- Social:
New York University
Assistant professor of politics and public policyat New York University, specializing in public opinion, political institutions; author of Partisan Priorities: How Issue Ownership Drives and Distorts American Politics
PROFILE
Patrick Egan
Guest
FROM Patrick Egan
To the Point
Are Polls Trumping Political Reality? In a speech in South Carolina today, Donald Trump gave out the personal cell phone of Lindsay Graham, that state's US Senator and a fellow candidate for President. Trump also called Graham a "lightweight" and "an idiot." The Des Moines Register's editorial board has called Trump a "feckless blowhard" and asked him to drop out of the presidential primary. Today's Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Trump leading the field of 16 candidates—with 24%, the biggest showing any candidate has made so far this year. Yet the same survey shows that Republicans don't share Trump's views — even on immigration — and 54% say he doesn't reflect Republican values. Other surveys show the same contradiction. Is it all about saturation news coverage, or is something wrong with the polls? The question's especially important this year when the first debate will include only the ten candidates with the biggest numbers.
Which Way, L.A.?
The Prop 8 Arguments Are Over, Now It's Up to the Judge California voters passed Proposition 8 by a 52% majority in 2008, limiting marriage to one man and one woman, and effectively banning same-sex marriage. In 2009, the California Supreme Court upheld Prop 8 , but allowed existing same-sex marriages to stand. In the most recent Constitutional challenge , for two weeks in January, Federal Judge Vaughn Walker heard testimony for and against. Today he heard four hours of closing arguments. In California's 100-year-old initiative process, how often has "the will of the people" been overturned by a judge? Will this case go before the Supreme Court?
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Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Left, Right & Center
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?