Why So Many Working Class Americans Feel Left Out

Daniel A. Cox January 23, 2025

This week I’m excited to publish a coauthored article written with Sam Pressler, author of Connective Tissue. Sam was a collaborator on our recent survey report, Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life. Sam is doing incredible work, and if you don’t already subscribe to his newsletter I’d highly recommend it! Earlier this week, Continue Reading →

“We’re So Back”

Daniel A. Cox January 9, 2025

There are moments during an interview when you know you have just heard something important. This happened during a recent interview with a student at the University of Texas. My colleague, Kelsey, asked Brad* how he was feeling about the 2024 election results: “Among my peer group, there’s a saying, and the saying is, we’re Continue Reading →

Our Most Intriguing and Startling Survey Findings of 2024

Daniel A. Cox December 26, 2024

Every year, I dedicate the last newsletter to showcasing some of the most intriguing charts and figures from our surveys. It’s a great opportunity to review all the work that was done over the past 12 months, and in some cases, revisit research that I’ve completely forgotten about. A year is a long time! The Continue Reading →

The Democratic Party’s Identity Crisis

Daniel A. Cox December 12, 2024

In any presidential election, one candidate receives too much personal credit for their victory and the other far too much blame for their defeat. This year, Kamala Harris has largely been spared the recriminations that often follow losing candidates. Biden—whose late exit and dismal job approval rating certainly handicapped Harris—has faced considerable and largely deserved Continue Reading →

Newsletter:Newsletter

Why Fear Governs So Many of the Choices Single Young Women Make

Daniel A. Cox November 27, 2024

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election decisively. He improved among most voting groups. But there is one group of voters who still roundly rejected him—single young women—even as their male peers moved decidedly in his direction. Even as the country shifted toward Trump—including a 10-point shift among single young men—single young women remained firmly Continue Reading →

What Trump’s Victory Means for America

Daniel A. Cox November 14, 2024

In the 2024 election, Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris by sweeping all seven swing states. He won the popular vote as well, but by a relatively slim margin. When all the votes are counted (get it together California!) his margin is predicted to be only 1.5 points. For months the polls told us we were in Continue Reading →

2024 Election Edition: Young Men Swing Toward Trump

Daniel A. Cox November 7, 2024

Trump received unparalleled support from young men in this election. Declining social capital may be to blame. Continue Reading →

What Trump Has Done to Our Politics

Daniel A. Cox October 31, 2024

Watching the clips from Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, what struck me more than anything else is how utterly unrecognizable the Republican Party has become under Trump. A party that once stressed the importance of honesty and integrity is gone. The rally speakers engaged in unrestrained vitriol and bigotry.  It’s not all happening on stage Continue Reading →

“We Don’t Feel Safe, Heard, or Understood.”

Daniel A. Cox October 17, 2024

A few weeks ago, I went to Philadelphia, PA to conduct a series of focus groups with young men and women. We discussed a variety of subjects including dating, relationships, infidelity, pornography and the 2024 U.S. election. As part of this research, we teamed up with The Washington Post to give participants the opportunity to Continue Reading →

The Pornography Problem

Daniel A. Cox October 3, 2024

Americans are being inundated with explicit content. AI promises to worsen the issue. Continue Reading →

Survey Reports

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
January 29, 2025

Romantic Recession: How Politics, Pessimism, and Anxiety Shape American Courtship

A new report by the Survey Center on American life finds that safety concerns and declining trust are reshaping modern dating, leaving many singles feeling pessimistic about their prospects. Sharp gender divides in attitudes toward dating apps, trust, and relationships reveal how these challenges are redefining the search for connection.

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Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
September 24, 2024

The Politics of Progress and Privilege: How America’s Gender Gap Is Reshaping the 2024 Election

Americans are increasingly divided on gendered issues. A new report by the Survey Center on American Life provides context for how these divisions might impact the results of the 2024 Presidential election.

Daniel A. Cox, Sam Pressler
August 22, 2024

Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life

Disconnected: Places and Spaces presents new survey findings that suggest Americans are less connected than ever before.

Daniel A. Cox, Kyle Gray, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
May 28, 2024

An Unsettled Electorate: How Uncertainty and Apathy Are Shaping the 2024 Election

A survey of more than 6,500 US adults focused on the 2024 presidential election reveals a pessimistic and unsettled American electorate fractured by education, ideology, class, and gender.