SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " expect " 5,581 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Fist of the North Star (2026) Anime Review: A Mostly Unnecessary Remake
A look into the new Fist of the North Star series which premiered on April 11, including a full review of the series and what to expect.
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.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect to be charged as Trump prepares to welcome king
Suspect in Saturday evening’s shooting – Cole Tomas Allen – expected to be formally charged in court today
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) To Report Earnings Tomorrow: Here Is What To Expect
Hotel and casino entertainment company Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) will be reporting earnings this Tuesday after market hours. Here’s what you need to know.
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
Business tidbits: New cafes open near Zillah parkway path
Two more businesses have opened in the recently-constructed Village Valley Parkway Plaza in Zillah, with another expected to open soon.
Overnight Science Digest: Rethinking thinking by examining animal and AI intelligences
This week’s science news theme—the convoluted relationships between humans and non-human intelligences—arose from an unexpected combination of two dichotomous groups, wildlife and AI. I’ve added in a…
Universal Health Services (UHS) Q1 Earnings: What To Expect
Hospital management company Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) will be reporting earnings this Monday after the bell. Here’s what to look for.
Kamala Harris expected to blame Democrats and Republicans for failed economic policy at state party dinner
The former vice president recently told the National Action Network Conference that she's considering running for president in 2028.
Northern Lights Could Light Up 24 U.S. States Tonight: Here’s Where to Watch!
A powerful geomagnetic surge could bring the Northern Lights to unexpected parts of the United States tonight, according to NOAA forecasts.
Why the Broncos drafted OL Kage Casey
With their 111th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Boise State offensive linemen Kage Casey. He is a 6-5, 310-pound offensive lineman who played tackle in college, but was announced as a guard and is expected to provide depth at the interior of the Broncos’ offensive line. He will join […]
Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades: WR/KR Kaden Wetjen
The Pittsburgh Steelers have added the nation’s top return specialist to their draft class, selecting Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick. Here is what our staff had to say about the pick. Mike Nicastro: With a renewed emphasis on kick returns, Wetjen is expected to be the primary man […]
Raptors 'expect the unexpected' from Cavaliers in Game 4
The Toronto Raptors understand they must be ready for anything Sunday afternoon when they attempt to even their Eastern Conference first-round series with the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.
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.
Trump's disdain for wind projects creates a political storm for Republicans in coastal Virginia
President Donald Trump’s attempts to cancel offshore wind projects have drawn opposition not only from environmentalists but also from Republicans. One of them is Jen Kiggans, a congresswoman who represents a coastal district in Virginia where an $11.5 billion wind farm is expected to create 1,000 jobs. Her support for a project targeted by Trump shows the scrambled politics of clean energy in an election year where Republicans are at risk of losing the House. Kiggans could be even more at risk after Virginia voters approved on Tuesday a new congressional map that makes her competitive district more Democratic than before.
Close watch on how Trump and journalists will get along at White House correspondents' dinner
Donald Trump is expected to make his first appearance as president at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington. The annual event is designed to celebrate press freedoms. But...
Close watch on how Trump and journalists will get along at White House correspondents' dinner
Donald Trump is expected to make his first appearance as president at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington.
How unexpected pregnancy reshaped my van life and tiny house journey
We set out in our camper van in hopes of finding a place in the country to settle down long-term. Our timeline was sped up when I got pregnant.
Broncos expect 'strong' NFL draft class in 2027
“I think everyone feels like next year is going to be a strong draft," Broncos GM George Paton said of the 2027 class.
Aggressive “hulk” lizards are wiping out millions of years of evolution
For ages, wall lizards coexisted in three distinct color types, each with its own strategy for survival. Now, a powerful green variant is taking over. These dominant “Hulk” lizards are outcompeting the others, causing yellow and orange morphs to vanish. It’s a dramatic reminder that evolution can flip the script much faster than expected.
Harvard scientists link gut bacteria to depression through hidden inflammation trigger
A gut bacterium may be quietly fueling depression through an unexpected chemical twist. Researchers found that when Morganella morganii interacts with a common pollutant, it produces a molecule that triggers inflammation—something strongly linked to depression. This finding helps explain how gut microbes can influence brain health at a molecular level. It also raises the possibility of new treatments that target the immune system rather than just the brain.
Trump's disdain for wind projects creates a political storm for Republicans in coastal Virginia
President Donald Trump's attempts to cancel offshore wind projects have drawn opposition not only from environmentalists but also from Republicans. One of them is Jen Kiggans, a congresswoman who represents a coastal district in Virginia where an $11.5 billion wind farm is expected to create 1,00...
Which businesses qualify for tariff refunds, and how do you apply?
The government expects to process refunds in phases, focusing first on more recent tariff payments.
The Bear’s Den, April 25, 2026
The Chicago Bears break every mock draft out there with unexpected choices.
Trump says he expected oil to spike to $200. Here's why it hasn't.
Oil hasn't surged to $200 like some, including Trump, had expected. Business Insider spoke to energy market pros about what's kept a lid on prices.
'It was a ghost town': Strip District faced low turnout despite preparation for busy NFL Draft weekend
As the NFL Draft drew 320,000 fans on Day 1, the Strip District saw unexpectedly low foot traffic, leaving business owners surprised and disappointed.
Source: Miami AD Dan Radakovich expected to announce retirement
Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich is expected to announce his retirement as early as next week, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Could your beer have health benefits? Here’s what new research says
A casual beer might come with an unexpected perk. Drinking the occasional pint could provide “substantial levels” of vitamin B6, an essential nutrient that supports brain function, blood health and…
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...
Scientists just uncovered a 3 million-year climate mystery in Antarctic ice
Ancient Antarctic ice is revealing a surprising new chapter in Earth’s climate story, stretching back 3 million years. By analyzing tiny pockets of trapped air and rare gases, scientists have discovered that while the planet cooled significantly—especially in the oceans—levels of key greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane changed only modestly. This unexpected mismatch suggests other powerful forces, such as shifting ice sheets, ocean circulation, and Earth’s reflectivity, played major roles in driving long-term climate change.
News | North Carolina’s Research Triangle scores another $1 billion-plus life science campus
AbbVie’s drug manufacturing complex in Durham expected to create over 730 jobs
iPhone 18 Pro battery and charging: all expected changes
Here's everything rumors are saying about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max's battery and charging so far.
Why Are PENN Entertainment (PENN) Shares Soaring Today
Shares of casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) jumped 15% in the afternoon session after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results, with both revenue and earnings per share surpassing analyst estimates.
SLB Seen Acquiring S&P Global’s Subsurface Oil Software Business
SLB, the world’s largest oilfield service provider, is expected to announce Friday plans to acquire S&P Global Energy Inc.’s geoscience and petroleum-engineering software business, according to people familiar with the matter.
German Business Outlook at Worst Since 2023 as War Hits ‘Hard’
Germany’s business outlook deteriorated more than expected, adding to fears that higher energy costs stemming from the Iran conflict will derail the country’s economic revival.
German business sentiment falls in April to lowest level since 2020
German business morale fell more than expected in April, as the Iran war made companies more pessimistic and threatened the long-awaited recovery of Europe's biggest economy.
High school sports reporter never knows what to expect in interviews
High school sports reporter Brad Myers shares some of his most memorable interviews and his strategy in deciding who to talk to after a game.
Betis vs Real Madrid, 2026 La Liga: Predicted lineups
Real Madrid visit Sevilla to face Betis, and they’ll do so without key players Eder Militao and Arda Güler. Camavinga will likely replace the Turkish player, while Huijsen is expected to start alongside Rüdiger in the center of the defensive line. Real Madrid predicted XI: Lunin; Trent, Huijsen, Rüdiger, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Mbappé […]
‘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.
Ladies of London's Margo Stilley Says Her Panic Attack on the Show Led to Unexpected Health Discovery (Exclusive)
Ladies of London's Margo Stilley suffered a panic attack in the April 23 episode after insulting costar Mark-Francis Vandelli. In a new interview with PEOPLE, she explains that the panic attack led her to a health discovery she wasn't expecting.
Cowboys select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 in NFL draft
The move to try to bolster one of the NFL’s worst defenses was expected, and the Cowboys took no chances on getting a player they wanted
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred will release earlier than expected in the US, and teams up with Overwatch for some of the coolest skins I've ever seen
The Diablo 4 developer chat just dropped a bunch of new info, Overwatch Skins, Twitch Drops, and a bucket of updates with Patch 3.0.0
Michigan auto stakeholders sound alarm ahead of governor election
MichAuto is holding roundtables across the state to develop an automobility policy roadmap expected to be released ahead of the November election.
Watch live: Trump gives remarks on health care affordability
President Trump is hosting an event at the White House on Thursday afternoon centered on health care affordability. Trump is expected to announce a new deal with pharmaceutical company Regeneron, a…
Packers not expecting to play Lions in Munich in 2026
Packers president Ed Policy said his team is not expecting to play the Lions in Munich this season.
Budget coming: House and Senate agree on allocations, Session expected in May
Allocations pave the way for budget conferences to begin.
Case Study: 4Wall Entertainment Powers 2026 NFL Draft on NETGEAR AV Line Network
The NFL Draft is rebuilt from the ground up in a new city every year. The three-day fan festival is expected to draw 500,000 or more attendees, with millions following...
iPhone 18 Pro Max may be thicker, iPhone Ultra dummy unit compared to iPad mini
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max due to increased...
Latest iPhone 18 Pro Max Dummies Suggest Thicker Camera Plateau, More Protruding Lenses
Apple is expected to bring several camera enhancements to the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, but there have been no fixed rumors suggesting these upgrades will require measurable, visible changes to the device's rear camera plateau. And yet a new series of dummies suggests exactly that. iPhone 17 Pro dummy (left) vs.
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.
Here's How the iPhone Ultra Compares to Other Apple Devices
With dummy models of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone now circulating, YouTube channel Max Tech's Vadim Yuryev has shared images and video of the book-style form factor compared to existing Apple devices, giving us a better idea of what to expect when it launches later this year. The foldable iPhone's inner display is said to have a 4:3 aspect ratio like an iPad, and it will have an iPad mini-sized OLED display when it's opened up.
For Love of the Game: Discovering a Whole New Sport as an Adult
Finding volleyball in my 30s has been more rewarding than I ever expected.
Medicaid breakthrough comes with unexpected immigration mandates
North Carolina’s Medicaid package progresses, but immigration rules are raising concerns about families avoiding care and losing access.
German Business Activity Unexpectedly Shrinks as Services Plunge
(Bloomberg)--German private-sector activity unexpectedly contracted as the Iran war triggered the biggest plunge in the services sector in more than three years.
South Korea, Vietnam set to sign dozens of business deals as Lee visits Hanoi
South Korean and Vietnamese companies are expected to sign dozens of business deals on Thursday, Korean media and two sources said, as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visits Hanoi.
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…
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.
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.
Would you accept any of these No. 1 pick offers?
Yes, the NFL draft is a day away and the Las Vegas Raiders are fully expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall draft pick. It would be stunning if the Raiders trade the pick, but, anything is possible and let’s some some fun. Using the Pro Football Network draft simulator, […]
Business Loan Rates 2026: What to Expect and How to Qualify for Lower Rates
Explore current business loan interest rates in 2026, what’s driving them and how to qualify for the lowest rates across banks, SBA loans and online lenders.
iPhone 18 Pro’s new color will be a mix of these three, says leaker
A Weibo leaker has offered a unique description of the iPhone 18 Pro color option that Apple is expected to market as its flagship.
Tesla’s Quiet Moneymaker, Its Battery Business, Suddenly Stalls
The company’s energy storage sales saw rapid growth, until an unexpected slowdown this year.
The Universe Is Expanding Too Fast and Scientists Can’t Explain Why
The most precise measurement yet shows the Universe is expanding faster than expected, deepening the Hubble tension. The result hints that something may be missing from our current understanding of the cosmos.
"Not surprising at all" - analysts see Xbox Game Pass price cut as inevitable shift that will drive subscription growth in 2026
Price drop expected to aid growth in platform users, while opinion is divided on the impact on Call of Duty revenues
What to expect at Topeka's 61st annual Blintze Brunch
The annual Blintze Brunch from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at Temple Beth Sholom, 4200 SW Munson Avenue, will feature Jewish food and entertainment.
Western Athletic Conference to enter league-rebranding partnership in July
The WAC’s merge into the United Athletic Conference is expected to reduce costs.
Gran Turismo 7 April 2026 Update: Renault Twingo, Porsche 964 Turbo S, Yangwang U9
Kazunori Yamauchi has pulled the covers off the three cars coming to Gran Turismo 7 in next week's update, and two of them are not quite what we were expecting. The series creator took to social media to reveal the Renault Twingo, Porsche 964 Turbo S, and Yangwang U9 (yes, U9, not the Xtreme) as the
What To Expect From PENN Entertainment’s (PENN) Q1 Earnings
Casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) will be announcing earnings results this Thursday before market open. Here...
Virginia voters back redistricting amendment after months of legal and political battles
Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting, a move expected to dramatically reshape the state’s political map and potentially shift its congressional delegation from a closely divided 6-5 split to a heavily Democratic-leaning 10-1 advantage.
Scientists stunned as JWST finds ice clouds on a giant alien planet
Scientists have discovered unexpected water-ice clouds on a distant, Jupiter-like exoplanet, challenging current atmospheric models. By directly imaging Epsilon Indi Ab with the James Webb Space Telescope, they found less ammonia than expected—likely hidden by thick, patchy clouds. The finding reveals new layers of complexity in giant planets and shows how much we still have to learn.
Approval of Trump on economy falls in new AP-NORC poll, as Iran war drives up prices
The findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans’ patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected.
Motorola Razr 70 listed ahead of announcement
It brings an updated 50MP ultrawide camera alongside a larger 4,800mAh battery compared to its predecessor. Motorola’s next-gen Razr 70 series is expected...
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress
The House Ethics Committee was expected to recommend her expulsion today.
Mining investors jittery about politics in Peru as vote count drags on, analysts say
Investors in Peru's copper and gold mines are worried about the country's presidential vote count that has been slowed by allegations of irregularities, yet analysts expect the sector to weather the election with limited direct impact.
iOS 26.5 Release Date: When To Expect Your iPhone Messaging Upgrade
Apple is working update iPhone messaging with some of the most drastic changes in years.
School District of Lancaster board expected to hire interim business manager as it addresses fiscal challenges
School District of Lancaster officials will recommend today that board members appoint Charles Linderman as interim business administrator as they grapple with significant financial challenges.
OpenAI teases next AI announcement coming today, here's what to expect
OpenAI has teased its next AI software product announcement happening later today. The teaser gives us a good idea of...
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
Sources: Barring renewed faith, Steve Kerr not expected to return to Warriors
Many with the Warriors and around the league believe Steve Kerr will be jobless after he meets with Golden State CEO Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy.
Behind the science: Why it pays to fight a virus on the home turf
The emergence of a nasty new virus or even an unexpected flu strain can pose a big public-health headache. Meanwhile, antiviral drug development moves at an agonizingly slow pace and cringingly high cost. But there’s a way around that.
A bizarre new state of matter may be hiding inside Uranus and Neptune
Deep inside planets like Uranus and Neptune, scientists may have uncovered a bizarre new state of matter where atoms behave in unexpected ways. Advanced simulations suggest that carbon and hydrogen, under crushing pressures and scorching temperatures, can form a strange hybrid phase—part solid, part fluid—where hydrogen atoms spiral through a rigid carbon framework. This unusual “superionic” structure could reshape how heat and electricity flow inside these distant worlds, potentially helping explain their mysterious magnetic fields.
UnitedHealth Group Reports Flat First-Quarter Earnings
One of the nation’s largest insurers, the company’s profits were higher than analysts’ expectations but still fell short of showing a significant comeback.
UnitedHealth Group Reports Flat First-Quarter Earnings
One of the nation’s largest insurers, the company’s profits were higher than analysts’ expectations but still fell short of showing a significant comeback.
Wage growth hits lowest level since November 2020; unemployment rate unexpectedly falls
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Kevin Durant Practice Video Emerges After Game 2 Injury Update
The Houston Rockets struggled to get by in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets were without their best player as Kevin Durant nursed a knee injury. While the initial expectation was that the injury was not a significant concern, it turned out to be serious enough to force Durant to sit out the series opener.
Edwin Díaz to undergo elbow surgery, Dodgers expect second-half return
The sporting Tribune's Fredo Cervantes writes the latest on Edwin Díaz.
NASA Shut Down Voyager 1 Science Instrument After Unexpected Power Drop
Engineers are working on a long-term plan to keep the iconic spacecraft alive.
New Microsoft Pro and Surface Laptop release delay rumoured
A reliable source has elaborated on Microsoft's launch plans for its Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 releases. Unfortunately, neither are now expected to arrive as soon as previously suggested. New Surface Laptop and Surface Pro models are still tipped to debut with Intel and Qualcomm processor options, though.
A.J. Brown reportedly not expected to attend Eagles' voluntary offseason workouts amid trade speculation
He wasn't expected to survive past birth. Years later, this teen suffered a stroke, but is still defying the odds
These Salmon Got High on Cocaine. That Wasn’t the Craziest Part.
Scientists in Sweden made an unexpected discovery when they exposed the fish to the illegal drug as well as another substance.
Trump tariff refunds begin but consumers likely to miss out
Businesses can apply online through a portal for refunds expected to total $160bn.
The latest Huawei folding phone kind of previews the iPhone Ultra
Coincidence or not, the latest Android folding smartphones mirror the form factor we’re expecting from the iPhone Ultra (now believed...
Report: Giants unlikely to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Giants traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals over the weekend, but a report on Monday indicates that they aren't expected to ship out another veteran defender ahead of the draft.