Ozean Political Blog

News Deserts and Civic Erosion: The Consequences of Losing Local Journalism   Local newspapers are closing at an alarming rate. Not only are they disappearing, but many are also merging or consolidating operations (looking at you Gannett). Since 2005,...

Introduction to Polarization I’ve written about polarization many times over the past year. It’s one of the most significant factors in U.S. politics today, if not the most. Typically, I focus on one individual study or paper, but today I want to zoom out and examine...

Alright, listen up, you knuckleheaded jerkfaces—political debates today aren’t exactly shining examples of polite discourse. They’ve turned into verbal cage matches where name-calling, trash talk, owning each other after destroying each other, and cheap shots are just...

Introduction Before and after every election cycle, I revisit a particular academic paper by Hans Noel. Written in 2010, it continues to hold up remarkably well, probably because it challenges all the flashy, data-driven assumptions that dominate political talk today....

I’ve gotten myself into trouble before with sweeping statements like, “Policy doesn’t matter...It’s the emotions, stupid!” Off-stage or after a classroom lecture, I always end up regretting after I do it because, well, it just sounds wrong—like I’m ignoring all the...

Introduction Ever thought about how much the average voter actually values democracy? Spoiler alert: it’s complicated. Recently, someone sent me an article from the Atlantic entitled "Only About 3.5 Percent of Americans Care About Democracy (gift link)" and it...

Let’s continue our exploration of  polarization. If you missed some of our previous posts here is a recent list: Affective Polarization and Misinformation Belief Intra-party fighting – family spats or real anger?Affective Polarization Within Parties: When Partisan...

So, you’re telling me that people get emotionally charged over politics? NO WAY! Next, you’ll tell me that Tom doesn’t like Jerry, and the sun rises in the east. But seriously, how does “affective polarization”—that gut-level emotional attachment where we love our...

Ever had a spat with someone in your own crew? You know, like your friend who insists on ordering a martini at a brewery or who askes for a seperate bill at a group meal?   That same type of disagreement happens in politics—and it’s not always between Democrats and...

It’s that time of year again—oppo dumps, October surprises, and all the drama that comes with them! For years, we’ve been preaching to our clients: "Hang a light on your vulnerabilities before someone else does." Every time, we hear the same protests: “What if they...

Someone recently asked me why I ditched "Science Fridays"—you know, the fun little deep dives into whatever academic paper caught my eye that week. Honestly? I had no good answer. So, in the spirit of not having a better excuse, we’re bringing it back! This week,...