On this week’s Poll Hub: A stunning moment in Venezuela puts U.S. military power and public opinion front and center. Americans are sharply divided over the operation to capture the country’s president, but nearly everyone agrees on one thing: Venezuela’s future should be decided by Venezuelans themselves. Next, we examine why Americans are questioning the press. With trust in traditional news falling and more people turning to platforms, creators, and algorithms for information, what does this shift mean for democracy, shared facts, and the future of polling? And, for our fun fact, we’re shifting gears to see how many Americans have experience driving a car with a manual transmission.
The U.S. detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has sparked a new political crisis abroad and a divided reaction at home. But, unlike many past U.S. actions, especially in this hemisphere, Americans don't seem to be rallying around the flag so much this time. We walk through what’s known about the operation, how Americans feel about the use of military force, and what polling shows about who the public believes should shape Venezuela’s future.
Then, we dig into why confidence in the news media continues to erode. As more Americans obtain information from platforms, creators, and algorithmic feeds rather than traditional outlets, we examine the consequences for shared facts, democratic engagement, and the ways pollsters measure public opinion in a fractured media landscape. And, what about the growing number of Americans who don't seem to be paying attention to news at all?
Finally, we close with a fun fact from polling that changes pace a bit, looking at how many Americans have driven a car with a manual transmission.