Media & Public Opinion in the 2026 Elections

The nation is poised for a pivotal midterm election cycle that serves as both a battle for control of Congress and a referendum on the current administration. This election punctuates a tumultuous era in American politics, marked by a nearly successful insurrection; the dismantling of longstanding political party and congressional roles; unprecedented upheaval in American government, global institutions, and alliances; challenges to constitutional precedents; and profound effects on campaigns and media driven by the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence technology. In this course, we conduct a real-time analysis of the forces shaping the vote, including the roles of money, news, social media, advertising, public opinion polling, and anti-democracy forces. Note: This class will necessarily include some partisan political content. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.