A field guide to polling: Election 2020 edition

Rigorously conducted surveys are trustworthy, as long as you apply a dose of discrimination and are realistic about what polls can and can’t do. But how to sort the “good” polls from the “bad” is considerably trickier in this age of change and innovation in the polling industry. Our social scientists and methodologists answer key questions and assess the state of the craft.

• Why public opinion polls don’t include the same number of Republicans and Democrats
• A basic question when reading a poll: Does it include or exclude nonvoters?
• Video: Can we still trust polls?

Mobile divides in emerging economies

As ownership of mobile phones spreads rapidly across the globe, notable shares of people in some emerging economies still do not own a mobile phone, or share one with others. At the same time, many people who do own a mobile phone face challenges including reliable connections, paying for their devices and finding places to recharge.

• Report: In emerging economies, smartphone and social media users have broader social networks
• Report: Mobile connectivity in emerging economies

In a rising number of U.S. counties, Hispanic and black Americans are the majority

Non-Hispanic white Americans account for 60% of the U.S. population, but in a growing number of counties, a majority of residents are Hispanic or black, reflecting the nation’s changing demographics and shifting migration patterns.

• Sortable table: The U.S. counties with majority Hispanic, black or indigenous populations
• The most common age among whites in U.S. is 58 – more than double that of racial and ethnic minorities

5 things to know about Americans and their smart speakers

A quarter of U.S. adults say they have a smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home at home. As Americans integrate these devices into their lives, a little over half of smart speaker owners say they are at least somewhat concerned about the personal data their speakers collect.

• Report: Americans and privacy: Concerned, confused and feeling lack of control over their personal information

Americans favor mobile devices over desktops and laptops for getting news

Roughly six-in-ten U.S. adults (57%) often get news on a mobile device, compared with 30% who often do so on a desktop or laptop computer. The share who often get news on a mobile device is more than double the 21% who did so in 2013.

Supporters of European populist parties stand out on key issues, from EU to Putin

The emergence of populist parties has rocked Europe’s political environment in recent years. Many of these parties are on the far right ideologically and question the value of European integration. And while they generally receive relatively low favorability marks in national surveys, their supporters stand out on a range of important issues.

• Report: European public opinion three decades after the fall of communism

Protests in Lebanon highlight ubiquity of WhatsApp, dissatisfaction with government

A proposed tax on the use of the messaging platform WhatsApp has played a role in recent protests in Lebanon. In a 2018 survey, 84% of Lebanese adults – including 98% of those under 30 – said they use WhatsApp. The protests come amid broader public unhappiness in Lebanon with the country’s political and economic situation.

6 facts about marijuana

Marijuana is illegal under federal law, but a growing number of states have legalized the drug for recreational or medical purposes. The changing legal landscape has coincided with a dramatic increase in public support for legalization, which a majority of Americans favor. 

Decoded: Evaluating what makes a U.S. community urban, suburban or rural