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Where the Cowboys’ new-look defense ranks after the draft
What do you think is a realistic expectation for the Cowboys defense in 2026?
2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, predictions, posts: Expert who called 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles locks in picks
Jody Demling, who hit a superfecta worth nearly $1,700 at last year's Kentucky Derby, reveals his picks for the Runs for the Roses
Analysis: Bees reignite European push
Brentford have defied expectations in their first season under Keith Andrews, but their home form - so impressive in the first half of the campaign - was starting to become a worry. The Bees rode their luck at times but, like West Ham, should have scored more, with Mikkel Damsgaard and Igor Thiago both missing clear chances. Sepp van den Berg flashed a header wide late in the first half, but El Hadji Malick Diouf's foul on Dango Ouattara - and Thiago's penalty - settled Brentford nerves.
The best AI dictation apps, tested and ranked
AI-powered dictation apps are useful for replying to emails, taking notes, and even coding through your voice
2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, predictions, posts: Expert who called 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles releases picks
Jody Demling, who hit a superfecta worth nearly $1,700 at last year's Kentucky Derby, reveals his picks for the Runs for the Roses
Why do crabs walk sideways? Scientists trace it back 200 million years
Crabs’ famous sideways walk may trace back to a single evolutionary moment 200 million years ago. Researchers found that most modern crabs inherited this trait from one ancestor—and never looked back. The movement likely gave them an edge, helping them dodge predators with quick, unpredictable bursts. It’s a rare example of a behavior evolving once and then dominating an entire group.
The problem with healthy life expectancy
A crude blend of very different statistics is not the best tool for the job
2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, predictions, posts: Expert who called 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles makes picks
Jody Demling, who hit a superfecta worth nearly $1,700 at last year's Kentucky Derby, reveals his picks for the Runs for the Roses
Scientists sound alarm as dangerous amoebas spread globally
Free-living amoebae are emerging as a global health concern, fueled by warming temperatures and outdated water systems. While many are harmless, some can cause deadly infections and even protect other dangerous microbes. Their ability to survive heat and disinfectants makes them especially hard to control. Scientists say improved surveillance and water treatment are urgently needed.
Business Lookahead: Eyeing oil, US jobs, and European earnings
STORY: From high oil prices and the conflict in the Middle East to U.S. jobs data and corporate earnings, here’s what you need to watch in business and finance in the week ahead.:: Crude and currencyOil prices briefly topped $120 a barrel this week to hit their highest level since 2022 as the war with Iran enters a third month.While the U.S. and Iran face pressure to end a conflict that has shut the Strait of Hormuz, the world watches anxiously as the biggest-ever disruption to energy supplies unfolds.For each week the Strait is closed, keeping oil elevated, the greater the economic risks via higher inflation or weak growth or, for some, both. Oil importer Japan just intervened to prop up a yen that has been weakened by the conflict.A new month is now underway and some traders will be mindful of that old adage, "Sell in May and go away.":: Jobs gyrationsAs the U.S. economy grapples with fallout from the Middle East war, Wall Street's radar turns to Friday's April monthly payrolls report.The U.S. economy likely created 73,000 new jobs, economists polled by Reuters forecast. In March, payrolls increased by 178,000, the most since December 2024, but that followed a sharp decline in February.The U.S. employment data comes amid signs of hawkishness at the Federal Reserve, as Donald Trump pick Kevin Warsh prepares to take over as chair with the U.S. president keen on rate cuts.:: Starmer’s statusThursday's local elections in Britain, usually a non-event for investors, could move markets in a big way, with opinion polls pointing to a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party.A heavy defeat could spark more widespread demands for his dismissal among his own lawmakers and stoke expectations of a successor more willing to run looser budgets. That would bring more bad news for British bonds.::European earningsIt's a big week for European earnings with Shell and Commerzbank among those reporting.On aggregate, profits are expected to grow 3.2% in Q1, according to LSEG I/B/E/S. Under the surface, it's a little bit more complicated. Growth is expected to be driven by just three sectors: financials, tech and energy. The latter is seen as the biggest beneficiary of the Iran war due to higher oil and gas prices.But if the war, and energy surge, persist, the overall outlook for Europe's earnings could turn.
2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, predictions, posts: Expert who nailed 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles gives picks
Jody Demling, who nailed a $1,682 Kentucky Derby superfecta last year, reveals his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs
ECU Health has performed a North Carolina first: a new type of colorectal robotic surgery
A da Vinci SP system was used for two successful surgeries at ECU Health. The technology is less invasive and used one single incision instead of multiple.
A Scientist Says Humans Will Stop Aging by 2029, Here's the Technology That Could Make It Real
A futurist l predicts humanity could reach "longevity escape velocity", the point where life expectancy grows faster than we age. But is it realistic?
Hurzeler on Gomez, 'refreshing not relaxing' and 'unpredictable' league
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 15:00 BST). Despite being forced off with an injury last time out, Mats Wieffer will be available. James Milner and Solly March will not feature at St James' Park.
Tuscaloosa students prepare for tech jobs in new lab
Tuscaloosa City Schools opened a new Computer Science Innovation Lab, preparing students for high-demand tech jobs.
Should a California union dictate how clinics spend money? Employers sue to block ballot measure
California health clinics are suing to stop a union ballot measure that would dictate how they spend money — and they say it could force hundreds of clinics to close.
Integrated Counselors: Bringing mental health to the physical world - Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Choctaw Nation Behavioral Health provides integrated counselors in clinic settings to support patients experiencing emotional distress, difficult diagnoses, or needing support during medical visits.
Research commissioner pitches EU to US scientists and investors
Research Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva is just back from a two-day trip to San Francisco, where she pitched the EU as the place to be for US researchers looking to move and US venture capitalists looking to invest. A Commission spokesperson told Science|Business that Zaharieva used the trip to “promote Europe as a stable, rule-based and vibrant innovation destination.” She emphasised Europe’s excellent infrastructure and predictable funding, particularly through the European Research Council (ERC) and Europe Innovation Council.These are already proving tempting, with applications from US-based researchers to ERC and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) calls increasing substantially over the past few years. According to the Commission, the number of US-based applicants for the annual ERC Consolidator Grant call rose from 19 in 2025 to 64 in 2026, while US bids to the ERC Advanced Grant call rose from 23 in 2024 to 114 in 2025. Meanwhile, US applications to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme rose from 352 in 2024 to 998 in 2025.Pressure on US scientists to seek alternative employment has increased since Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Jobs at federal science agencies have been slashed, funding cut in some research areas and international scientific partnerships turned upside down. He has also made unprecedented attempts to control university affairs.During her trip, Zaharieva made a point of highlighting the protection of academic freedom in Europe, “especially in areas like climate change, renewable energy, and health, where US funding has faced cuts,” the spokesperson said.She also underlined the EU’s “attractive long-term career opportunities and relocation support for top researchers from anywhere in the world,” especially through its new Choose Europe for Science initiative.“Transatlantic cooperation remains essential to tackle global challenges while safeguarding shared values such as academic freedom and openness,” Zaharieva wrote on social media ahead of her visit.Related articlesERC walks back stricter resubmission rules for 2027Don’t feel guilty about poaching scientists fleeing Trump, US science body tells EuropeHer itinerary took in Stanford University’s business school and school of medicine, where topics for discussion included entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration. She also met with venture capital firms, including Playground Global, Forgepoint Capital and Akkadian Venture Capital, as well as the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the largest public pension fund in the US.Other meetings included Jensen Huang, the chief executive of AI chip manufacturer Nvidia, and local business associations such as the Bay Area Council and EuroCham. European delegations in the area also received visits, including Advantage Austria and France’s La French Tech, and the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
MGM Resorts' quarterly profit misses estimates amid slower Las Vegas business
MGM Resorts International missed Wall Street expectations for first-quarter profit on Thursday, hurt by weaker performance of its Las Vegas businesses amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.
The Kentucky Derby is the most consistent — and unpredictable
While some heavy favorites have won the race, many longshots like Rich Strike in 2022 show anything is possible at Churchill Downs.
Google Reports 81% Jump in Profits, Beating Wall Street Expectations
The tech giant’s revenue rises 22% in the first quarter.
In the wake of $100 GTA 6 rumours, Take-Two still won't give an actual price, but says "our job is to charge way, way, way less of the value"
Take-Two head Strauss Zelnick has spoken more about GTA 6's upcoming release, and pricing "the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth".
White House blames assassination attempt on anti-Trump rhetoric; Dems push back
The White House says a shooting at a press gala Trump attended is the 'predictable result' of Democratic rhetoric, prompting pushback from Democrats.
Take-Two CEO Addresses Grand Theft Auto 6 Price, and the Possibility for More L.A. Noire
Strauss Zelnick doesn't have anything definitive on GTA 6's price tag yet, but it is being carefully considered and says Rockstar is focused on "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."
A one-in-a-million supernova seen five times could reveal the Universe’s true speed
A spectacular cosmic event nicknamed “SN Winny” could help solve one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries: how fast the universe is expanding. This rare superluminous supernova, located 10 billion light-years away, appears five times in the sky thanks to gravitational lensing, creating a dazzling “cosmic fireworks” effect. By measuring the slight delays between each appearance—caused by light taking different paths around two foreground galaxies—scientists can directly calculate the universe’s expansion rate.
IV fluids recalled over possible contamination—patients face risk of vascular complications
Particulate matter may be present in certain 1-liter containers of B. Braun Medical's Lactated Ringer's Injections. If this enters a patient's circulatory system, it could lead to a series of adverse events.
How to implement AI-powered coronary plaque analysis software—and ensure you get paid
The use of AI to evaluate plaque buildup in CCTA images has been one of cardiology’s biggest ongoing trends. Implementing this software into existing workflows, however, can be a challenge. An upcoming webinar is focused on providing guidance to hospitals and cardiology practices hoping to learn more about this topic.
Jimmy Kimmel defends his Melania Trump 'expectant widow' joke after first lady and president call for his firing. What did he say?
The ABC late-night host said it "obviously was a joke about their age difference" and "not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination."
Earnings call transcript: PENN Entertainment beats EPS expectations in Q1 2026
Earnings call transcript: PENN Entertainment beats EPS expectations in Q1 2026
AMC Entertainment (AMC) Expected to Beat Earnings Estimates: Should You Buy?
AMC Entertainment (AMC) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Mail-In test for colorectal cancer could help community health centers increase screening
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States and disproportionally impacts people who receive care in under-resourced settings. Fortunately, several effective screening tests are available to detect cancer early when it is most treatable. In partnership with community health centers (CHC), investigators from Mass General Brigham and UCLA Health mailed one of two stool-based screening tests to more than 5,000 participants from CHCs in Boston and Los Angeles. Researchers found that participants were more likely to complete screening if they received a newer stool-based screening test, but follow-up colonoscopy rates remained low for those with abnormal results. Findings are published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Trumps call for ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel after morbid joke about first lady
Kimmel last week described Melania Trump as having "the glow of an expectant widow"
Diego Pavia Could Consider Joining $14.52B Entertainment Industry After Going Undrafted in NFL
Though the 2026 NFL draft didn’t work out well for Vanderbilt QB1 Diego Pavia, the Heisman Trophy finalist is reportedly considering a career away from the gridiron. Pavia took college football by storm, mounting spectacular wins over powerhouses like Alabama and Auburn.
Jimmy Kimmel responds to Melania and Donald Trump once again calling for him to be fired
Jimmy Kimmel is shrugging off Melania and Donald Trump's calls for him to be fired, again, in the wake of a joke he made about Trump looking like an 'expectant widow' ahead of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Scientists think they finally know why Neanderthals vanished
A new study suggests Neanderthals didn’t go extinct simply because of climate change or competition with Homo sapiens. Instead, the key difference may have been social connectivity—Homo sapiens formed stronger, more flexible networks that helped them survive environmental shocks. Neanderthals had connections too, but they were more fragile and regionally limited. This made them less resilient as conditions became increasingly unpredictable.
Rectal cancer deaths rising up to three times faster in specific age group, study finds
Researchers say that rectal cancer mortality is rising significantly faster than colon cancer in younger Americans — and the trend may worsen through 2035.
This Is the Wrong Time for the Predictable Democrat Response to the Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
A strong midterms push is the only way to start fixing the problems at the heart of this terrible act of gun violence.
Melania Trump implies Kimmel should lose his job over ‘expectant widow’ joke
First lady Melania Trump on Monday implied that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel should lose his job due to jokes he made during a mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner skit on his show Thursday night.
See drone photos of Taylor Swift's Westerly mansion as wedding rumors fly
Will she get married in RI, or will she get married in NYC? See why Taylor Swift's Watch Hill mansion would be a dream location for most brides.
Astrobotic fires next-generation 'rotating detonation rocket engine' in record-breaking test (video)
"Chakram more than exceeded our expectations."
How The Golden Entertainment (GDEN) Investment Story Is Shifting With Mixed Analyst Sentiment
The fair value price target for Golden Entertainment is now set at US$30.0, effectively unchanged from the prior US$30 level and signaling a steady headline anchor for the story. This static target comes as bullish and bearish analysts weigh steadier execution potential against more cautious expectations and a downgrade in research commentary. As you read on, you will see how to track these shifting views and what they may mean for following the evolving narrative around the stock. Analyst...
Magical Abilities Removed From Upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe, Leak Suggests
Fresh leaks point to a major change for the upcoming witchcraft-themed Assassin's Creed Hexe, and expectation of an Assassin's Creed 1 remake.
Healthy life expectancy gap between rich and poor has widened
Poor housing, obesity and the effects of deprivation have been suggested as underlying causes of the fall.
Yearbook Advice vs. Seed Business Reality: “Never Change” Is an Awful Strategy
Seed companies can’t rely on “never change” thinking. To stay competitive, leaders must protect customer trust while evolving sales channels, pricing models, digital tools, agronomic insight, and product positioning. Intentional change helps seed businesses adapt to farmer expectations, build resilience, create differentiation, and keep growing in a fast-changing agricultural marketplace.
Findings on healthy life expectancy in UK shed light on its deteriorating health
Metric gives fuller picture than life expectancy, which is simply how long people live, says Health Foundation
EA Sports UFC 6 Planned For June Release
To paraphrase Bruce Buffer, it's almost time to step back into the virtual octagon for the next EA Sports UFC game.
‘Michael’ moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics
“Michael,” the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics.
'Michael' moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics
“Michael,” the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
'Michael' moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics
“Michael,” the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics | KNSS Radio
'Michael' moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics
“Michael,” the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics | Talk 1370
'Michael' moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics
“Michael,” the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics | WBEN
SpeakOn's dictation device is a good idea marred by platform limitations
This $129 device uses MagSafe to stick on the back of an iPhone to power transcription across apps
Bosses don’t like the sound of a ‘four-day workweek’. Maybe it’s time to rebrand it
Some employers are reluctant to cut workers’ hours but pay them the same – but it just might be the future of work
Iraq’s Communists Are Fighting Against Sectarian Politics
Although Iraq’s Communist Party has lost much of the support it enjoyed at its peak, it still has a real presence on the Iraqi political scene. Its general secretary Ra’id Fahmi tells Jacobin about the need to challenge Iraq’s sectarian power structure.
Second-tier Lovat reach cup semis
Lovat defeat local rivals Beauly 1-0 at Braeview to become the only second-tier side in the semi-finals of the North area championship, the WM Donald MacTavish Cup.
Lake Erie College renames program to the Master of Reading Science
Lake Erie College in Painesville has officially renamed its Mastery of Literacy program to the Master of Reading Science, reflecting the college’s full alignment with the Science of Reading and Ohio’s updated expectations for educator pre…
Top 5: UFC Vegas 116 ‘Fight of the Night’ candidates
Expectations continue to mobilize behind Youssef Zalal in the court of public opinion. Aljamain Sterling now stands in his way.
LeBron James promised the Lakers 'everything' and delivered in spectacular fashion in Game 3 win over Rockets
At 41, LeBron James added another legendary playoff performance to his highlight reel
'Friday Follies': Prince Harry tries to 'dictate' American politics
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo discusses Prince Harry's political takes and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' answers to kids' questions on 'The Ingraham Angle.'
UFC Vegas 116 weigh-in results: All fights officially set
The UFC octagon is back in Las Vegas for Saturday's UFC Vegas 116: Sterling vs. Zalal fight card at the Meta Apex. The event is headlined by a featherweight bout between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and No. 7 ranked Youssef Zalal. On Friday, the athletes competing on the fight ...
How Investors Are Reacting To Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Upgraded Earnings Momentum And Analyst Sentiment
Sphere Entertainment recently attracted attention after Zacks assigned it a Momentum Style Score of A and a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), reflecting improved analyst sentiment and positive earnings estimate revisions in the period leading up to today. This shift in sentiment highlights how changing expectations for Sphere’s earnings power and momentum profile can influence how investors view its longer-term prospects. Next, we’ll examine how this stronger earnings momentum, highlighted by upgraded...
‘I know what I’m capable of’: George Russell hopes 2026 won’t be his ‘one and only shot’ at F1 title
Formula One has in the year of 2026 has perhaps never been as unpredictable and unexpected as demonstrated by the opening throws of the still nascent season.
Scene One Entertainment opens Market Arcade 8
Scene One Entertainment, alongside Benchmark Management Group, opened the Market Arcade 8 on Wednesday in downtown Buffalo - the latest for the Schenectady-based entertainment company, and its first foray in Western New York.
PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) Exceeds Q1 CY2026 Expectations
Casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) reported Q1 CY2026 results exceeding the market’s revenue expectations, wi...
PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) Exceeds Q1 CY2026 Expectations
Casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) reported Q1 CY2026 results exceeding the market’s revenue expectations, with sales up 6.4% year on year to $1.78 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.11 per share was significantly above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Scientists make breakthrough in solving mystery of volcanic lightning
Research shows fine carbon coating on silica in updraught causes electrical charge – and spectacular display
Rectal cancer rates rising rapidly among people in their 30s and 40s: 'A medical crisis'
By 2035, rectal cancer death rates could exceed deaths from colon cancer, new research suggests.
Medical leaders break ground on women's health pavilion in Prince George's
A medical hub is on the way in Prince George’s County dedicated to ensuring expectant mothers have an option closer to home. Eight in 10 women in Prince George’s County leave the county to deliver their babies due to limited care options, according to Luminis Health. That was the reality for Mautez Bethel. “I’m not even going to lie, the…
WATCH: Leavitt says Trump has not set 'firm deadline' for Iranian proposal to extend ceasefire
“Ultimately, the timeline would be dictated by the commander in chief and the president of the United States,” Leavitt said.
No one can look Starmer in the eye … and the Mandy saga is not going away
The PM’s failure was being a spectator as Morgan McSweeney set about finding jobs for his mates
Ilia Topuria goes off on 'dumb as f***' Arman Tsarukyan
Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has made as many headlines for his antics outside of the cage as in it. The 29-year-old has stuck a fan on his walkout to the octagon, head butted an opponent during face-offs, engaged in a post-fight brawl at RAF 6, got thrown off an airplane and ...
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
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