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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Political Polling, Online Dating, and "The Deputy Who Disappeared"

    Polls are more influential than ever in politics. But, increasingly, they’re wrong. And in 1998, Jon Aujay set out for a long-distance run near Palmdale. He was never seen again, and the investigation into his disappearance has never been closed.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Nov 10, 2015 • 52m Listen

    Polls are more influential than ever in politics. They determined who would be in the main Republican debate tonight and poll numbers are used daily to describe the phenomenon of Donald Trump and Ben Carson leading the GOP field. But what if the polls are wrong? Increasingly, they are.

    And car sales are heading for a record-breaking year: Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan, Fiat-Chrysler and Honda have all seen big sales growth this year. The one company lagging behind? Volkswagen.

    Then, on June 11, 1998, Jon Aujay set out for a long-distance run in Devil’s Punchbowl Park, near Palmdale. He was never seen again. The investigation into his disappearance has never been closed.

    Finally: Can you put a price on love? How about $3.1 billion? That’s how much the Match Group — the company that includes Match.com, OKCupid and Tinder — hopes to raise when they go public in a few weeks. And unlike a lot of other tech darlings seeking high valuations, the Match Group is actually profitable.

    Banner Image: Donald Trump at the New Hampshire Town Hall on August 19th, 2015 at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH; Credit: Michael Vadon

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:00

      The Failure of Political Polls

      Polls are more influential than ever in politics. They determined who would be in the main Republican debate tonight and poll numbers are used daily to describe the phenomenon of Donald Trump and Ben Carson leading the GOP field. But what if the polls are wrong? Increasingly, they are .

      Read the story
      16 min
    2. 16:26

      Auto Roundup: Volkswagen Sales Lag

      Car sales are heading for a record-breaking year: Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan, Fiat-Chrysler and Honda have all seen big sales growth this year. The one company lagging behind? That would be Volkswagen.

      Read the story
      11 min
    3. 27:32

      "The Deputy Who Disappeared"

      On June 11, 1998, Jon Aujay set out for a long-distance run in Devil’s Punchbowl Park, near Palmdale. He was never seen again . The investigation into his disappearance has never been closed.

      Read the story
      12 min
    4. 41:10

      The Money Behind Online Dating

      Can you put a price on love? How about $3.1 billion? That’s how much the Match Group — the company that includes Match.com, OKCupid and Tinder — hopes to raise when they go public in a few weeks. And unlike a lot of other tech darlings seeking high valuations, the Match Group is actually profitable.

      Read the story
      8 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

      News

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:0016 min

      The Failure of Political Polls

    2. 16:2611 min

      Auto Roundup: Volkswagen Sales Lag

    3. 27:3212 min

      "The Deputy Who Disappeared"

    4. 41:108 min

      The Money Behind Online Dating

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand