The Conversation

North Carolina is not really a red or blue state − and that makes political predictions much more difficult

Written by Christopher A. Cooper, Professor of Political Science & Public Affairs, Western Carolina University

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson shares the stage with former U.S. President Donald Trump during a 2022 rally in Selma, N.C.Allison Joyce/Getty Images

For all its prominence as a key battleground state, North Carolina hasn’t done much swinging in U.S. presidential elections.

The last time a majority of North Carolinians voted for a Democratic candidate...

This Atlanta neighborhood hired a case manager to address rising homelessness − and it’s improving health and safety for everyone

Written by Ishita Chordia, Ph.D. Candidate in Information Science, University of Washington

Mural by artist Chris Wright on Metropolitan Avenue in East Atlanta.Art Rudick/Atlanta Street Art Map, CC BY-ND

Homelessness has surged across the United States in recent years, rising 19% from 2016 though 2023. The main cause is a severe shortage of affordable housing. Rising homelessness has renewed debates about use of public space and how...

Many wealthy members of Congress are descendants of rich slaveholders − new study demonstrates the enduring legacy of slavery

Written by Neil K R Sehgal, PhD Student in Computer & Information Science, University of Pennsylvania

A statue of Jefferson Davis, second from left, is on display in Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington. A slaveholder, Davis represented Mississippi in the Senate and House before the American Civil War.AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File

The legacy of slavery in America remains a divisive issue, with sharp political divides.

Some argue that slavery...

Both Harris and Trump have records on space policy − an international affairs expert examines where they differ when it comes to the final frontier

Written by Thomas G. Roberts, Postdoctoral Fellow in International Affiars, Georgia Institute of Technology

Neither candidate has talked much about space policy on the campaign trail, but both have records to consider.Anton Petrus/Moment via Getty Images

The next president of the United States could be the first in that office to accept a phone call from the Moon and hear a woman’s voice on the line. To do so, they’ll first need to make a...

Why the margin of error matters more than ever in reading 2024 election polls – a pollster with 30 years of experience explains

Written by Doug Schwartz, Director of the Quinnipiac Poll, Quinnipiac University

A political opinion poll aims to get a representative sample of the wider public.borzaya/iStock / Getty Images Plus

In just about any discussion of a poll about the very close presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, you’ll hear the phrase “within the poll’s margin of error.”...

How beef became a marker of American identity

Written by Hannah Cutting-Jones, Assistant Professor, Department of Global Studies; Director of Food Studies, University of Oregon

Beef dominates American diets. In 2022, Americans consumed almost 30 billion pounds of beef.Johnrob/E+ via Getty Images

Beef is one of America’s most beloved foods. In fact, today’s average American eats three hamburgers per week.

American diets have long revolved around beef. On an 1861 trip to the United States, the English novelist...

Americans use the Book of Revelation to talk about immigration – and always have

Written by Yii-Jan Lin, Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Voices Fellow, Yale University

A French tapestry depicts Saint John the Evangelist gazing at the New Jerusalem.Octave 444 via Wikimedia Commons

During a campaign speech in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 19, 2024, Donald Trump promised to save the country from immigrants: “I will rescue every town across America that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these...

Halloween candy binges can overload your gut microbiome – a gut doctor explains how to minimize spooking your helpful bacteria

Written by Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Washington

It's probably best to enjoy your Halloween spoils in moderation.Jupiterimages/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Each October, as the days shorten and the air grows crisp, millions of Americans prepare for the beloved – and often sugar-fueled – tradition of Halloween. From jack-o’-lanterns glowing on porches to costumes ranging from...

As more Americans go ‘no contact’ with their parents, they live out a dilemma at the heart of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’

Written by Jeanette Tran, Associate Professor of English, Drake University

Losing a connection to your family, intentionally or not, is tragic.catscandotcom/E+ via Getty Images

Is blood thicker than water? Should family always come first?

These clichés about the importance of family abound, despite the recognition that familial relations are oftentimes hard, if not downright dysfunctional.

But over the past few...

How pollsters have adapted to changing technology and voters who don’t answer the phone

Written by Spencer Kimball, Associate Professor of Communications, Director of Emerson College Polling, Emerson College

Pollsters have developed a range of methods for selecting who is asked to answer poll questions.Guido Mieth/Moment via Getty Images

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, news reports and social media feeds are increasingly filled with data from public opinion polls. How do pollsters know which candidate is ahead in what swing state or with...