Evidence with somewhere to go.

Democracy is not a spectator sport

Katie Harbath on panicking responsibly and staying involved, from her Disrupting Politics launch.

Building ad transparency with no playbook

Katie Harbath on defining politics for ad transparency at Facebook, from her Disrupting Politics launch.

The AI voters don't notice

Katie Harbath on AI summaries and checking sources against election officials, from her Disrupting Politics launch.

The upside of social media we've forgotten

Katie Harbath on amplifying the good and mitigating the bad, from her Disrupting Politics launch.

Securing the Grid While Growing the Grid

AI, Data Centers, Energy and Kids Online

Data centers turn a corner, driven by AI use, if hyperscalers to bring their own power.

How to Win Voters and Influence NIMBYs

Data center opposition is more moveable than recent media coverage implies

When Permits Aren't Permanent

The United States needs trillions of dollars in new infrastructure investment, but our new report argues that one of the biggest risks to that investment is hiding in plain sight: what happens after the government says yes.

September Policy Survey: Summary of Findings

Rainey Center. 1,004 registered voters, online panel, September 10-14, 2026. Weighted on age, gender, race, education, 2024 vote recall, and region. MOE ±4.9.

The Community Benefits of Data Centers

An Analysis of the Jobs, Tax, Grid, and Community Returns of Modern Data Center Development

Young voters get their politics from creators. Only some of them are moved by it.

Why it matters: Campaigns are spending real money on creator programs heading into 2026. The poll suggests voters are watching, but they are not sold on the arrangement, and disclosure does not fix that.

Jobs Wins the Argument

The Rainey Center surveyed 1,017 registered voters via online panel, July 14–15, 2026, weighted by gender, race, education, age, and 2024/2020 vote recall. Margin of error ±3.5 points at the 95% confidence level.

Your Chinese-made Children’s Monitor Is Spying on Your Family

Right now, in nurseries and bedrooms across America, a camera is watching your child sleep.

Data Centers: Voters Are Persuadable, But They Want Accountability and Clean Energy

Data centers remain underwater with voters (29% favorable, 48% unfavorable), but the opposition is built on a foundation of misinformation that crumbles when voters get the facts.

Muslim American Identity at America’s 250th: Patriotism, Political Realignment, and Community Faultlines

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Rainey Center in partnership with the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) and the American Muslim League (AML) conducted a national poll of 768 Muslim American registered voters (±4.3 MOE)…

The Water Argument How Technology Has Already Answered the Data Center Water Criticism

Data center water usage has become one of the most prominent and emotionally powerful arguments deployed by opponents of new data center development across the United States. In the Coachella Valley and similar arid communities, activist…

Government Shutdowns: Voters Want a Permanent Fix

The Rainey Center’s March 2026 national survey finds that Americans are fed up with the cycle of government shutdowns and strongly support structural solutions to end them. Nearly six in ten voters (58%) call the current pattern…

Americans continue to give Trump good ratings on the border, more information increases support for data centers

A new Rainey Center survey of 1,021 registered voters finds deep economic anxiety, broad appetite for student loan reform, and strong concern about Chinese access to American data.

How Recent Admissions Prove That We are Living in George Orwell’s 1984

1 Big Thing: In George Orwell’s 1984, the "telescreen" was a tool of state-mandated terror. In 2026, it’s a consumer convenience we bought, installed, and powered ourselves.

Housing for the 21st Century Act Massive Bipartisan Support for Every Major Provision

Housing affordability is a crisis that crosses every partisan, demographic, and geographic line in America.

Data Centers: Education Drives Support and Trump’s Ratepayer Pledge Answers the Top Concern

The debate over data centers is being driven by misinformation and when voters get the facts, they move decisively toward support.

Protecting American Weather Sovereignty

The atmosphere is rapidly emerging as a critical domain for American security and economic competitiveness, with overarching influence on national defense, agricultural productivity, and public safety. As China races to become a “weather…

Voters See a More Secure America Under Trump

Trump’s Border Is Secure, Crime Is Down, and Even Democrats and Independents Know It

Artificial Intelligence Voters Want Regulation and Job Protection, But Remain Skeptical of Government AI Contracts

Artificial intelligence has moved from Silicon Valley buzzword to kitchen-table concern in record time.

The State of The Union is Strong Policy Survey

The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy’s February 2026 omnibus poll surveyed 1,008 registered voters from February 25-27, just days before President Trump’s State of the Union address. The survey results reveal broad public support for…

Vance Leads a Fractured Field, But the Coalition That Wins May Not Be His

Vice President Vance’s 38 percent makes him the clear frontrunner, but the underlying numbers tell a more complicated story. His support is heavily concentrated among the party’s traditional base: older, white, self-identified Republicans.

Voters Support the One Big Beautiful Bill: Tax Cuts, Border Security, and Fiscal Restraint

President Trump's tax agenda enjoys strong public support, with majorities backing each major provision of the proposed "One Big Beautiful Bill," according to new polling from the Joseph Rainey Center.

Voters See Economic Improvement Under Trump

Americans are beginning to feel economic improvement under President Trump, though awareness of strong economic indicators remains limited, according to new polling from the Joseph Rainey Center.

Voters Approve of Trump's Border Security, Reject Liberal Immigration Policies

Americans strongly support President Trump's immigration enforcement efforts, according to new polling from the Joseph Rainey Center. With illegal border crossings down 95% since inauguration, 53% of voters say the border is more secure now…

Voters Support Secure Elections: New Poll Shows Overwhelming Bipartisan Consensus

New polling from the Joseph Rainey Center reveals broad bipartisan agreement on election security. A survey of 1,299 registered voters found strong support for commonsense measures to protect the integrity of American elections.

Voters Support Ocean-based Carbon Solutions

Climate policy has long been a partisan flashpoint, but new polling reveals a promising area of consensus: Americans across the political spectrum support exploring ocean-based solutions to address carbon pollution.

Empowering Parents Through App Store Accountability

Voters want parents—not government or a patchwork of websites—to guide children’s online access, with broad support for app-store-level age verification.

Free, Fair, and Trusted Elections: A Conservative Assessment of State Election Policy and Reform Priorities

Conservatives have long emphasized ordered liberty, the rule of law, and institutional competence. Election integrity is a natural extension of these principles.

Surveillance Pricing Policy Landscape and Legislative Frameworks

Surveillance pricing— the practice of using AI and personal data to set individualized prices—has emerged as a major consumer protection issue. This brief examines the current policy landscape, compares legislative approaches across states…

Trump Administration Protects American Ratepayers

The Trump Administration announced a bipartisan agreement to urge PJM to pursue an "emergency power auction" that would require technology giants to fund approximately $15 billion in new power plant construction across the PJM grid region.…

Voters Demand Domestic Energy for Data Security

There is overwhelming bipartisan consensus that American energy security is inextricably linked to national security and data privacy.

The Fading American Dream: Voters See It Slipping Away

Our polling reveals deep skepticism about the attainability of the American Dream. Nearly half of all voters feel the dream is out of reach for them personally.

Consumer Spending Trends and Protecting Youth Online

A majority of voters are cutting back on holiday spending, primarily driven by inflation and high prices.

Empowering Parents: Voters Support App Store Accountability

Voters unequivocally believe that parents, not the government, should be the primary arbiters of their children’s online experiences.

NEW POLL: Voters Overwhelmingly Support Domestic Energy Independence and Data Security

Washington, D.C., October 6, 2025 — In a time when it’s rare to find an issue that unites Americans, energy production, date security, information privacy and national security bring voters together. A new national survey conducted by the…

Domestic Energy and Data Centers

A major concern for voters is data security. An overwhelming 83% agree that data centers serving American consumers should be located in the United States. This sentiment is driven by a strong fear of foreign influence, with 77% of voters…

2025 Federal Grid and Permitting Legislative Landscape

As the United States confronts unprecedented growth in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and the reshoring of industrial manufacturing, there is a durable, bipartisan consensus emerging in Washington around…

2025 State Grid and Permitting Legislative Landscape

Artificial intelligence (AI) development, data center growth, and new domestic manufacturing heighten the need for legislation to improve permitting, facilitate near term access to power and longer-term electric generation and transmission…

The Utah Model: A Blueprint for Creating American Energy Dominance Through Nuclear Energy

The United States confronts dual challenges: rising energy demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and the need for reliable, carbon free baseload power to create American energy dominance.

The American Dream

Our poll reveals a deeply anxious and divided American electorate, grappling with economic pressures, generational divides, and a fading belief in the American Dream.

Fast Tracks and Flexible Grids: Unlocking Speed to Market for Energy Customers Overview for State-Federal Policy Makers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers and large industrial manufacturing plants are seeking quick ways to supply reliable power. Right now, existing generations sources that are critical to bulk power system reliability are bypassing…

Transmission Governance and Policy Opportunities Background for State-Federal Policy Makers

Our domestic power grid combines a vast web of transmission lines, energy generation sources, and locally operated infrastructure to distribute power to customers reliably and efficiently. The energy grid has a wide variety of actors that…

A New Era of Climate Policy: What Clean Energy Changes in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) Mean for American Energy

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces drastic changes to the clean energy tax credits that were originally created under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These new revisions encourage utility-scale energy development and…

It's Time To Turn Solar For All Into Affordable Energy For All

On July Fourth, President Trump signed his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law, solidifying his Administration’s energy priorities as part of this sweeping legislation. Among its provisions, the legislation repealed the Greenhouse Gas…

American Voters Believe Energy Incentives Boost American Energy Dominance and National Security

Read American Voters Believe Energy Incentives Boost American Energy Dominance and National Security, with the Rainey Center's complete findings, analysis, and recommendations.

The Department of Energy’s Role in American Energy Dominance

With the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office facing potential cuts, Rainey Center sought to understand voter attitudes about the Department of Energy. We found that voters are broadly supportive of the Department of Energy, though…

How the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Credit Drives American Energy Dominance

The 45X advanced manufacturing credit strengthens domestic supply chains, supports American jobs, and advances U.S. energy dominance.

Biden’s Green New Scam: A bad deal for North Carolina

North Carolinians understand the value of hard work and personal responsibility. From farming and manufacturing to small businesses and trucking, we’ve built strong communities without needing micromanagement from Washington.

Opinion: Utah leads, Washington spends

As Originally Published in Deseret News on May 18th, 2025 In Utah, we know what it takes to do things right. We don’t need federal lectures about energy efficiency — we live it every day. When you’re heating a home through a mountain winter…

NEW POLL: Americans Back Keeping Trump Tax Cuts and Boosting U.S. Energy Dominance

Washington, D.C. – As Congress pushes forward on the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill reconciliation bill, a new nationwide survey from the Rainey Center offers key insights into voter preferences on energy investment, tax cuts, and fiscal…

Voters Support Tax Policy That Lowers Energy Costs and Drives Job Creation

As Congress seeks to extend the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), delivering tax relief to Americans, they are weighing whether to keep, pare back, or repeal several clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation…

Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal

The private sector is investing hundreds of billions of dollars to decarbonize, and mCDR could be an essential complement to net zero goals that companies continue to pursue. With greater focus and investment on this emerging sector, mCDR…

What is Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal?

Bipartisan Policy Momentum for mCDR

Both Republicans and Democrats support increasing the federal government’s focus on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR).

mCDR Supports an All of the Above Energy Strategy

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) could be a new source of well-paying jobs around the U.S., and an essential component to an all-of-the-above energy strategy — if it receives more public sector support to advance foundational research.…

Economic Potential of mCDR

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) will help preserve coastal livelihoods by creating well-paying jobs in scientific research, construction, and operations. Jobs and opportunities will not be limited to the coasts — with manufacturing and…

An Open Letter to Lawmakers on Earth Day: Plastic is not the Enemy

Earth Day has arrived, and I find myself reflecting on the incredible ways we’re working together to protect our planet.

Change The ‘Green New Scam’ To ‘Made In America’

As Congress prepares to extend Trump’s historic 2017 tax cuts, one question is how Republicans should approach energy tax credits. While our lawmakers must repeal Biden’s Green New Scam, the best way to create an America First energy plan…

How Technology-Neutral Tax Credits Unleash American Energy Dominance

Beginning in 2025, the United States is introducing new technology-neutral tax credits aimed at promoting sustainable electricity generation. The two proposed credits replace the previous technology-specific Clean Electricity Investment Tax…

Trump's Crypto Summit: The No. 1 thing the blockchain industry needs to really take off

President Donald Trump recently made a surprise announcement that the U.S. government would invest in a crypto reserve including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. With the White House Crypto Summit on Friday set to embrace a…

American Muslims: Not a Monolithic Group with Conservative Views on Many Issues

Our poll with Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) finds that American Muslims align with progressives on some issues but conservatives on several key issues: social issues like crime, immigration, transgender issues and school…

Voters Support An “America First” Approach To Clean Energy Tax Credits

With Congress preparing to extend the 2017 tax cuts via reconciliation, Rainey Center surveyed Americans to gauge their views on clean energy tax credits and related government funding choices. The results show a clear preference among…

New Rainey Center Survey Reveals Strong Public Support for Domestic Energy and Targeted Tax Incentives

Washington, D.C. – As Congress pushes forward on the 2025 Budget Resolution, now in the Senate, a new nationwide survey from the Rainey Center offers key insights into voter preferences on energy development, tax credits, and fiscal…

Voter Attitudes Towards Clean Energy Tax Credits

As Congress pushes forward on the 2025 Budget Resolution, now in the Senate, a new nationwide survey from the Rainey Center offers key insights into voter preferences on energy development, tax credits, and fiscal tradeoffs. The findings…

Optimizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency

As stated in Executive Order (E.O.) 14180, published January 24, 2025, establishing a council to assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there is an urgent need to drastically improve the agency’s ability to assist states…

Trump’s Return and the Challenge to European Unity

A practical assessment of the strategic choices facing Europe and the transatlantic alliance as President Trump returns to office.

The Case for Majority Winners

A fundamental principle of America’s representative democracy is that elected officials should reflect the will of the majority of the electorate, not just a narrow faction.

Voters Support Permitting Reform

Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso have reignited the conversation on permitting reform—a profound necessity for the United States to advance an all of the a bove energy strategy.

Rainey Center And Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) Release New Poll Of Muslim American Voters

Washington, DC - September 15, 2024 — Today, the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy released a new Rainey Center poll commissioned by the Muslim American Leadership Alliance confirms that while American Muslims lean Democratic, several…

Keep America Competitive Voters Support a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Rainey Center conducted polling to understand how voters view the carbon-border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a policy that places a fee on dirty energy from countries with lower environmental standards than the United States.

How Americans View Tech, Elections and Artificial Intelligence

Rainey Center conducted polling to understand how voters understand artificial intelligence and partnered with Anchor Change to share the results.

Student Debt Cancelation Receives a Failing Grade from Voters

Rainey Center conducted polling to understand how voters view the Biden Administration's student debt cancelation policy.

Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Combating Challenges through Public Private Partnership

The U.S. healthcare industry has become a prime target for cybercriminals, as standard practices that are in place to address cybersecurity do not address the unique challenges that persist in healthcare. Between 2018 and 2022, the U.S.…

The Case for Open and Nonpartisan Primaries

Read The Case for Open and Nonpartisan Primaries, with the Rainey Center's complete findings, analysis, and recommendations.

The Case for an Independent Redistricting Commission

Independent redistricting commissions help ensure that districts are drawn based on fair, nonpartisan criteria rather than partisan interests or, just as often, the interests of incumbents desiring to eliminate primary challengers.

Handling Presidential Election Emergencies Under the Electoral Count Reform Act

September 11, 2001, was election day in New York City. Municipal primary elections for offices including mayor, scheduled for that fateful day, were postponed due to the emergency circumstances brought about by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.…

The American Dream: What Voters Say Is Slipping Away

Two-thirds of voters say the American Dream has become less attainable, with homeownership, taxes, and opportunity for the next generation driving the decline.

Voters Support Common Sense A.I. Policy

The release of ChatGPT set off a flurry of media, investor and public policy interest in the topic of artificial intelligence.

Democracy Poll

There are a number of bipartisan ideas that would improve our democracy: counting ballots more quickly, mandating that all ballot counting machines are American-made and passing voter ID requirements. To explore the viability of these…

2024 Political Engagement and Violence Survey

As the 2024 election comes into view, Rainey Center conducted survey research to understand how voters are thinking about election legitimacy, protest and election security policy. We find that while Americans remain deeply divided about…

Counties and Representation in the Wyoming Legislature

Across the United States, there is growing interest in structural reform to make our electoral system more responsive and less polarizing. But like so many other issues, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In each of the fifty states…

Ensuring Candidate Safety: Examining the Need for Legislation to Protect Elected Officials and Campaign Workers

Recently, discussions about election issues have focused on topics such as electoral fairness, security, and accountability of elected officials. However, a crucial aspect that is often overlooked is the physical safety of candidates…

Free Speech on the Ballot: The Case for Fusion

In the 19th century and continuing well into the 20th, the United States saw a proliferation of political parties, many operating within a single state or region, and often achieving a substantial degree of electoral success. The most…

Five Principles for Faster Vote Counts

Across the country, there is a growing sense of frustration as election night drags on into election week, and beyond. In too many states, the simple task of counting votes is proceeding at a glacial pace. Some states have near-instant…

The Daily Beast - Opinion - Supreme Court Just Dropped a Big L on Partisan Gerrymandering

Surprise! The conservative leaning Court squashed "independent state legislature theory," saying state courts have the authority to rule on election shenanigans.

The Role of Markets in Creating Economic Opportunity for Black Americans

Without having income derived from investments it becomes increasingly difficult to move up income classes, retire, or build any wealth. Increasing market access for the Black population is vital to any plan for improvement in economic…

The Role of Real Estate in Economic Opportunity for the African American Population

For the majority of Americans, their most valuable asset is their primary residence. But Black Americans have historically been at a disadvantage, given restrictions on land inheritance, redlining, and discrimination in lending practices.…

[Op-Ed] The Algorithm and the Republic

There is a principle older than both the Constitution and the common law system our founders lived under: that those who govern bear a duty of care to those they govern. That those in authority don’t merely administer, they steward. And…

NEW POLL: Americans Support Elections That Produce Problem-Solving Politicians

Washington, D.C. - New Rainey Center polling finds that voters across the partisan spectrum believe that election winners should have the support of a majority of voters and that all voters should be able to participate in primaries. Rainey…

NEW POLL: Americans Support An Energy Dominance DOE

Washington, D.C. - With the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office facing potential cuts, Rainey Center sought to understand voter attitudes about the Department of Energy.

Republicans Shouldn’t Repeal the Tech Neutral Tax Credits They’re Winning With

Starting this year, two new tech neutral tax credits, sections 48 E and 45 Y, will go into effect as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). There’s one surprising fact about clean energy and climate policy- many changes create…

Rainey Center Urges Congress to Modernize FEMA for Greater Efficiency and Disaster Response

Washington, D.C. – The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy released a memo today outlining urgent reforms needed at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve disaster response, reduce bureaucracy, and save taxpayers…

Electoral Reform Is a Good Idea. Mandatory Voting Is Not.

At the end of the month, the Washington state senate’s Government & Elections Committee will consider a bill, SB5209, co-sponsored by a majority of Democrats and with identical legislation filed in the house. Under this proposal, voting…

Rainey Center President Joins POLITICO Panel on Climate Change

Rainey Center President Sarah Hunt was recently part of POLITICO's Global Impact: Climate Change and Our Health panel.

Advisory Board Member on 60 Minutes

Rainey Center Advisory Board Member, Katie Harbath, was on 60 Minutes last night in a segment on tech, misinformation, the Supreme Court, Congressional oversight, and more.