On Offense

With one week left until the midterm elections, Data for Progress is closing out its first season of On Offense by highlighting Democrats' biggest hits and summarizing how progressives can sharpen their message discipline on the issues most important to voters.   Over the past few months, we've explored what our comprehensive polling and message testing have revealed about voter opinion toward the most salient issues in Democratic politics and some of the biggest pieces of legislation that President Biden has signed into law during his first two years in office. We've also made the case for progressives to use the most effective and persuasive messaging on issues related to the economy and inflation, abortion, Social Security, climate change, student debt relief, gun violence, and more, and we've urged Democrats to go ON OFFENSE against Republicans to hold them accountable for their wildly unpopular agenda. In this episode, Marcela and McKenzie tackle three objectives: (1) summarize the most effective messages for Democrats that have emerged from our weekly message testing program (2) recap polling that demonstrates wide, bipartisan support for some of the most significant legislative accomplishments from the past two years, including the IRA, IIJA, CHIPS and Science Act, and PACT Act and (3) make one final case to Dems to go on offense, particularly by highlighting the most unpopular parts of the GOP platform and demonstrating their blatant attempts at government overreach.   Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data For Progress Our Polling Methodology   Relevant polling: Data for Progress: Voters Support Capping Insulin at $35/Month for All Americans Data for Progress: Democrats Must Act on Prescription Drug Reform, and Voters Agree Data for Progress: Gas rules everything around me Data for Progress: On the 87th Anniversary of Social Security, Voters Fear Republican Cuts and Want Democrats to Expand Benefits Data for Progress: Democrats and Voters Support Expanding Social Security Data for Progress: Congresswoman Lee: We need safe and legal abortion access now Data for Progress: A Majority of Voters Fear for their Rights Post-Roe Data for Progress: Voters Want Investments in Physical Infrastructure and Care Economy Passed Together Data for Progress: Sen. Gillibrand: The Bipartisan Gun Safety Bill Is a Major Step Forward in Tackling Gun Violence Data for Progress: For the Recently Announced Senate Gun Bill, Bipartisan Action Means Bipartisan Support Data for Progress: Voters Support Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act Data for Progress: No Generation Without Representation: A Survey of Young Americans Data for Progress: Voters Do Not Support Banning Books from School Curriculums   PRODUCED BY: Carly Berke Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Natasha Chisholm   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

A recent poll by Data for Progress indicates a majority (70 percent) of America's 18- to 29-year-olds feel their generation is underrepresented in Congress. That may very well change soon: Maxwell Frost, an organizer running for Congress in Florida's 10th congressional district, is poised to become the first Gen Z candidate elected to Congress.  Data for Progress fielded a youth survey that sampled both voters and nonvoters between the ages of 18 and 29 to understand the voting decisions, political attitudes, and policy preferences of young Americans.  We found young Americans broadly support the legislation passed under the Biden Administration, and they generally trust the Democratic Party more on issues like abortion, climate change, and student debt.  But like the rest of the electorate, these young respondents also indicate that some of the most important issues to them right now are inflation, jobs, and the economy – and Democrats should be addressing these concerns in their messaging to young Americans.  In this week's episode, Marcela and McKenzie break down Data for Progress' recent youth survey and why Democrats shouldn't discredit the importance of economic issues when they focus on youth outreach.   Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data For Progress Our Polling Methodology   Data for Progress: No Generation Without Representation: A Survey of Young Americans   PRODUCED BY: Carly Berke Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Natasha Chisholm   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

In August, Congress passed the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (Honoring our PACT) Act, a bill that extends critical health benefits and services to veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. The PACT Act represents one of the largest expansions of veterans' benefits in U.S. history, and it is anticipated to help more than 3.5 million American veterans.    The bill had strong, bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle and passed the House easily. But when it hit the Senate floor, Republicans suddenly blocked it, citing a budgetary concern, but more likely acting in retaliation to Democrats reaching an agreement on the Inflation Reduction Act. It was a critical moment that reflected Republicans' willingness to use veterans as a political pawn.   Veterans have historically aligned themselves with Republicans, and the Republican Party frequently touts its commitment to veterans in Congress and on the campaign trail. But research from 2018 found that Republicans more often make empty promises to veterans, while Democrats are more effective at legislating effectively for veterans.   How do Democrats reaffirm their commitment to veterans, who represent one of the most vulnerable, neglected, and discarded populations in America? How can Dems better communicate their commitment to bolster investments in health care, mental health services, and housing for veterans? Is it possible to reclaim the trust of such an important constituency? In today's episode, Marcela and McKenzie break down our recent polling and message testing on veterans.   Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data For Progress Our Polling Methodology   Data for Progress: Voters Strongly Support the Bipartisan Honoring Our PACT Act Data for Progress: On Veterans Issues, Democrats Should Tout Accomplishments to Change Perceptions NYT: Senate Passes Burn Pits Legislation, Expanding Benefits for Veterans - The New York Times NYT: Biden Signs Bill to Help Veterans Exposed to Toxic Burn Pits - The New York Times Stevens Institute of Technology: The Party of Veterans: Democrats or Republicans? | Stevens Institute of Technology PRODUCED BY: Carly Berke Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Natasha Chisholm   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright William Lorenz   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

"My plea to progressives is that it is ultimately less progressive to be using messages that you know are less effective. The stakes are too high for us to not be rigorously disciplined.” On June 24, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, upending nearly 50 years of precedent that protected the right to abortion in the United States. Since then, over a dozen states have enacted a full ban on abortion, with several others instituting a partial ban or other restrictions. We've seen horrifying stories emerge across the country in the wake of the decision, from a 10-year-old rape victim in Ohio forced to cross state lines to terminate her pregnancy, to nurses caring for sexual assault victims in ERs hesitating to provide morning-after contraception for fear it would be considered an abortion drug, to a Tennesee woman told by her state representative that discarding her embryos after IVF would be in violation of the state's abortion ban. Data for Progress has been in the field extensively since Roe v. Wade was overturned to understand where public opinion falls on this critical issue and to identify the most effective and persuasive messages that move voters in support of reproductive rights. In today's episode, Marcela and McKenzie break down our comprehensive polling and message testing and provide critical guidance to Democrats campaigning on abortion over the next five weeks.    Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data For Progress Our Polling Methodology   New York Times: Kansas Rejects Abortion Amendment: Full Election Results - The New York Times Data for Progress: A Majority of Voters Fear For Their Rights Post-Roe Data for Progress: Young Voters Are More Likely to Prioritize Abortion Rights in Upcoming Midterms Data for Progress: Knowing Someone Who Has Had an Abortion Correlates with Increased Support for Abortion Rights Data for Progress: Congresswoman Lee: We Need Safe and Legal Abortion Access Now PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Natasha Chisholm MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

Last month, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which represents the culmination of decades of advocacy and organizing around federal climate legislation. The IRA invests nearly $370 billion to ramp up clean energy production, incentivize clean energy manufacturing, reduce pollution and emissions in disadvantaged communities, and more.  It's a historic, landmark piece of legislation that has been widely celebrated by climate activists against the country. In order to capitalize on the success of the IRA and maintain momentum for climate action, Democrats must communicate about the IRA and climate change writ large in the most effective and persuasive way. We need to ensure the national narrative following the IRA reflects the positive impact that climate investments will have on our economy and on our efforts to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. In today's episode, Marcela and McKenzie break down recent Data for Progress polling and message testing on the climate provisions in the IRA and discuss climate change messaging more broadly to contextualize how Democrats should discuss climate moving forward.   Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data For Progress Our Polling Methodology   Energy Innovation: Modeling The Inflation Reduction Act Using The Energy Policy Simulator Data for Progress: Voters Support the Inflation Reduction Act's Investments in American Families Data for Progress: Voters Support the Inflation Reduction Act Data for Progress: A Progressive Case for the Inflation Reduction Act Data for Progress: Wisconsin Voters Support the Inflation Reduction Act and Bold Actions to Address Climate Change Data for Progress: Michigan Voters Support the Inflation Reduction Act and Bold Actions to Address Climate Change Data for Progress: A Majority of Arizonans Support The Inflation Reduction Act   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Danielle Deiseroth Natasha Chisholm   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

On August 24, President Biden announced his long-awaited plan for student debt relief. The plan includes cancelling student debt up to $10,000 for borrowers making under $125,000 per year and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant Recipients. President Biden will also be capping monthly payments for undergraduate loans at 5% of a borrower's discretionary income. President Biden campaigned heavily on student debt relief, and this decision comes over two years after student loan repayments were first paused in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, McKenzie and Marcela break down recent Data for Progress polling on student debt relief and how it might impact voter turnout in the midterm elections.    Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   Data for Progress: The Biden Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan Is Popular and Will Benefit the Economy Data for Progress: Student Debt Relief Will Lead to Higher Voter Turnout in Battleground States Data for Progress: A Majority of Voters Support Canceling Student Debt   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Abby Springs   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

"Republicans love to talk about being the party of traditional American values. What is the traditional American value of leaving seniors behind and letting people go hungry in the last stages of their lives?" Since Senator Rick Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released his 11-point plan to “Rescue America” — which includes a proposal to end all federal legislation, including Social Security, after five years — the GOP has made it clear that it has set its sights on cutting Social Security benefits. In June, Sen. Lindsey Graham went on the record about Social Security, hinting that seniors should “take a little less” and “pay a little more in” to improve the solvency of Social Security. And in August, Sen. Ron Johnson said Social Security and Medicare should be classified as “discretionary spending,” meaning Congress can vote to increase or decrease Social Security funding every year at its own discretion.  In today's episode, McKenzie and Marcela discuss recent Data for Progress polling from June and July on Social Security, which reveals that Social Security is one of the most popular issues we've ever tested, and voters across the ideological spectrum overwhelmingly want Congress to expand Social Security benefits to help beneficiares meet rising costs.    Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   Data for Progress: Independent Voters Support Democratic Plans to Expand Social Security Benefits Data for Progress: On the 87th Anniversary of Social Security, Voters Fear Republican Cuts and Want Democrats to Expand Benefits CNBC: Protecting Social Security benefits from rising inflation is high on voters' wish lists, survey finds   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

Last Sunday, the United States Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act after a grueling 16-hour vote-a-rama.  The IRA is the product of more than a year of negotiations around a reconciliation framework and decades of advocacy around federal climate policy. The IRA isn't perfect, but it represents enormous progress. It invests nearly $370 billion in climate and clean energy priorities while significantly reducing the price of prescription medication, helping pay off the national debt, expanding ACA subsidies, and closing tax loopholes on corporations to help pay for new investments. It's a big bill. More importantly, voters are incredibly supportive of the IRA and its potential to lower costs, strengthen our economic security, reduce the national deficit, and make the wealthy pay their fair share. In today's episode, on the cusp of House passage, McKenzie and Marcela discuss recent Data for Progress polling on the Inflation Reduction Act and how Democrats can effectively communicate about this landmark piece of legislation.   Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   Energy Innovation: Modeling The Inflation Reduction Act Using the Energy Policy Simulator Data for Progress: Voters Support the Inflation Reduction Act Data for Progress: Voters Support the Inflation Reduction Act's Investments in American Families     About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Grace Adcox Devi Ruia Abby Springs   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

There have been over 250 mass shootings in the United States since the start of 2022. More than 110 people die from guns every day in the U.S. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than their counterparts in other high-income countries.  For over a decade, Americans have organized, rallied, protested, and advocated for common-sense policies to prevent unmitigated gun violence in the U.S. On June 25, nearly a month after a tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 elementary school students and two teachers dead, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It's a pretty big deal -- this is the first major piece of gun violence legislation that Congrss has passed in nearly three decades -- but we're not seeing a lot of Democrats talk about it. In today's episode, McKenzie and Marcela discuss recent Data for Progress polling on voter attitudes toward gun reform and on the bipartisan gun reform bill and how Democrats can effectively communicate about gun violence prevention moving forward. Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Grace Adcox Devi Ruia   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

In today's episode, Marcela and McKenzie break down recent Data for Progress polling and message testing on student debt relief, one of the top issues that President Biden campaigned on.    Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Devi Ruia Grace Adcox   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

In today's episode, Marcela and McKenzie explore Data for Progress polling and message guidance on Rick Scott and his 11-point plan to "Rescue America".  Spoiler alert: A plan that includes raising taxes on Americans making udner $100K and phasing out Social Security and Medicare after five years isn't very popular with voters. Our polling and message guidance can help Democrats go on the offense against Rick Scott and the Republican Party.   Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Devi Ruia Grace Adcox   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

Welcome to the second episode of On Offense, a new podcast where Data for Progress is transforming our polling insights into winning messaging guidance for progressives. In this episode, hosts Marcela Mulholland and McKenzie Wilson break down Data for Progress polling and message guidance on inflation, which has sent prices skyrocketing to new heights and left millions of Americans struggling to afford basic goods and services. Our polling repeatedly shows that voters consider inflation to be one of — if not the most — important issue facing voters today. But Democrats have been hesitant to talk about inflation thus far, which puts them on the defense for the midterms. We'll discuss what our polling and message testing reveals about inflation and how Democrats can best talk about it. Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us at info@dataforprogress.org.   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Devi Ruia  Grace Adcox   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright chelliah   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research

Polling firm and think tank Data for Progress is excited to launch On Offense, a new podcast where we'll transform our polling insights into winning messaging guidance for progressives. In today's episode, we'll discuss the results of polling and message testing we conducted after a leaked draft majority opinion revealed that the Supreme Court plans to overturn Roe v. Wade.   HOSTS: Marcela Mulholland, Political Director, Data for Progress McKenzie Wilson, Communications Director, Data for Progress   About Data for Progress Our Polling Methodology   PRODUCED BY: Marcela Mulholland McKenzie Wilson Carly Berke Devi Ruia  Grace Adcox   MUSIC BY: chelliah   MIXED BY: Jack Wright chelliah   COVER DESIGN BY: Ed Ryan   SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blue Rose Research