The Gallup Podcast

Gallup has tracked Americans’ views on the death penalty since 1937. How and why has this support or opposition changed over time? What percentage of Americans currently support using capital punishment? And what reasons do supporters of the death penalty give for why they support it? Sandra Babcock, clinical professor at Cornell Law School and a lawyer who specializes in human rights and the death penalty, shares her perspective based on decades of involvement in death penalty litigation. Later, what percentage of Americans say that they or someone in their family will be denied health insurance coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition?

Tuesday’s midterm elections will determine if Democrats take control of the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate -- or if Republicans maintain control of both houses. What percentage of Americans say they are certain they will vote? How much have they thought about the upcoming election? Are voters more or less enthusiastic about voting this year than in previous years? Gallup Editor-in-Chief Dr. Frank Newport and Senior Editor Lydia Saad discuss Gallup’s trends and what the latest figures could mean for the anticipated voter turnout. Later, what percentages of Republicans and Democrats say that climate change will be a factor in how they vote?

What is the status of Afghanistan 17 years after U.S. military intervention? What are the trends in measures of Afghans’ well-being? Are Afghans confident in their local police and their military, and are they confident in the honesty of their elections? Gallup Senior Editor and Researcher Steve Crabtree explains the country’s history as well as Gallup’s polling trends in the country since 2006. Later, less than two weeks before the midterm elections, what percentage of Americans approve of the job President Donald Trump is doing?

Nov. 6, the date of the 2018 midterm elections, is drawing closer each day. Which party will have control of the House and Senate when the dust settles? How does the 2018 political climate compare with midterms in the past? What can we learn from an analysis of presidential job approval and other key indicators? Gallup Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Frank Newport, and Senior Editor Lydia Saad compare notes. Later, how do President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Mike Pence’s favorable ratings stack up against each other?

Socialism is enjoying a renaissance in U.S. political discourse -- even though candidates who espouse a socialist policy perspective have had mixed results in primary elections and while Americans, as a whole, remain negative about socialism. Gallup recently updated a 1949 question asking how Americans define socialism. In this episode, two very different experts offer their opinions on the matter. David Boaz, executive vice president of the libertarian Cato Institute, and Dr. Susan Kang, a leader of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, weigh in on what socialism means and what its future in U.S. politics might look like.

In this update of current public opinion trends, Dr. Frank Newport reviews and highlights what’s important to know about American public opinion right now. How does the latest approval rating of President Donald Trump compare with those of previous presidents -- and do Americans view Trump more positively than Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election that put Trump in the White House? For the past several decades, Gallup has measured thousands of favorable ratings for public figures. Who has the highest -- and the lowest -- favorable ratings in Gallup’s history?

Just how big is the “gig” economy, in which employees have temporary or short-term assignments rather than working full time with one company? Are gig workers doing the kind of work they want? Who benefits the most in gig-work arrangements -- the employers or the employees? Will it become a more dominant part of the U.S. economy in the future? Shane McFeely, analyst and researcher on Gallup’s global practice team, explains the findings from the latest report, The Gig Economy and Alternative Work Arrangements. Later, what are Americans’ views of the pharmaceutical industry?

How much of the world experienced enjoyment yesterday? Did people smile, laugh or feel well-rested? Or did people feel angry, stressed or sad? Gallup World Poll Researcher and Analyst Julie Ray breaks down Gallup’s 2018 Global Emotions Report, which answers exactly these questions. Plus, in which countries around the world are people happiest -- and in which are they the least happy? The answers may surprise you. Later, what percentage of Americans believe President Donald Trump illegally colluded with Russians in his 2016 presidential campaign?

President Donald Trump often refers to polls, but just how accurate are his tweets about them? What will have a larger effect on midterm election outcomes -- presidential approval or economic confidence? How many Democrats react positively when they hear the word “socialism”? Frank Newport and Gallup Senior Editor Lydia Saad discusses the trends on these issues and more. Gallup has polled on Americans’ views of the late Sen. John McCain for decades -- Gallup analyst Andrew Dugan breaks down the trend in McCain’s favorability. Later, what percentage of Americans approve of labor unions?

What effect will Donald Trump’s ongoing legal woes have on his approval rating? And how has he maintained such a stable base of support among his party? What are the long-term repercussions of political division in the U.S., and how will the major political parties evolve in this climate? Ronald Brownstein, a senior political analyst for CNN and Atlantic Media who has covered presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan, offers his take on these questions and more. He even suggests what he believes would be a viable Democratic ticket to challenge Trump in 2020. Later, how do Americans rate the U.S. healthcare system compared with those of other modernized nations?