The Gallup Podcast

Find out where Americans stand on the major issues of the day. Are Americans satisfied with the direction of the U.S.? Do they favor stricter gun laws? Do they want a bigger military budget? Who do they side with on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Who do Americans think did the best job as president? Tune in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Americans’ well-being took a big hit nationally in 2017, according to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, which recorded declines in 21 states. Why did well-being drop, and where were the declines most pronounced? Later, find out what percentage of Americans say that the person occupying the presidency affects their personal happiness.

Developments in artificial intelligence will continue to disrupt our work and lives. How can higher education prepare Americans for the coming threat of AI taking their jobs? Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun joins us to discuss a new report on AI’s effects and higher education’s response. Later, we reveal the percentage of Americans who rate the FBI’s performance positively.

As President Donald Trump prepares to make his first formal State of the Union address, what are Americans thinking? How do people feel he has performed so far as president, and what do they hope to hear him say about the future? On this special episode, we ask them. Later, we report on the aspects of the state of the union with which Americans are most and least satisfied.

Global approval of U.S. leadership fell to a record low during Donald Trump’s first year in office. In fact, Germany’s leadership approval now leads U.S. leadership approval worldwide. Jon Clifton, Global Managing Partner at Gallup, discusses these important trends, as well as other key findings based on how 134 countries and areas rate U.S. leadership. Later, we reveal the percentage of Americans who say they cannot name an objective news source.

Sam Gill, a vice president at the Knight Foundation, joins us to discuss a major new report on the public’s eroding trust in U.S. media; the challenges facing the journalism industry in fulfilling its democratic responsibilities; and how party polarization plays a major role in Americans’ views of the media. Later, we update the percentage of Democrats who identify as liberals and discuss how it has changed since 2001.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called 2017 one of the most successful first years in presidential history -- but what do Americans think? Gallup Senior Editor Lydia Saad reviews the year’s presidential approval ratings, as well as other measures of how Americans think the country is doing. Later, we reveal which sports are most popular in the U.S.

What can leaders do to manage workplaces better? In this episode, Dr. Jim Harter, chief scientist of Gallup’s workplace management practice, talks about the latest Gallup State of the Global Workplace report findings to help answer this question and more -- including what percentage of the global workforce is engaged. Later, we discuss the percentage of Americans who say taxes are the most important problem in the U.S.

Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report, offers his take on the impact that the Alabama special election, Trump’s approval rating, the public’s view of the new tax reform law and other factors will have on the political landscape in 2018. Later, we discuss Hillary Clinton’s favorable rating one year after the 2016 presidential election.

As congressional Republicans put the finishing touches on their controversial tax bill, should they consider public opinion? Gallup Senior Scientist Justin Wolfers, a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, offers an economist’s insight on that question. Wolfers goes on to shed light on many other important issues that arise when a government attempts to cut taxes. Later, we report on what Americans think about President Donald Trump’s position on recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.