Lee Miringoff

This year's quality polls were as good as they get. So how come critics are saying otherwise? Then, we're talking about a huge issue that gets very little attention: the ongoing opioid crisis. Finally, a fun fact for everyone!

I’m reading a slew of very similar postmortems for the polling business, in which I’ve worked my entire career. The story goes something like this: After a major miss in 2016, the industry just got 2020 just as wrong. Many say polls patently failed to find hidden or reluctant Trump voters again; others say methodological flaws are more profound in the internet age; others say there are deep and perhaps fatal foundational problems that are beyond repair.

For the ninth consecutive year, Americans say “whatever” is the most annoying word or phrase used in casual conversation. But, fewer Americans feel that way than in previous years. Residents under the age of 45, compared with their older counterparts, do not find the word all that bothersome. 33% of Americans consider “whatever” to be the most annoying word or phrase. The recent addition of “fake news” takes second place with 23% followed closely by “no offense, but” with 20%.