We finish with a question about movies and food. Which raises a question of its own... maristpoll.com/podcast
Apr 03, 2026
Financial Trust and Foreign Tensions
On this week’s Poll Hub, We kick things off by diving into a new Gallup poll that highlights a global rise in trust in banks and other financial institutions. While the U.S. is part of this upward trend, levels of trust here still lag behind many other countries raising interesting questions about confidence in the financial system at home. Next, we shift gears to explore American public opinion on Iran, tracing how attitudes have evolved over time: from the era of the Shah, through the revolution and periods of heightened tension, to where perceptions stand today. Finally, we finish with a fun fact debating the level of violence in different sports. maristpoll.com/podcast