Neil O'Brian
@obrian.bsky.social
Assistant Prof | UNC at Chapel Hill | '24 Carnegie Fellow | Studying US public opinion, parties, Congress and American Political Development | Go Bills! | www.neilobrian.com
Some # of people on Medicaid don't know they are on Medicaid (www.pbs.org/newshour/hea...). Whether there is a partisan tilt to that, IDK. But a 2025 survey shows that just 4% of Rs say they are on Medicaid, which is less than Ds and Is. This could also be due to social desirability in polling, etc.
July 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Some # of people on Medicaid don't know they are on Medicaid (www.pbs.org/newshour/hea...). Whether there is a partisan tilt to that, IDK. But a 2025 survey shows that just 4% of Rs say they are on Medicaid, which is less than Ds and Is. This could also be due to social desirability in polling, etc.
Another year of marriage in the books. And what a year it has been! Looking forward to many more :)
June 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Another year of marriage in the books. And what a year it has been! Looking forward to many more :)
Nothing beats Oregon on a sunny day. (Clementine checking out South Sister on the left; Broken Top on the right.)
June 16, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Nothing beats Oregon on a sunny day. (Clementine checking out South Sister on the left; Broken Top on the right.)
The percent of Americans who report they are in "excellent" health has been declining for some time, but has accelerated since 2012. Source: GSS
June 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
The percent of Americans who report they are in "excellent" health has been declining for some time, but has accelerated since 2012. Source: GSS
Conservative are more likely today to perceive medical doctors, and medicine, as filled with liberals. Among conservative respondents, their perception that most people in medicine/med doctors:
In 2025:
36% Liberal
45% Mod
19% Conservative
In 2019 :
21% Liberal
54% Mod
25% Conservative
In 2025:
36% Liberal
45% Mod
19% Conservative
In 2019 :
21% Liberal
54% Mod
25% Conservative
March 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Conservative are more likely today to perceive medical doctors, and medicine, as filled with liberals. Among conservative respondents, their perception that most people in medicine/med doctors:
In 2025:
36% Liberal
45% Mod
19% Conservative
In 2019 :
21% Liberal
54% Mod
25% Conservative
In 2025:
36% Liberal
45% Mod
19% Conservative
In 2019 :
21% Liberal
54% Mod
25% Conservative
Reposted by Neil O'Brian
Despite trust in personal doctors becoming a partisan issue, experimental evidence suggests that sharing a political background with one's medical provider increases willingness to seek care, finds @obrian.bsky.social & Bradley Kent in @bjpols.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/S000...
March 25, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Despite trust in personal doctors becoming a partisan issue, experimental evidence suggests that sharing a political background with one's medical provider increases willingness to seek care, finds @obrian.bsky.social & Bradley Kent in @bjpols.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/S000...
4th most read story in local newspaper is about the cat lounge in town. The fourth estate is healthy!
January 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
4th most read story in local newspaper is about the cat lounge in town. The fourth estate is healthy!
The #1 read story in Eugene’s newspaper is about a dog who climbed Mt Hood. Local journalism is alive and well!
December 30, 2024 at 2:46 PM
The #1 read story in Eugene’s newspaper is about a dog who climbed Mt Hood. Local journalism is alive and well!
Reposted by Neil O'Brian
Want to learn more about how women are, and are not, role models for adolescents in American politics? Our new book, See Jane Run: How Women Politicians Matter for Young People, will be out this Spring. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
September 11, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Want to learn more about how women are, and are not, role models for adolescents in American politics? Our new book, See Jane Run: How Women Politicians Matter for Young People, will be out this Spring. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
E-pub day is tomorrow (8/27 – hard copy still 9/25)! Roots of Polarization argues that contemporary polarization on “culture war” issues like abortion and gun control in the 1970s-1980s was molded by the racial realignment of the 1960s. #polisky
August 26, 2024 at 2:42 PM
E-pub day is tomorrow (8/27 – hard copy still 9/25)! Roots of Polarization argues that contemporary polarization on “culture war” issues like abortion and gun control in the 1970s-1980s was molded by the racial realignment of the 1960s. #polisky
"Roots of Polarization" has a 9/25 release date! In the mean time, plan on coming to the author-meets-critics panel at APSA (Thurs @ 8am). Really great panel: @cwolbrecht.bsky.social, @chriswarshaw.bsky.social and Vince Hutchings discussing, & chaired by Eric Schickler. #polisky
tinyurl.com/ycypu4nm
tinyurl.com/ycypu4nm
The Roots of Polarization
A deeply researched account of how battles over civil rights in the 1960s shaped today’s partisan culture wars. In the late twentieth century, gay rights, immigration, gun control, and abortion debate...
tinyurl.com
August 20, 2024 at 6:47 PM
"Roots of Polarization" has a 9/25 release date! In the mean time, plan on coming to the author-meets-critics panel at APSA (Thurs @ 8am). Really great panel: @cwolbrecht.bsky.social, @chriswarshaw.bsky.social and Vince Hutchings discussing, & chaired by Eric Schickler. #polisky
tinyurl.com/ycypu4nm
tinyurl.com/ycypu4nm
Reposted by Neil O'Brian
Interesting free-response comments from American Soldier surveys of Black GIs in WWII (part of @edgitre.bsky.social 's fantastic mass transcription project) about the surveys themselves. Attitudes range from deep distrust to support.
June 26, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Interesting free-response comments from American Soldier surveys of Black GIs in WWII (part of @edgitre.bsky.social 's fantastic mass transcription project) about the surveys themselves. Attitudes range from deep distrust to support.
True. But rank-and-file white evangelicals (including in SBC) already conservative on abortion by 1960s. Leadership moved/replaced to represent conservative insurgency. More in forthcoming book "Roots of Polarization": tinyurl.com/45evxyby
June 12, 2024 at 10:15 PM
True. But rank-and-file white evangelicals (including in SBC) already conservative on abortion by 1960s. Leadership moved/replaced to represent conservative insurgency. More in forthcoming book "Roots of Polarization": tinyurl.com/45evxyby
Thank you to the Carnegie Corporation for this opportunity to pursue research on the role politics plays in shaping health outcomes in our polarized society. #CarnegieFellows
t.co/DJtcc2zyWt
t.co/DJtcc2zyWt
Neil A. O'Brian | Carnegie Corporation of New York
t.co
May 7, 2024 at 7:50 PM
Thank you to the Carnegie Corporation for this opportunity to pursue research on the role politics plays in shaping health outcomes in our polarized society. #CarnegieFellows
t.co/DJtcc2zyWt
t.co/DJtcc2zyWt
Reposted by Neil O'Brian
New attention check just dropped (and yikes) www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
March 5, 2024 at 5:26 PM
New attention check just dropped (and yikes) www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
Messages about Trump as a threat to democracy might be relatively less effective in bringing young voters to Biden camp. We primed Dems with messages about J6/democracy and find that young Ds not moved by that message but older Ds are. Article in The Conversation: tinyurl.com/387k7keu polisky
February 26, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Messages about Trump as a threat to democracy might be relatively less effective in bringing young voters to Biden camp. We primed Dems with messages about J6/democracy and find that young Ds not moved by that message but older Ds are. Article in The Conversation: tinyurl.com/387k7keu polisky
Young people, including young Dems, are relatively less committed to democracy as an institution than older ppl and perhaps see J6 as less of a threat to democracy. Below is q about perception of J6 as a crisis/problem (asked in 2022). Responses are D only. polisky
February 26, 2024 at 3:08 AM
Young people, including young Dems, are relatively less committed to democracy as an institution than older ppl and perhaps see J6 as less of a threat to democracy. Below is q about perception of J6 as a crisis/problem (asked in 2022). Responses are D only. polisky
Colleague Chandler James & I wondered if we gave young Democrats information about Biden (e.g., economy is doing well) whether it would increase support/enthusiasm. It didn't move the needle much. Older Dems, though, became quite a bit more supportive. polisky
theconversation.com/young-people...
theconversation.com/young-people...
February 21, 2024 at 3:16 PM
Colleague Chandler James & I wondered if we gave young Democrats information about Biden (e.g., economy is doing well) whether it would increase support/enthusiasm. It didn't move the needle much. Older Dems, though, became quite a bit more supportive. polisky
theconversation.com/young-people...
theconversation.com/young-people...
This is a good article. The one thing I disagree with is that I don't think I've ever seen a player yell at a coach like this, though (and the article suggests it is commonplace), and I watch a fair bit of football. At some point the "he's just a competitor" argument dries out.
This is a good read by @bmoritz99.bsky.social on media images, male aggression, and the Travis Kelce image moment.
(his newsletter is pretty great too)
(his newsletter is pretty great too)
Travis and Taylor and that moment
Maybe we can change how we cover athletes, what traits we celebrate
sportsmediaguy.substack.com
February 14, 2024 at 2:25 PM
This is a good article. The one thing I disagree with is that I don't think I've ever seen a player yell at a coach like this, though (and the article suggests it is commonplace), and I watch a fair bit of football. At some point the "he's just a competitor" argument dries out.
Reposted by Neil O'Brian
Really proud of this collection -- a set of outstanding essays that challenge and expand our understanding of descriptive represention, including a concluding piece by Mansbridge herself. Please read and share!
polisky gendersky
polisky gendersky
📢New PAG19📢 Suzanne Dovi and @cwolbrecht.bsky.social introduce this issue's Critical Perspectives reflects on the 20th anniversary of Jane Mansbridge's influential article “Should Blacks Represent Blacks and Women Represent Women? A Contingent Yes” polisky gendersky www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
February 7, 2024 at 7:34 PM
Really proud of this collection -- a set of outstanding essays that challenge and expand our understanding of descriptive represention, including a concluding piece by Mansbridge herself. Please read and share!
polisky gendersky
polisky gendersky
One of my favorite papers really puts this argument (did economics, not race, push the South to the GOP) to rest: www.nber.org/system/files...
Yeah, this book -- which concludes that modern Republicanism was fueled more by class than race -- gets a lot of mileage on the right, but its conclusions are built (if I recall correctly) on a fatally flawed assumption.
@kevinmkruse.bsky.social have you debunked this one yet? A lot of RW’ers are using it these days.
t.co/zz6zb7aZzb
t.co/zz6zb7aZzb
December 30, 2023 at 11:48 PM
One of my favorite papers really puts this argument (did economics, not race, push the South to the GOP) to rest: www.nber.org/system/files...
In 2011, pollsters asked why Civil War was fought. Republicans and people who favored Trump (Trump was in news bc of birtherism) said States Rights to slavery by ~20pp. Not clear that Haley's comments will cost support among primary voters. (Dems answers not much better.)
December 28, 2023 at 8:12 PM
In 2011, pollsters asked why Civil War was fought. Republicans and people who favored Trump (Trump was in news bc of birtherism) said States Rights to slavery by ~20pp. Not clear that Haley's comments will cost support among primary voters. (Dems answers not much better.)
"There is great pressure to ease the abortion laws, and it is being said that the Catholic Church prevent its being done... the Catholic Church should reconsider its position.'' --- William F. Buckley, 1966, in National Review. More in forthcoming book: tinyurl.com/445bd4j6
December 22, 2023 at 2:07 AM
"There is great pressure to ease the abortion laws, and it is being said that the Catholic Church prevent its being done... the Catholic Church should reconsider its position.'' --- William F. Buckley, 1966, in National Review. More in forthcoming book: tinyurl.com/445bd4j6
I've gotta feeling ... that Buffalo's going to the Super Bowl!
December 11, 2023 at 12:57 AM
I've gotta feeling ... that Buffalo's going to the Super Bowl!