If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Political Commentary

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
December 30, 2017

If Hillary Clinton Had Won, We'd Be Even Worse By Ted Rall

What if Hillary Clinton had won 114,000 more votes in four key states? Or, what if she'd picked up the two to three percent of the vote she lost because Bernie Sanders' supporters sat on their hands on election day? She'd be "Clinton 2" or "Clinton 45" or "the second President Clinton" -- and the world would look very different.   

White letter R on blue background
December 29, 2017

Trying to Take Trump Seriously By Michael Barone

016 turned out to be a year in which it was wise to take Donald Trump as a political candidate seriously but not literally, in the inspired words of syndicated columnist Salena Zito. As 2017 is on the point of vanishing, it's worth asking whether it's time to take Trump seriously, if not literally, as a maker of public policy.

White letter R on blue background
December 29, 2017

Trump’s First Year Accomplishments Compiled In Shockingly Long List By Richard Baris

Looking back on President Donald Trump’s first year in office, he has compiled a shockingly strong record and long list of accomplishments. As was also the case with his rise to the presidency, President Trump has broken several records for a first-year commander-in-chief and fulfilled many of his key campaign promises.

White letter R on blue background
December 29, 2017

Will War Cancel Trump's Triumphs? By Patrick J. Buchanan

Asked what he did during the French Revolution, Abbe Sieyes replied, "I survived."    

White letter R on blue background
December 27, 2017

Honoring 2017's Bulldogs By Michelle Malkin

There are talkers and doers, sowers of dissatisfaction seeds and agents of lasting change. Much of my column work over the year is dedicated to exposing the worst crapweasels in politics, pop culture, media and the policy arena. But to ring out 2017, I'm raising a toast to some of my favorite bulldogs -- vigilant citizens, independent journalists and bloggers, and dedicated activists who work tirelessly to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.   

White letter R on blue background
December 27, 2017

With This Tax Cut, Trump and the GOP Are on the Side of the Growth Angels By Lawrence Kudlow

With President Trump's signing of the big tax cut bill, the Republican Party snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Suddenly, the political and economic landscapes have changed. The GOP has turned the tables on the Democrats.

White letter R on blue background
December 27, 2017

Did the FBI Conspire to Stop Trump? By Patrick J. Buchanan

The original question the FBI investigation of the Trump campaign was to answer was a simple one: Did he do it?

White letter R on blue background
December 22, 2017

Republicans Bet the Farm By Patrick J. Buchanan

President Trump, every Republican senator, and the GOP majority in Speaker Paul Ryan's House just put the future of their party on the line.   

White letter R on blue background
December 22, 2017

Republicans Have Reformed Taxes; Will They Fix 1970s Budget Rules Next? By Michael Barone

The Republicans have passed their tax bill, without a single Democratic vote, despite low to dismal poll ratings. It's reminiscent of the passage by Democrats, without a single Republican vote, of Obamacare in March 2010.

White letter R on blue background
December 22, 2017

Lost Opportunities For Women: Sexism Sucks, but Blame Capitalism More By Ted Rall

One of the points many women have made since the beginning of the current national discussion about sexual assault and harassment has been that sexism and misogyny have cost women countless opportunities to achieve their full potential. Probably because this began with Harvey Weinstein, much of the mourning of opportunity costs focused on Hollywood: New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd mentioned her reaction to research she did on the topic: "I got more and more angry as I realized that these women were being systematically excluded based on ridiculous biases."

White letter R on blue background
December 21, 2017

The Minnesota Twins: A Complete History of Double-Barrel Senate Elections By Geoffrey Skelley

Sen. Al Franken’s (D) impending resignation due to sexual harassment allegations will create a vacancy in Minnesota’s Class II Senate seat, precipitating a special election in the North Star State next November. Gov. Mark Dayton (D) announced last week that he would name Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D) to the post, and Smith said that she intends to run in the 2018 special election for the remainder of Franken’s term (the seat is due to be regularly contested in 2020). Because Franken did not immediately resign, there was some speculation that he might reconsider leaving office — among others, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) wants Franken to remain in the Senate — but his spokesman said on Wednesday that Franken intends to resign on Jan. 2, 2018, and that Smith will be sworn into office on Jan. 3. This article is based on the assumption that Franken will indeed resign.

White letter R on blue background
December 20, 2017

Deadly Isms By John Stossel

People want politics to be simple. Left vs. right. Clinton vs. Trump. My side vs. your side. Elect the right guy, and things will be good!

White letter R on blue background
December 20, 2017

Time for Trump Makeover of Lib NPR and PBS By Michelle Malkin

At the close of 2017, no less than seven prominent male hosts and editors of influential government-sponsored radio and television shows are out of work amid claims of sexual harassment.   

White letter R on blue background
December 19, 2017

Pyongyang on the Prairie, Part 2 By Michelle Malkin

In Oklahoma City, words don't mean what they plainly mean. Asking government officials simple questions prompts Orwellian acrobatics. By distorting language and obfuscating actions, public bureaucrats subvert transparency and evade accountability.

White letter R on blue background
December 19, 2017

Who Wants War with Iran -- and Why? By Patrick J. Buchanan

In the run-up to Christmas, President Donald Trump has been the beneficiary of some surprisingly good news and glad tidings.

White letter R on blue background
December 15, 2017

Picking the Lock in Alabama By Michael Barone

Turnout would be the key to which of the wildly conflicting polls would best presage the result of Alabama's special Senate election, wrote Republican consultant Patrick Ruffini earlier this week.   

White letter R on blue background
December 15, 2017

Unlike Nixon, Trump Will Not Go Quietly By Patrick J. Buchanan

On Aug. 9, 1974, Richard Nixon bowed to the inevitability of impeachment and conviction by a Democratic Senate and resigned.

The prospect of such an end for Donald Trump has this city drooling. Yet, comparing Russiagate and Watergate, history is not likely to repeat itself.

White letter R on blue background
December 14, 2017

Partisan Gerrymandering and the Outlook for the 2018 U.S. House Elections By Alan I. Abramowitz

There is a growing sense among political observers that the United States may be heading toward a wave election in 2018. Results of recent special elections, including Doug Jones’ (D) victory in the Alabama Senate race on Tuesday, along with Democratic victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections and surprisingly large Democratic gains in the Virginia House of Delegates all point toward the likelihood of substantial Democratic gains in next year’s midterm elections, including a real possibility that Democrats could regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, results of recent generic ballot polling generally show large Democratic l

White letter R on blue background
December 13, 2017

Still Dawdling Over Deadly Diversity Visas By Michelle Malkin

Capitol Hill's national security priorities are screwier than a Six Flags roller coaster.   

White letter R on blue background
December 13, 2017

Liberate Food Trucks By John Stossel

Laura Pekarik bakes cupcakes and sells them from a food truck. Her truck provided a great opportunity, letting her open a business without having to spend big to hire a staff and rent space in a building.