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Microsoft earnings top Q3 estimates, says AI business up 123% year over year
Microsoft reported its third quarter earnings after the bell Wednesday.
Cardinal Health Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results and Raises Outlook
/PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) today reported third quarter fiscal year 2026 revenues of $60.9 billion, an increase of 11% from the third quarter...
EU business investment rate hit 21.8% low in Q4 2025
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the EU business investment rate reached 21.8%, the lowest point since the third quarter of 2015. Since 2014, the EU’s non-financial corporation investment rate has shown 2 clear trends, with notable spikes. Between 2014 and 2018, the investment rate rose steadily from 22% to nearly...
South Loop business hit by burglary crew targeting ATM and slot machines for third time
Latest Attack Threatening President Trump Reflects Rising Political Violence in US
For the third time in three years, Donald Trump has come under threat by an attacker. Many facts remain unclear after a gunman stormed the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026, during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.As the investigation into the shooting continues, Alfonso Serrano,...
Citizen Science Goes Underwater With Global Shark Census Launch
A new global shark and ray census paired with a hands-on conservation course could turn everyday dives into powerful scientific data, at a time when nearly one-third of these species face extinction.
Cardinal Health Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results and Raises Outlook
Revenue increased 11% to $60.9 billion GAAP1 operating earnings decreased 30% to $509 million; GAAP diluted EPS decreased 20% to $1.69 Non-GAAP operating earnings increased 18% to $956 million;...
Viewpoint: A career in science is possible, and worth it
Starting a career in science is exciting, but also demanding, with researchers often faced with intense competition, long working hours and high levels of stress. A pioneer in the field of mass spectrometry, Carol Robinson has been there. She speaks with Science|Business on the importance of creating a supportive environment, particularly for women.Robinson did not wake up one day thinking that she would become a scientist. It was only late in school that she developed an interest in chemistry. “The more you work at something, the more you think, actually, this is fascinating. So, I went much further and deeper than I ever needed to pass the exam. And then I loved it,” she says. “I thought, I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here. But I didn’t think this would be my career for 50 odd years.”She left school at 16 to become a lab technician with the drug company Pfizer, which is where she first worked with mass spectrometry. Fascinated, she was encouraged to take a part-time degree and then a PhD. She went on to do pioneering work in native mass spectrometry, a technique that is used to study protein structures in their natural state, paving the way for breakthroughs in drug discovery. She also broke new ground by becoming the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Cambridge, and then the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford, her current home.She now wants to show young researchers that a career in science is worth it. “Sometimes, I believe the culture isn’t very encouraging, and that’s something I have worked on,” Robinson says.In 2021, she launched the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at Oxford, whose acronym gives a sense of what she hopes it will achieve. “Maybe it is corny,” she says. “It’s just a reminder that I would like it if we could all be kind to each other and supportive, especially for early-career researchers of either gender, because there’s quite a big attrition rate in science, and maybe it just doesn’t feel like a very friendly place to work.”And yet, a career in science comes with a lot of flexibility. “There are few careers where you have that amount of freedom, to go to conferences, to the library. Just because you didn’t see me didn’t mean I wasn’t working,” she says. “And I’m excited to come in every day. So, I don’t want people to think it’s a terrible place.”Gender equality is also important when it comes to the quality of science as a career. “The more women we have, the better it becomes,” Robinson adds.Imposter syndromeAccording to EU data, women outnumber men in university education but account for just about a third of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem). And while the number of women working as scientists and engineers in the 27-member bloc is on the rise, their representation remains below that of men, at 41%. This discrepancy is even more pronounced in top-tier functions across these fields, where women fill just 20% of positions.Having supervised many young scientists, Robinson sees that women continue to have a greater propensity than men to doubt their abilities, a feeling she once shared. “When I was doing my PhD at the University at Cambridge, I really felt like an imposter,” she says. “I don’t think I ever felt I deserved to be there or owned it and was proud. I just thought I was lucky.” Later on, she adds, “I was always that person who said, I can’t apply yet because my CV is not strong enough.”She has now made it her job to encourage women to break with this imposter syndrome. For example, rather than calling for volunteers to give a lecture in the groups that she mentors or teaches, which nearly always results in men stepping forward, she goes straight to the women, “because I know they won’t push themselves forward.”But the gender gap in science is not just down to imposter syndrome. The “obvious” reason, Robinson says, and the reason that is on everybody’s mind when discussing workplace gender equality, is the balance between work and raising a family. Her own path was to choose between the two, taking an eight-year break after completing a postdoctoral training fellowship to bring up three children. And she continues to advise women not to work part-time while they raise a family. “You’ll just get half the pay and continue to work full-time because you are not able to fit everything in,” she says. “You should be able to have a family and come back to have the career that you want.”The solution is for men to also take career breaks. “That kind of evens it up, so that it’s not such a big thing for women,” Robinson says. “I always encourage men in my groups to do that. I think it’s important to take your share of the duties.”Support produces resultsAccording to the Women in Stem Network, a UK advocacy group, countries with strong childcare systems and equal pay policies retain more women in technical careers. In Europe, these are primarily found in the Nordic region and parts of central Europe.At the EU level, the European Commission asks all Horizon Europe applicant organisations to have a gender action plan in place. Since this criterion was introduced in 2021, the share of women leading consortia has increased to 31%, against 23% in Horizon 2020. Their overall participation, however, has risen just 1%, to 38%. After trying to weaken the requirement for gender action plans in 2025, the Commission now intends to adopt a plan for supporting women in research and innovation.Related articlesCommission scraps plan to water down gender requirements in HorizonHow gender balance can swing who wins Horizon Europe fundingRobinson herself has benefited from three Advanced Grants from the European Research Council. “I was extremely honoured and privileged to get those, because they really allowed me to fuel my passion,” she says. “Without that, it would have been a much harder slog.”Beyond applying gender rules, she says that more work is needed on translational enterprise, where women are, once again, largely underrepresented. The European Patent Office found that only 13.8% of applications were filed by women in 2022. “We have so many more women doing amazing science; why do they feel it’s not a thing to have a company?” she asks.She founded her own spin-out company, OMass Technologies, in 2016, and remains chair of its scientific advisory board now that it trades as OMass Therapeutics. As for research, Robinson is now studying how changes in the brain may be linked to depression, using port-mortem tissue. “We’re hoping to publish soon,” she says. “We had to consult with a lot of people who knew a lot more about the brain than we did. So, we’ve learnt a lot, and that’s always a lot of fun to learn a new thing. That’s what keeps you going.”
Microsoft tops Q3 estimates, says AI business up 123% year over year
Microsoft reported its third quarter earnings after the bell Wednesday.
Politics’ Third Law: Equal and Opposite Gerrymandering
On a national scale, parties’ skeevy redistricting largely cancels out. Voters are the casualty.
Drew Allar or Will Howard? Ben Roethlisberger clearly prefers one young Steelers QB
Big Ben weighed in on the Steelers' quarterback future after the team picked Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft
Watch live: King Charles at 9/11 Memorial ceremony, trade and business event, and more
King Charles and Queen Camilla are spending the third day of their historic state visit celebrating 250 years of American independence in New York City, where they will meet with President Trump and...
Poll: The Cost of Health Care Remains at the Top of the Public’s List of Economic Concerns, Even as Concerns About Gas Prices Climb
Health care costs continue to top the public’s list of economic anxieties, even as fuel prices and economic uncertainty rose following the start of the Iran war, a new KFF Health Tracking poll finds. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults are worried about being able to afford health care costs, including three in ten who say they are “very worried.” The same share (64%) are worried about gasoline or other transportation costs, up from about half (52%) in January.
KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs and the Midterms
This KFF poll finds that health care costs continue to top the public’s list of affordability worries, even as concerns about gas prices have risen in recent weeks, with two-thirds of the public expressing worry over affording health care costs.
“Political Disaster for Donald Trump”: Jeremy Scahill on Stalled U.S.-Iran Talks
Negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the war are at an impasse as the conflict enters its third month. The Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday that Trump has told aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iranian ports to ramp up the pressure on Tehran. Iran is saying it will enter into direct talks with the U.S. “when President Trump lifts what Iran considers to be the illegal military naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz,” says Drop Site News co-founder Jeremy Scahill. “Iran has maintained that it’s not shut down the strait, but that it’s just shut it down for any vessels that are linked to the U.S. war in any way.” Scahill says a disorganized Trump administration is pushing a “total propaganda narrative” that it has the upper hand in negotiations, while Iran believes it has the “three M’s” on its side: munitions, markets and the midterms.
Bills invite former Bengals third-round pick to rookie minicamp
The Bills invited former Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton to rookie minicamp.
'Important' Man City 'listened' to possible ticket price increase
For a third consecutive campaign, Manchester City will not increase ticket prices. Official Supporters Club representative Kevin Parker told BBC Sport's Manchester City reporter, Shamoon Hafez that "putting prices up in this in the current climate is an absolute no, no". City have reacted by freezing ticket prices "in recognition of the extraordinary accumulated impact of the current cost of living pressures on fans and their families".
Lucky Strike Entertainment to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on May 6, 2026
RICHMOND, Va., April 28, 2026--Lucky Strike Entertainment will report financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Saros Guide: 12 Tips To Know Before Playing
Housemarque’s roguelike shooter can be a test of resilience or a pretty breezy third-person shooter
Grading the New York Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft Picks
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, many questions arose about what the New York Giants would do, especially after trading former All-Pro Dexter Lawrence for the 10th overall pick. With their two top 10 selections, as well as trading into the third round, the Giants showed great aggression for their needs. But, with these premier […] The post Grading the New York Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft Picks appeared first on The Lead.
4:LOOP details cube-shaped ‘Scanner’ boss
Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Bad Robot Games has released new information for cooperative third-person shooter 4:LOOP introducing the game’s ominous cube-shaped R…
White earns third team Academic All-America honor from College Sports Communicators
WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley's Taylor White was named a third team Academic All-America by the College Sports Communicators for women's swimming and diving.
Edinburgh sign Scottish-qualified scrum-half Chapman
Scottish-qualified scrum-half Louie Chapman can "push for the highest level" after the Crusaders man became Edinburgh's latest recruit. The 25-year-old is Edinburgh's third signing in the past week, following Hurricanes centre Riley Higgins and Scotland U20 back Geordie Gwynn from Ealing Trailfinders. Chapman qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother and has played five times for Crusaders in Super Rugby this season.
Car crashes into Hillsborough Street business for third time, raising safety concerns
A car crashed into Carolina Kettle on Hillsborough Street overnight, the third hit-and-run at the business in less than a decade. The owner is now calling for safety changes, warning it could be only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
Australia's Star Entertainment narrows third-quarter losses
Australian embattled casino operator Star Entertainment narrowed its third-quarter loss on Tuesday, reflecting the impact of cost savings and higher operator fee revenue.
Australia’s Star Entertainment narrows third-quarter losses
Australia’s Star Entertainment narrows third-quarter losses
Australia's Star Entertainment Narrows Third-Quarter Losses
April 28 (Reuters) - Australian embattled casino operator Star Entertainment narrowed its third-quarter loss on Tuesday, reflecting the impact of cost savings and higher operator fee revenue. The company reported a loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the ...
3 measles cases confirmed by Maryland health officials in April
Maryland is reporting its second and third measles cases of 2026, both of them Baltimore-area residents who had recently traveled out of state.
Flutter Entertainment Has Fallen 65% in a Year. Here’s Where the Stock Could Go in 2026
Flutter Entertainment has lost nearly two-thirds of its value in under a year, and Citi just became the only major firm on Wall Street to rate the stock a Sell. But 20 analysts still rate it Buy or Outperform, with a Street consensus near $188. Here’s what both camps are arguing, and why the next four days could settle the debate.
How did America’s political violence get so bad?
The third assassination attempt on Donald Trump in two years shows attacks are becoming a ‘feature’ rather than an ‘outlier’
One Health Microbiome Center names next doctoral interns for industry program
Two Penn State doctoral students will spend eight weeks in Germany at the headquarters of global biotechnology company QIAGEN. This marks the third year of the program, a partnership between the One Health Microbiome Center and QIAGEN.
Benoit Richer, Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe game director, leaves Ubisoft
In-development title loses third major team member as Richer becomes game director at new studio Servo Games
Will this be the year CT lawmakers curb private equity in health care?
Legislators will try for the third year in a row to address the fallout from private equity ownership of three Connecticut hospitals. Despite years of bipartisan calls for reform, proposals […]
Sen. Bill Cassidy says he has delivered for Louisiana as he campaigns to win a third term
Can Cassidy overcome President Donald Trump’s opposition?
Rockets survive without Kevin Durant, dominate Lakers in Game 4 after Deandre Ayton's ejection to avoid sweep
Deandre Ayton was ejected in the third quarter after he drilled Alperen Sengun's head with his forearm.
Nelly Korda conquered herself to win the Chevron Championship
Nelly Korda won her third major championship by doing something she had never done before - beating herself.
‘Native American Business Showcase’ features artists, crafts
In an event featuring talented professionals standing by their glistening jewelry and clothing, the University of New Mexico has once again brought together Native American businesses, organizations and student entrepreneurs in this year’s Native American Business Showcase. Hosted by the American Indian Business Association, the Thursday, April 23 event marks the third annual showcase that has been held at UNM. Executive Director of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico Marvis Aragon opened the event, encouraging entrepreneurship and collaboration among Native small businesses.
Cobi Jones’ Galaxy career honored with statue at Dignity Health Sports Park
Jones, who played 12 years with the Galaxy, saw the new bronze statue finally unveiled Sunday before the game against Real Salt Lake. Jones becomes the third Galaxy player to receive a statue at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Yandy Diaz homers and Rays beat Twins 4-2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Yandy Diaz homered as part of a four-run third inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.
Trump calls for unity and bipartisan healing after another violent incident
President Donald Trump was somberly contemplative and unusually conciliatory after confronting what he saw as a third attempt on his life in less than two years.
Stagecoach 2026: How to watch livestream with Post Malone, Hootie & the Blowfish
You can also catch Ludacris, Warren Zeiders and Third Eye Blind on Amazon Music and Prime Video's Sunday Stagecoach livestream, which starts at 3 p.m. Pacific.
"We want players to spend their time actually enjoying the content they're passionate about" – Honkai: Star Rail Developers Discuss the Future, Potential Switch 2 Port, Himeko’s Coffee, and More
Ahead of its third anniversary, we spoke to the Honkai: Star Rail development team to discuss plans for the future, a potential Trails collaboration, Steam Deck and Switch 2 support, Himeko's coffee, and much more.
Tresnjo reaches new heights to close out Drake Relays
Tigers close strong with five third-place finishes
Ryan delighted with title win after 'turbulent' season
Larne striker Andy Ryan says he is pleased that they got over the line and won a third Irish Premiership title in four years after a "turbulent" season.
AquaGlow Returns to Aquatica Orlando with New Nighttime Experiences, Entertainment, and Expanded Entry
Aquatica Orlando is set to light up summer nights once again as its popular AquaGlow event returns for a third year, featuring all-new experiences, enhanced entertainment, and expanded access for guests beginning May 16!
Best available players for the Broncos going into Day 3
Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Denver Broncos finally made a pick! They traded back into the top end of the third round and selected Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim. He will help replace the void left behind by John Franklin-Myers, who left via free agency and […]
Home runs and head-scratchers from NFL Draft Rounds 2-3, including Malachi Fields, Emmanuel Pregnon
Steals and reaches along with the best and worst fits of the NFL Draft's second and third rounds.
Carson Beck drafted by Cardinals at No. 65
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck with the No. 65 overall pick (third round).
2026 NFL Draft grades, tracker: Live Round 3 analysis for every selection made in order
Mike Renner grades the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Champaign Unit 4 students earn best-ever finish at state science and engineering competition
Champaign Unit 4 students earned third place at the Illinois State ACES Competition, the highest finish in program history, with three students earning individual top honors.
NFL draft picks tracker: Analysis for every 2026 second- and third-round selection
The 2026 NFL draft is fully underway. The Round 2 and 3 tracker offers instant analysis on all 68 picks made Friday night in Pittsburgh.
Third Space Cafe closing after less than a year in business
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Third Space Cafe, a Main Street destination for coffee, pastries and local entertainment such as music and stand-up comedy, is closing after less than a year in business. The…
Seaport Entertainment Group (SEG): Bill Ackman Admires This Entertainment Company
We just covered the 10 Best Long-Term Stocks to Buy According to Bill Ackman and Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:SEG) ranks 9th on this list. Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:SEG) first made an appearance in the 13F portfolio of Pershing Square in the third quarter of 2024. Back then, this position comprised just over 2 […]
Will this be the year CT lawmakers curb private equity in health care?
Legislators will try for a third time to address fallout from the private equity ownership of 3 CT hospitals. Previous attempts have failed.
Fires, floods and extreme weather will imperil a third of all life on land in the next 60 years
This forecast does not look good.
Aquatica Orlando’s AquaGlow returns with all-new nighttime slide experiences and electrifying entertainment
Get ready to light up your summer nights as Aquatica Orlando’s AquaGlow returns for its third year, reimagined with ALL-NEW experiences, enhanced entertainment and even more ways to glow. AquaGlow …
Bremerton's Anderson named among country's top small business leaders
The third-generation owner of a downtown Bremerton engineering firm was named Washington state's small business leader of the year.
Third US aircraft carrier arrives in waters around Middle East
The USS George H.W. Bush has arrived in US Central Command's area of responsibility, boosting the command's available combat power.
Sports roundup: Southold tennis serves up a loss for Mattituck
Josh Uguna smashed an ace to clinch his third doubles match with partner Joe Moran, to give Southold an insurmountable 4-2 lead over host Mattituck in its Suffolk County boys tennis match on Thursday, April 16. The Settlers’ duo recorded a 6-2, 6-7, 9-7 win over Monte Lang and Matt Kuzman. Southold (5-2, 5-2) recorded...
Derrick Van Orden says he's not following his reelection campaign
Third District Congressman Derrick Van Orden told reporters this week he isn't paying attention to his campaign and doesn't know if he'll be reelected.
Sheridan teachers’ strike tensions ratchet over health care benefits
The strike stretches into its third week as Gov. Polis continues to press both sides to come to an agreement.
Colorado DA pursues assault charge against federal immigration officer, DHS condemns 'political stunt'
Colorado District Attorney Eric P. Murray charged an ICE officer with third degree assault in a move DHS calls unlawful and a political stunt.
Lyft to Buy Gett’s UK Taxi Business, Marking Its Third International Acquisition
Lyft Inc. has agreed to buy London black cab app Gett, its third acquisition in the past year, as the company works to expand its presence beyond the US.
Pistons tie series with monster run to wipe out Magic 98-83 in Game 2
The Detroit Pistons used an insane 30-3 run to open the third quarter, breaking the Orlando Magic in Game 2 to tie the NBA playoff series at 1-1.
'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22
Director James Cameron’s sci-fi fantasy Avatar: Fire and Ash remained atop the Official Film Chart, the U.K. home entertainment sales chart, for a third week through April 22. The title held off Universal’s Oscar winner Hamnet, which climbed six spots to No. 2 in its 10th week on the chart, followed by the studio’s Wicked: For Good, … Continue reading "‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22"
'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22
Director James Cameron’s sci-fi fantasy Avatar: Fire and Ash remained atop the Official Film Chart, the U.K. home entertainment sales chart, for a third week through April 22. The title held off Universal’s Oscar winner Hamnet, which climbed six spots to No. 2 in its 10th week on the chart, followed by the studio’s Wicked: For Good, … Continue reading "‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22"
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn closed beta now available
The closed beta test for third-person action RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, developer Owlcat Games announced. A full launch will f…
NFL Draft targets for teams without a first-round pick in 2026
If your favorite team doesn't have a first-round pick, don't worry, we have the best targets for your second or third round picks.
Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Third Annual Belpre Area Business Exchange
The Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce is presenting the third annual Belpre Area Business Exchange on Wednesday, April 29, from 4:30-6:30 pm at Parkersburg Art Center.
Jacksonville ranks among top 5 best large cities to start a business
A new WalletHub report ranks Jacksonville as the third-best large U.S. city to start a business. Here's why.
Science in the shadow of the Third Reich
In postwar West Germany, the link between cigarettes and cancer was ignored — with real and deadly effects
Rumor: Street Fighter 6 Season 4 DLC character roster potentially leaks online including big Final Fantasy crossover
Street Fighter 6 is getting ready to close out its third season of DLC content with Ingrid on the way in the near future, but we may now already know who is coming after her.A potential leak of Street ...
Here's What's New in iOS 26.5 So Far
iOS 26.5 has been in beta since late March, with a third beta released this week. The update is relatively minor so far, which is not too surprising given that Apple is starting to shift its focus towards iOS 27. Apple will unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and the update should be released in September. iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for two changes, including end-to-end encryption for RCS in the Messages app and ads in the Apple Maps app.
John Carroll University adds women's flag football as varsity sport
The move marks the third women's varsity sport that the university has added in the last four years
On the Hill: Health Care Reauthorizations, Congressional Hearings
House leaders plan votes this week on reauthorizing rural health and telehealth programs, as well as a proposed directive on lung cancer research. Legislation to be taken up under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage, includes H.R. 2493, which would reauthorize rural health care grants through fiscal 2030, and has been unanimously approved by the House […]
‘Diablo 4’ Lord Of Hatred Review: Third Time’s The Talisman Charm
Diablo 4's new Lord of Hatred expansion throws us back into another fight with Mephisto. Is it worth coming back to the game for it?
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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