News & views.

A collection of stories about data, public opinion and politics and news about our firm.


Lessons from a California land-grab
Campaign Strategy Andrew Sullivan Campaign Strategy Andrew Sullivan

Lessons from a California land-grab

Razor-sharp reporter Gil Duran has a must-read article on the "bumbling and villainous" effort to build a new city in rural California. The effort would be laughable—and not just for its name, California Forever, which Duran likens to a celebrity cemetery—if it weren't a possible beachhead for a libertarian movement to create "network states" outside the reach of democratic nation-states.

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The Power of an Apology
Communications Andrew Sullivan Communications Andrew Sullivan

The Power of an Apology

The New York City Transit Authority used to punctuate subway delays with an automated announcement telling riders, "we apologize for this unavoidable delay." It was an excuse masquerading as an apology, and an unintentional reminder of the low quality of service riders should expect.

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Debating the Decline of American Values 
Opinion Research Andrew Sullivan Opinion Research Andrew Sullivan

Debating the Decline of American Values 

A new opinion survey from the Wall Street Journal and the University of Chicago has set off a debate over the state of our national character. The poll suggests patriotism is fading in America, with a drop of nearly 30 points in the number of Americans who say patriotism is very important to them.

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A New Era for American Energy
Communications Andrew Sullivan Communications Andrew Sullivan

A New Era for American Energy

The goal of the Permian Energy Development Lab, which launched last month, is to speed up the development of advanced, clean energy systems, educate the next generation of energy professionals and support energy-intensive communities and the natural resources they depend on.

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What's Missing from Today's News?
Communications Andrew Sullivan Communications Andrew Sullivan

What's Missing from Today's News?

Author and journalist Amanda Ripley has a secret – she actively avoids the news and has been doing so for years. She's not alone. Data from the Reuters Institute tells us the United States has one of the highest news-avoidance rates in the world. Four in ten Americans sometimes or often avoid contact with the news. Why? It's dispiriting, repetitive and of questionable credibility, according to Reuters' survey data.

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What We Impose on People with a Stutter
Communications Andrew Sullivan Communications Andrew Sullivan

What We Impose on People with a Stutter

This New York Times opinion video deepened our understanding of what people who stutter have to contend with in daily life. It reveals a society largely unprepared or disinclined to accommodate them, but also points to ways non-stutterers can alter their behavior in helpful ways. It's worth a view.

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Listening Matters
Opinion Research Andrew Sullivan Opinion Research Andrew Sullivan

Listening Matters

A civic engagement group called NYC Speaks conducted this spring what may be the most extensive policy survey in New York City history. It's an inspired effort to lead by first understanding what people care and worry about, and we hope other public leaders take note.

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Our Latest Favorite Podcasts
Communications Andrew Sullivan Communications Andrew Sullivan

Our Latest Favorite Podcasts

Podcasting's golden age has continued through the pandemic. Seventy-eight percent of Americans are familiar with podcasting – up from 22 percent in 2006 – and more than 40 percent of Americans report having listened to a podcast in the past month.

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