15.1: Public Opinion - Readings and Media
- Page ID
- 269870
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)1. Lumen Learning.
Lumen Learning. (n.d.). The effects of public opinion. In American Government. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-amgovernment/chapter/the-effects-of-public-opinion/
This textbook chapter outlines the importance of public opinion for the democratic process, and provides you with some foundational knowledge on how public opinion influences government policy and decisions. Pay close attention to the concepts and definitions, and think about how politicians react to polls, and how public opinion's influence on policy making and democratic oversight has changed over time.
2. NBC
Bowman, B. (2025, March 18). Poll: American voters are deeply divided on DEI programs and political correctness. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/poll-american-voters-are-deeply-divided-dei-programs-political-correct-rcna196377
Let’s now take a deep dive into the divisions in public opinion on DEI topics. This NBC video and the subsequent article presents survey data showing how sharply the American public is divided along party lines (Democrat and Republican) when it comes to these topics. Notice how Republicans tend to dislike DEI policies while Democrats tend to support them. Also note how the issue divides along gender and education lines. You learn here how polling data reveals broad divisions in our society which may explain our voting behavior, governmental policy, and media narratives as they shape and reflect cultural and political conflict.
3. London School of Economics (LSE) Blogs
Rice, D., Rhodes, J., Nteta, T., & Eichen, A. (2025, June 4). New research shows the American public continues to support diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. USAPP – American Politics and Policy (LSE USAPP Blog). https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2025/06/04/new-research-shows-the-american-public-continues-to-support-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-policies/
This blog post provides another set of polling data assessing our society’s attitudes toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, going a bit deeper than the NBC article did. Amid major political pushback from the Trump administration -his executive orders on the issue and his efforts to dismantle federal DEI programs- the authors find that about 45% of Americans oppose ending DEI policies in areas like education, employment, and housing, compared to just 35% who support their removal. Additionally, approximately 60% of respondents favor DEI training for professionals -including teachers, police officers, military personnel, public-sector employees, and healthcare workers. The majority of that support cuts across political, demographic, and age groups. Take good notes here so that you can be prepared for our following class activity and homework.