For most of the last century of American history, public opinion on Iran has been shaped by moments of crisis, conflict, and perceived threat. Today, with the United States at war with Iran, those long-standing attitudes are once again being measured, but the roots of American skepticism stretch back decades. In the early years of […]
Time Machine: The American Dream
March 3, 2026
The American Dream has long been a guiding idea in the United States, the belief that hard work can lead to a better life. People have imagined owning a home, having a steady job, and helping their children do better than they did. But, how have attitudes toward the Dream changed over time? Let’s step […]
Time Machine: Higher Ed
February 3, 2026
For much of modern American history, college has been more than an educational path. It has been a symbol of opportunity, mobility, and the American Dream. But heading into the mid-2020s, something striking is happening: confidence in the value of higher education is no longer a given. Where a college degree was once widely seen […]
Time Machine: Winter Olympics
January 6, 2026
Every four years, the Winter Olympics return with a blend of athletic spectacle, global politics, and national pride. But heading into Milan–Cortina 2026, something unusual is happening: enthusiasm is higher now than in the past few games, summer and winter. New MRI-Simmons data shows 54% of Americans say they’re fans of the Winter Games — […]
Time Machine: Flu Shots
December 3, 2025
For more than six decades, the flu shot has been a key tool in protecting public health in the United States. What started as a limited campaign to vaccinate high-risk populations has grown into a yearly ritual for millions of Americans. Behind every injection is a story of shifting public opinion, policy decisions, and medical […]
Time Machine: Labor Unions
November 4, 2025
In any political debate, you’ll hear candidates express support for unions, labeling them as the cornerstone of American labor and manufacturing. But how important are unions nowadays and how many union members are left? If fewer than 10% of Americans were members of a union in 2024, then why are unions still such a contentious […]
We Should Hang Out More
April 19, 2023
Movies often serve as perfect time capsules, offering snapshots of what life was like in an earlier time. Take Dazed and Confused. The movie is set in late seventies Texas and focuses on groups of high schoolers coming of age while driving around in cars, hanging out with their friends, and generally navigating that particularly […]
The Future of Higher Education
February 7, 2023
While the world of higher education faces challenges, there is a great deal of potential success for institutions of higher education. In this national Marist Poll, conducted as part of a presentation for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) 2023 Annual Meeting & Advocacy Day, nearly two in three Americans (65%) consider […]
Is “Latinx” Here to Stay?
December 6, 2022
The movement to introduce “Latinx” into mainstream vocabulary has been a fervent one, but just how many people support, or even know, what “Latinx” is? “Latinx” is a term for those of Latin American descent that replaces “Latino” or “Latina” — words that are gendered, because the Spanish language is gendered. Masculine nouns end with […]
The Future of Standardized Testing
November 15, 2022
The pandemic has forced people to accept a lot of changes, but Americans aren’t too sure doing a makeover of standardized testing is one of them. In fact, Americans are divided on the effectiveness of the exams themselves. Standardized tests in the United States date back to the 19th century and were used as a […]