The Daily

Why Polling on Gun Control Gets It Wrong

Jun 7, 2022

Nate Cohn, a domestic correspondent for The Upshot at The New York Times, dives deep into the complex world of polling and gun control. He explains how polls indicating overwhelming public support for measures like expanded background checks don't translate into voting behavior due to psychological biases and lobbying influences. Cohn also discusses the challenges faced by Republicans torn between personal beliefs and political pressure, showcasing the intricate and often confusing landscape of gun legislation in America.

28:20

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Episode guests

Nate Cohn

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Public Opinion vs. Voting Behavior on Gun Control

10min

Voter Sentiment on Gun Control

5min

Political Dilemmas in Gun Control

4min

Republican Responses to Gun Control

6min

Navigating the Political Landscape of Gun Control

6min

In calling for Republicans to pass gun safety measures like expanded background checks, Democrats point to polls that show most Americans support the idea.

They aren’t wrong about the polling. In fact, some polls show that over 90 percent of Americans support expanded checks.

Polling, however, does not tell the whole story.

Guest: Nate Cohn, a domestic correspondent for The Upshot at The New York Times.

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Background reading:

Broad public support for gun control may not be as broad as polling shows or as Democrats hope.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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