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T-Mobile rolls out broadband with Starlink backup to expand business customer base
T-Mobile on Tuesday launched a new internet offering for businesses, combining its 5G network with Starlink's satellite backup to serve companies operating in remote locations.
Helldivers 2's latest balance patch sees a major shakeup to durable damage, affecting the new warbond Exosuits
Helldivers 2's latest patch notes affect durable damage balancing as the new Exosuit warbonds update rolls in, balancing the game around armor.
Alabama football moves in USA TODAY Sports post-spring top 25 rankings
Alabama moves in USA TODAY Sports' post-spring rankings. Are Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide in a better or worse position than before?
Steam Frame isn't Launching Alongside Steam Controller on May 4th Due to RAM Shortage
Steam Controller, Valve’s next-gen gamepad, is slated to launch on May 4th for $100, although you shouldn’t expect to see a big ‘buy’ button next to Steam Frame or Steam Machine. Speaking to Polygon, Valve revealed that it’s only releasing Steam Controller next month for a pretty important (and slightly obvious) reason: Steam Controller “doesn’t […]
Valve is "hard at work" on Steam Deck 2, but the company's idea of "next-gen" performance isn't possible yet
As the new Steam Controller is readied for launch, Valve has commented on the next Steam Deck and confirmed it won't be rushed out for small performance gains.
Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro are getting their first software update
Samsung has started rolling out the first software update for the Galaxy Buds 4 and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro to improve their stability.
Microsoft Office can now be controlled with Logitech’s MX Creative Console
Take your spreadsheets and decks to the next level.
BP profits double after ‘exceptional’ oil trading during Iran war
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Thousands of Marylanders downgraded health plans on ACA marketplace amid rising premiums
As fewer Marylanders qualify for federal tax breaks that used to keep health care costs down, state officials report that higher monthly premiums have led thousands to opt for lower-coverage healthcare plans than in previous years.
The short-term rental platforms rolling out alternative business models
Short-term rental platforms are reviving subscription models as hosts seek lower distribution costs and more control over bookings.
Apple introduces monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment on the App Store
Developers can now set up and test monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment on the App Store, ahead of the public rollout nex month.
Medical debt vs. Medicaid expansion: One state has a clear winner
Researchers found enrollment correlated with big reductions in medical debt as signaled by collections activity and subprime credit scores.
Horizon Science Academy to open school in Cedar Rapids
The new campus is scheduled to open in August and enrollment is now open on the school’s website.
'Millimeters matter:' Making the Steam Controller 'just work'
Valve's 'it just works' approach to hardware design makes the Steam Controller a fantastic device to use. Here's what it took to make it that way.
Valve Says It's 'Hard at Work' on Steam Deck 2, but There's Still No Release Window
Valve has said it’s “hard at work” on Steam Deck 2, while continuing to work on getting the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame out the door.
Valve launches the Steam Controller without the Steam Machine
The Steam Controller is officially coming next week.
Trump Family Business Ventures Cashing in on the Presidency
Donald Trump has made a fortune since retaking the White House. His family isn't doing too bad, either, with Donald Jr., Eric, and others cashing in.
Enter The Gungeon Creators Say Roguelikes Have Become 'Cash-Grabby'
Dodge Roll's co-founder believes the 'slot machine' aspect of Balatro and Vampire Survivors has led to a shift in the design of roguelikes
Adventure of Samsara version 2.0 update now available
Publisher Atari and developer Ilex Games have released the version 2.0 update for Metroidvania side-scrolling action adventure game Adventure of Samsara, which adds new gameplay content and quality…
Steam Controller to Arrive on May 4 in Japan
Valve's Steam Controller is reportedly just a few days away from launch, as the company is preparing for a May 4 release in Japan. According to a now-deleted post by 4Gamer, the Japanese launch is expected on May 4, with a price of $99. This price includes the controller, a charging cable, and a 2.4...
EPIC Entertainment Group
A US-wide rollout of immersive experiences responds to growing demand for narrative-driven visitor experiences
Women's Flag Football Added as 26th Varsity Sport at John Carroll
The tradition of football at John Carroll University has just deepened. Since 1920, John Carroll Football has been a prestigious powerhouse at JCU. Beyond plenty of success on the field, JCU Football has consistently graduated excellent men who have set the world on fire. Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, women will have the opportunity to add to the rich history of football in University Heights.
The Steam controller release date may have been leaked online
In a now-deleted article on 4Gamer, the Steam controller's release date was revealed, indicating a possible imminent release if accurate.
$1 billion over 5 years: Director of NH’s new rural health program rolls out goals for federal funds
Donnalee Lozeau, director of GO-NORTH, said her philosophy in distributing the hundreds of millions of dollars the federal government is giving New Hampshire to spend on its struggling rural healthcare system will be about long-term investments, not short-term fixes.
I’m a fourth-year med student, but I only learned one historical example of medical racism
Modern randomized controlled trials often rely on marginalized populations abroad.
Windows 11 Updates Can Now Be Skipped and Even Paused Indefinitely
Microsoft is... giving users exactly what they want? In the latest Windows Insider preview for Windows 11, Microsoft is rolling out an updated Windows Update experience that gives users more control over their update process. This includes the option to skip updates entirely during the out-of-box ex...
Oil at three-week high as US-Iran peace talks stall
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Eastern mythology-themed Metroidvania game Karma Exorcist announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC
Publisher Infini Fun and developer Cyclos have announced Karma Exorcist, an Eastern mythology-themed Metroidvania / side-scrolling action adventure game. It will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbo…
Steam Controller release date revealed as another review leaks online
The leak comes from a Japanese gaming website, which briefly published a review of the Steam Controller before taking it down.
Exclusive: What’s next for Letterboxd?
The controlling investor in Letterboxd, the cinephile social platform, is looking to sell its stake.
On ‘equitable care’: LGBTQIA+ SoCal Health Conference targets access, education
Healthcare providers emphasized the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ patients amid federal rollbacks on the community’s access to care at an April 19 UCLA conference. The 11th annual LGBTQIA+ SoCal Health Conference brought together UCLA physicians, medical students and community members to discuss gender-affirming care, mental health and policy issues in the LGBTQ+ community.
Pirates Drop Finale; One Mistake Opens Floodgates, Brewers’ Harrison Dominates
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski was rolling through three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth after a costly […] The post Pirates Drop Finale; One Mistake Opens Floodgates, Brewers’ Harrison Dominates appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
Viral browser app forces you to stop scrolling with a giant cat you can’t remove
A viral browser extension called Cat Gatekeeper forces users to stop scrolling by sending a giant cat overlay onto their screen.
Connections: Tyson Foods appoints chief accounting officer - Talk Business & Politics
Springdale-based meat producer Tyson Foods Inc. has named Phillip Thomas as its new chief accounting officer and controller effective April 6. He replaces Lori Bondar, who is stepping down and...
Sunday Science: Spring leaf out
It's been quite the rollercoaster ride this spring season in terms of temperatures, and we aren't the only ones who think that.The USA Phenology Network tracks
Vermont sees drop in health insurance enrollment after subsidy cuts
Learn about the impact of the federal budget bill HR.1 on Vermont's healthcare system, including loss of subsidies and changes to Medicaid eligibility.
A Trendy Way to Break Your Social Media Addiction Costs $59. I Found a Clever Dupe.
Finally, I can actually relax instead of just scroll.
New Valve Hardware Given Pricing Update, Steam Machine Hopes Crushed
The Steam Machine may not be as "competitively priced" as we hoped.
Robert Reffkin is changing the way Americans buy homes. Who do those changes help?
Home shoppers scrolling through real estate search engines like Zillow or Redfin this spring may notice some unusual listings: homes labeled “Coming Soon” or “Preview.”
Move over Jelly Roll, another country star signs with WWE: ‘I’m a HUGE wrestling fan’
The WWE is starting to make it a habit to do business with country music stars.
Roki Sasaki’s Mixed Bag Start vs. Cubs Continues Rollercoaster
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki pitched five innings on Saturday, April 25, against the Chicago Cubs in what continued to be an eventful outing.
Photos | TJ Parker & Davison Igbinosun Arrive at One Bills Drive
Scroll to see photos as Buffalo Bills 2026 second-round picks TJ Parker and Davison Igbinosun arrive for their first day at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Microsoft explains why Windows 11 File Explorer scrolls smoothly in some places, but not everywhere
Microsoft has finally explained why Windows 11 File Explorer lacks smooth scrolling in all folders, blaming legacy code and complex features.
Valve Steam Machine release date and price announcement reportedly coming soon
An insider believes that Valve will soon make a final decision on the Steam Machine price. That could mean an abrupt end to the release date uncertainty caused by the memory shortage. The Steam Controller MSRP also leaked, indicating that news on the other new hardware is near.
Microsoft rolls out revamped Windows Insider Program
Microsoft says it's rolling out a revamped Windows Insider Program experience as part of the broader plans to address performance and reliability concerns affecting Windows 11.
Steam Controller early review leak claims $99 launch price
Steam Controller launch signs grow as early review video leaks Valve's new Steam Controller appears to have leaked again, this time through what looks
Steam Controller review leaks, but price of Steam Machine accessory may disappoint
After reports that Valve had received shipments of the accessory, a Steam Controller review has appeared. Deleted ahead of a likely release date update, a YouTuber praised its responsive dual trackpads. Even so, the price may make it more difficult to discount the Steam Machine.
Glowing Steam Controller Review Leaks Early, Revealing Price ($99), Strengths and Weaknesses of Valve’s Comeback Pad
A glowing leaked review of Valve's new Steam Controller reveals the pricing ($99), as well as its many strengths and few weaknesses.
‘Echoes of Elvis’ to rock Grand
Rock and roll fans and music lovers are invited to a tribute to a music icon when “Echoes of Elvis: The Concert Experience” comes to The Grand in Ellsworth on
Why colleges are going out of business
Debt and an enrollment crisis sunk Hampshire College. Is it a canary in the coal mine for higher ed?
Why colleges are going out of business
Debt and an enrollment crisis sunk Hampshire College. Is it a canary in the coal mine for higher ed?
Best of Central Florida Community’s Choice Awards business spotlight: CPS Investment Advisors
Nominations for the Best of Central Florida Community's Choice Awards are rolling in! Don't miss your chance to recognize your favorite businesses.
ECU Notes: Computer science students, faculty embrace future with AI
Artificial intelligence can do a lot of things, but controlling the weather isn’t one of them.
Court rules Buffalo comptroller must issue bonds for proposed capital project
Mayor Ryan says the new decision will allow Buffalo to move forward with critical infrastructure projects.
Windows Update gets new controls to reduce forced restarts
Microsoft is rolling out Windows Update improvements that give users more control over how updates are installed while reducing disruption from frequent or poorly timed restarts.
Fitbit 4.68 rolling out sleep editing, motivational Coach messages, more personalization
In addition to the Sleep Score redesign, Fitbit this week is rolling out version 4.68 of the Android and iOS apps as a sizable update.
Valve Steam Controller details leak ahead of launch
Komodo Station’s Steam Controller page goes live before the official launch, revealing this pad's final design and how it fits in your hands.
Stock markets set to fall, Bank of England deputy governor warns; Trump threatens UK with ‘big tariff’ over digital services tax
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Marshall Health Network enrolling patients in lung cancer clinical trial evaluating personalized immunotherapy approach
lungllulungHUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Edwards Cancer Institute at Marshall Health Network (MHN) is enrolling eligible patients in a clinical trial evaluating whether a personalized immunotherapy approach can enhance the effectiveness of treatment following lung cancer surgery. The study is investigating the use of an individualized therapy designed with a tumor’s unique biology from a surgical sample to help the immune system better […]
Meet Noscroll, an AI bot that does your doomscrolling for you
Noscroll wants to cure doomscrolling with an AI bot that reads the internet for you.
YouTube TV starts rolling out Multiview upgrade that supports any channel
Multiview is one of the best features to launch on YouTube TV for some time, but it’s always been restricted...
ICE Will Reportedly Curb Some of Its Most Aggressive Tactics
NBC reports that DHS has ordered the agency not to enter homes without a warrant and to cut down on arresting immigrants in court.
Leaked One UI 8.5 changelog details new features on Galaxy S25, AirDrop and more
The One UI 8.5 changelog for the Galaxy S25 series appeared online, signaling what could be a rollout in the...
Microsoft gives your Word documents an AI co-author you didn’t ask for
: Also rolls out agentic Copilot in Excel and PowerPoint, letting 21st century Clippy lend a... hand
Vanderbilt Health implants novel device to treat aortic regurgitation in high-risk patients
With the addition of the J-Valve device, Vanderbilt Health now offers minimally invasive procedures to implant devices treating every valve disease. The trial is still enrolling new patients, so other high-risk patients with aortic regurgitation could qualify.
UW Student from Gillette Finds Hands-On Learning, Community in Environ
Alexandria Shinkle credits her hometown of Gillette with giving her a head start on her college education. The dual enrollment program with Gillette College allowed her to take college courses during
Google Wallet rolling out big homepage, search redesign
Google Wallet is beginning to widely roll out a big redesign of the app on Android that upgrades the passes experience.
Stifel reiterates Buy rating on PENN Entertainment stock
Stifel reiterates Buy rating on PENN Entertainment stock
Microsoft launches ‘vibe working’ in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
A new Copilot experience is rolling out
YouTube TV’s fully customizable multiview finally starts rolling out
YouTube TV begins rolling out its fully customizable multiview feature, allowing users to pick their own channel grids on TV and mobile.
Galaxy S25 One UI 8.5 changelog leaks days before Stable rollout
Leaked changelog reveals One UI 8.5 stable update for the Galaxy S25 series will bring a noticeable visual refresh, leaning into cleaner layouts, blur effects, and more fluid elements that adapt naturally to how you use the phone daily. Galaxy AI takes center stage with smarter, more practical tools. From screening calls with Bixby to […]
Crimson Desert Gets Its Biggest Patch Yet, Adds Difficulty Settings, Much-Needed Storage Improvements, and Even Birds as Pets
Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss has released update 1.04.00, which makes significant improvements to the game. Chief among them is the addition of difficulty settings, new storage improvements, new pets, keyboard/mouse and controller preset options, new category tabs for the inventory, new skills, improvements to distant scenery quality, and a lot more.
Senate GOP rams through blueprint to bankroll ICE, Border Patrol through end of Trump era
Senate Republicans adopted a budget resolution funding ICE and Border Patrol for President Donald Trump's full term, advancing the reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement.
UK government borrowing narrowly undershoots forecasts; oil rising over $100 amid strait of Hormuz deadlock
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
‘I Can’t Talk to Anybody.’ One Air-Traffic Controller’s Mental-Health Struggle.
Controllers say the FAA’s medical-reporting system discourages them from seeking treatment. The federal agency says its protocols keep skies safe.
A Music Biopic Supply Crisis Is Looming
As Hollywood continues to roll out films about seemingly every A-list classic rock and hip-hop artist, it's fair to wonder who will be left.
Tesla Q1 earnings, sales top forecasts as company sees 'tailwinds' boosting auto business
Tesla will report first quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, with Wall Street focused on the company's slow-to-evolve Robotaxi rollout and capital expenditures, which are expected to balloon due to the company's AI ventures.
Apple rolls out iOS 26.4.2 to fix a flaw that allowed the FBI to access push notifications
The latest iOS update patches a security flaw that made deleted push notification data accessible on some iPhones and iPads.
Tesla earnings, sales top forecasts as company sees 'tailwinds' boosting auto business
Tesla will report first quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, with Wall Street focused on the company's slow-to-evolve Robotaxi rollout and capital expenditures, which are expected to balloon due to the company's AI ventures.
St. Jude Rock ‘N’ Roll Nashville Reveals Entertainment Lineup
The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville is returning April 25–26, celebrating 26 [...]
Possessor(s) coming to Switch 2 on April 29
Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Heart Machine will release side-scrolling action adventure game Possessor(s) for Switch 2 on April 29, the companies announced.
Sayonara Wild Hearts, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have just released
Two more Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have just dropped with Annapurna releasing new versions of Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Right now we’re only seeing it in Japan, but it should be rolling out in other regions over the next day. Sayonara Wild Hearts now includes a Remix Arcade mode in which players are tasked with aiming...
Gamers sue Nintendo over tariff refunds, saying consumers should get the money back
Two gamers have filed a class action lawsuit against Nintendo, alleging that the company will be unjustly enriching itself with any refund it secures from the U.S. government over widespread tariffs last year that, among other things, hiked the prices of Nintendo hardware and accessories. “Unless restrained by this Court, Nintendo stands to recover the same tariff payments twice—once from consumers through higher prices and again from the federal government through tariff refunds, including interest paid by the government on those funds,” the suit states. Nintendo sued the U.S. government to secure a tariff refund in March, after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs a month prior, saying they were illegally implemented by President Donald Trump.. The gamers who have sued, California-based Gregory Hoffert and Washington-based Prashant Sharan, both say they purchased Nintendo goods that had increased in price due to tariffs, according to the complaint. They filed their suit in the Western District court of Nintendo of America’s home state of Washington and are seeking class action status to represent all people in the U.S. who purchased price-hiked Nintendo goods between February 1, 2025 and February 24, 2026. They allege that Nintendo’s recovery of any tariff refunds would constitute unjust enrichment and violate Washington state consumer protection law. Similar class action lawsuits pressing companies to pass on tariff refunds have been previously filed against FedEx, UPS and eyeglass importer EssilorLuxottica. The tariffs were announced in early April, and by mid-month, Nintendo had announced $5 price increases for controllers for the then-forthcoming Switch 2. In August, it raised the price of the original Switch. In their suit, the gamers cite comments from Nintendo executives connecting the tariffs to price increases. In May 2025, a month after the tariffs were imposed, Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa told investors “Our basic policy is that for any country or region, if tariffs are imposed, we recognize them as a part of the cost and incorporate them into the price.” Nintendo’s March lawsuit, along with tariff-recovery suits from hundreds of other companies was immediately put on hold pending the implementation of a refund system. The U.S. government announced the beginning of the refund process earlier this week. Companies could receive as much as $160 billion, per CNBC. In March 2026, after Nintendo filed its lawsuit to recover the cost of the tariffs, I asked the company if they planned to pass their refund on to customers who’d paid increased prices. The company’s response acknowledged the existence of the lawsuit but avoided answering that question: “We can confirm that we filed a request. We have nothing else to share on this topic.” Even a promise to consumers may not have spared Nintendo this week’s lawsuit. FedEx previously promised to pass its tariff refunds on to consumers. They’ve been sued over them anyway.
29-year-old spent $1,000 to launch a wedding camcorder business—it brought in $1.7 million in sales in less than a year
Anne Marie Carroll started Wedding Weekender with one camcorder in May 2025. Within 10 days of launching she had 50 orders and over $36,000 in sales.
What’s Happening With Tesla’s Battery Business
Plus, CATL’s sodium ion batteries will be rolling out on roads across China later this year.
UTC Rollins College of Business student earns JPMorgan internship
Ethan Tidwell has always dreamed of working in New York City. This summer, he will finally have the opportunity through a two-month internship with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York City.
Google Meet adding in-person ‘Take Notes for me’ and Drive ‘projects’
Google announced a suite of new Workspace features across Drive, Sheets, Meet, and more. These updates are rolling out over the coming weeks.
Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #23: 4/21 vs. White Sox
Today’s Lineups WHITE SOX DIAMONDBACKS Andrew Benintendi – DH Ketel Marte – 2B Munetaka Murakami – 1B Corbin Carroll – RF Miguel Vargas – 3B Geraldo Perdomo – SS Colson Montgomery – SS Adrian Del Castillo – C Everson Pereira – RF Lourdes Gurriel – LF Sam Antonacci – LF Jose Fernandez – DH Chase […]
Internal documents shed light on Trump’s crusade to vet state voter rolls
The Trump administration has been working for nearly a year on an effort to weed out noncitizens from voter rolls using a faulty data system while keeping those plans hidden from courts and Democratic election officials, internal Justice Department communications obtained by CNN show.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress
The House Ethics Committee was expected to recommend her expulsion today.
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
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Review
An extremely satisfying conclusion to Diablo's latest demonic saga.
Entertainment’s Battle Between Scale and Originality
Scale is not the enemy. The real danger is forgetting why people cared in the first place.
National Small Business Week is Coming Up – Here’s How You Can Support
Voice of Business Blog National Small Business Week is being celebrated from Sunday, May 3rd, through Saturday, May 9th around the country, including right here in Greater Rochester, NY. Our small businesses have a massive economic impact in our community. A recent report from NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found that 98.9% of all businesses in…
The Pitt and Medicaid - National Health Law Program
“Hopefully we’ll be back on Medicaid by then.” “How’d you lose it?” “They sent a redetermination letter to our old apartment. It didn’t get forwarded.” “And you haven’t been able to get it back since?” “I’ve been trying for months. To get re-enrolled, you need tax returns, pay stubs… I cut hair. My income fluctuates.” – The Pitt, Season 2, […]
Pixel phones hit with battery drain issue, Google investigating
Following the rollout of the April 2026 update on Google Pixel phones, a widespread battery drain issue has hit, but...
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