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We are so thrilled to announce that Ryan O'Donnell has been named the next executive director of Data for Progress!

Most recently serving as interim executive director, Ryan joined Data for Progress in 2019. He’s spearheaded our growing research on media consumption among less-engaged voters and overseen our rapid response polling on the daily dangers of Trump’s wannabe authoritarianism.

As Ryan writes on our DFP Insights ([link removed]) page this week:

“In the aftermath of 2024, what’s clear is that the Democratic coalition remains adrift — split between competing visions from the left and the center — and too often guided by a cautious, business-as-usual politics that leaves voters uncertain about its direction.

DFP doesn't see public opinion as fixed. We know it’s dynamic — an ever-changing target, continuously shaped by material conditions, social dynamics, and the issues that politicians and movements themselves can force into the public consciousness.”

That’s why we’re doubling down on our mission to measure — and move — public opinion by equipping the progressive movement with the data, insights, and strategy it needs to win.

Thanks for being in this fight with us — we can’t wait to show you what we have in store next!

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Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:

Fitter, happier, more productive. ([link removed])

Ever feel like a cog in a machine? Or like that dog in the house on fire meme? Or like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? Well, you’re not alone! On this holiday for all things horrific, we have the displeasure of informing you that 60% of voters think life is getting worse in the U.S. Based on how things have been going recently, we don’t blame them!

What’s driving this pessimism, you ask? When we provided respondents with a list of various factors that some people say are causing life to get worse, voters say ([link removed]) they are the most “extremely worried” about two issues: the cost of living (43%) and division in our society (42%).

But don’t get it twisted — despite what the MAGA ghouls and goblins would have you believe, 71% of voters say that the U.S. becoming a more multicultural and diverse country has been a positive development. We also find that a majority of voters think the global integration of our economy has been positive, while the decline in religion, Americans spending an increased percentage of time indoors, and increased consumption of medications, technology, and material goods have been mostly negative.
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That said, a majority of voters (+30) are optimistic about technology. But maybe that’s just our collective phone addictions speaking. Remember, after you’ve finished reading our weekly newsletter in full, please consider unplugging for a bit to give your eyes and brain a rest.

Read the full poll here ([link removed]) .

Pardon me???

Trump has found the only drag queen ([link removed]) in the country that might actually be a danger to our society — and decided to pardon him. Of course, we’re talking about the famous Long Island “Jew-ish ([link removed]) ” fraudster, “Mary Magdalene of the United States Congress ([link removed]) ,” and “Republican “It Girl ([link removed]) ” George Santos.

In April, Santos was sentenced to prison for fraud and identity theft after stealing ([link removed]) other people’s identities to make donations to his own campaign. But this past month, Trump pardoned Santos and commuted his sentence. Now, Santos is back in the world, free to do as many interviews with Ziwe ([link removed]) as he’d like.

In our poll ([link removed]) , we find that voters disapprove of Trump’s pardoning of George Santos by a -40-point margin, including a plurality of Republicans.
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Also included in Trump’s list of pardons was cryptocurrency CEO Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to money laundering-related charges in 2023. According to the Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) , Zhao helped set up a deal with Trump’s family to boost the price of the Trump cryptocurrency. Voters also disapprove of this pardon by a -42-point margin.

Do y’all smell that? Because it reeks of brazen corruption in here (with a waft of Trump’s musty hairspray and McDonald’s breath). Ew.

See the full crosstabs here ([link removed]) .

DFP In The News

The American Prospect: Voters Did Not Understand the Stakes in 2024 ([link removed])

Pod Save America: Trump Gives INSANE Answer On Running For A 3rd Term ([link removed])

Anchorage Daily News: Opinion: Alaska’s time problem isn’t about the clock ([link removed])

AlterNet: Most Trump voters see economy as a huge problem — but not MAGA men ([link removed])

On Social
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Meme of the Week
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