When It Comes to Dating, Ambition Might Matter More Than Politics

At The New York Times, opinion writer Jessica Grose looks for evidence that in general, people want romantic partners who share similar attributes to them, a sociological theory known as homophily. Based on responses to a questionnaire about how politics affects young Americans’ dating lives and discussions with researchers, Grose finds that while politics can play an important role, factors like age and religion seem to carry more weight. Questioning whether our polarized landscape is having a moderating effect, Grose points out that PRRI data show that Gen Z teens are more moderate and less politically affiliated compared to Gen Z adults, with a smaller political gender gap among teens.

Haley Loses Republican Nevada Primary to ‘None Of These Candidates’

For Reuters, Tim Reid and Jarrett Renshaw report that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley finished second behind ballots marked “none of these candidates” in the Nevada primary. Tomorrow, former President Trump is expected to secure Nevada’s Republican delegates in a separate caucus vote, bringing him closer to securing his party’s nomination after wins in Iowa and New Hampshire. Nevada will be an important swing state in the presidential election; PRRI data findsapproximately 38% of Nevadans are politically independent, 33% identify as Democrats, and 20% are Republican.

World ‘Not Prepared’ for Climate Disasters After Warmest Ever January

For the Guardian, Jonathan Watts writes that as the warmest January on record follows the hottest year in history, scientists are warning of worsening climate disasters, including heatwaves, fires, and flooding. While human activity like burning fossil fuels is the primary culprit for extreme heat, natural phenomena like El Niño, which causes ocean surface warming, are making matters worse. PRRI findsthat Americans’ views on climate change have remained about the same over the past decade, with 27% saying that climate change is a crisis.

How Trump Appeals to Evangelical Americans on Immigration

In a new Spotlight Analysis, PRRI Public Fellow Emily Frazier, Ph.D., looks at white evangelical Protestants’ attitudes toward immigrants since 2016 and how they explain 2024 election dynamics. As Republican disagreements over immigration thwart both thebipartisan border agreement and the effort to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Frazier shows that together, race and religious affiliation continue to be strong predictors of American attitudes toward immigrants. PRRI’s 2023American Values Survey finds that overall less than half of Americans (44%) say that growing numbers of immigrants threaten American customs and values, but among white evangelical Protestants, seven in ten agree with this statement.