7: Vaccines for Mad Poll Disease, with Michael Podhorzer

In this episode of Cross Tabs, we delve into the complexities and limitations of public opinion polling with guest Mike Podhorzer. Mike, a seasoned political strategist with a rich history in the labor movement, most recently as former political director of the AFL-CIO, walks us through the weaknesses and blind spots of public polling. We touch on topics such as the differences between polling data and actual voting behavior, the flaws of national polls versus state by state or regional "ecosystem" polling, and how polling can distort public perception and affect campaign strategies. We also discussed the historical context and evolution of polling, highlighting key issues like the misinterpretation of voters' priorities and the psychological impact of polling on voter turnout. But it's not all bad news - Mike does offer insights into how polling can be improved and how better strategies can be employed in political campaigns.

Mentioned Resources:

"We Gave Four Good Pollsters the Same Raw Data. They Had Four Different Results." by Nate Cohn for The Upshot at the New York Times.

"Mad Poll Disease Redux" by Mike Podhorzer at Weekend Reading

"A Cure for Mad Poll Disease" by Mike Podhorzer at Weekend Reading

"The Newsroom is Not a Safe Space" by Ben Smith at Semafor

"Terrible Food and Such Small Portions" by Mike Podhorzer at Weekend Reading

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