Episode 7

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Published on:

28th May 2024

7: Vaccines for Mad Poll Disease, with Michael Podhorzer

In this episode of Cross Tabs, we delve into the complexities and limitations of public opinion polling with guest Mike Podhorzer. Mike, a seasoned political strategist with a rich history in the labor movement, most recently as former political director of the AFL-CIO, walks us through the weaknesses and blind spots of public polling. We touch on topics such as the differences between polling data and actual voting behavior, the flaws of national polls versus state by state or regional "ecosystem" polling, and how polling can distort public perception and affect campaign strategies. We also discussed the historical context and evolution of polling, highlighting key issues like the misinterpretation of voters' priorities and the psychological impact of polling on voter turnout. But it's not all bad news - Mike does offer insights into how polling can be improved and how better strategies can be employed in political campaigns.


Mentioned Resources:

"We Gave Four Good Pollsters the Same Raw Data. They Had Four Different Results." by Nate Cohn for The Upshot at the New York Times.

"Mad Poll Disease Redux" by Mike Podhorzer at Weekend Reading

"A Cure for Mad Poll Disease" by Mike Podhorzer at Weekend Reading

"The Newsroom is Not a Safe Space" by Ben Smith at Semafor

"Terrible Food and Such Small Portions" by Mike Podhorzer at Weekend Reading


You should definitely subscribe to Weekend Reading! Find it here: https://www.weekendreading.net/


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You can follow me on most social platforms at @farrahbostic

Or email me with questions or comments at farrah@crosstabspodcast.com


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About the Podcast

Cross Tabs
People • Data • Power
Our world is governed by numbers — surveys, polling, algorithms, and data.

On Cross Tabs, we bring you the stories behind these numbers. This podcast is your introduction to the people, perspectives, and agendas that shape our reality, and call it “public opinion”.

We invite experts to discuss pressing issues and walk us through their methods. You’ll hear about the issues that matter from some of the brightest thinkers in policy and politics, tech and business.

Join us and you’ll learn about how polling works — or doesn’t work — and how research can be manipulated to advance a political agenda. Discover the history of topics in the news and hear insights on culture and society.

And learn what’s really at risk in the race to influence and optimize, well, everything.

The show is hosted by Farrah Bostic, founder of The Difference Engine, where she works as a qualitative researcher and strategist working outside The Beltway to understand what drives business leaders, experts, and people like you so we can all make better decisions.