Poll Hub
359 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsEach week, Poll Hub goes behind the science to explain how polling works, what survey really show, and what the numbers actually mean. Poll Hub is produced by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, home of America’s leading independent college public opinion poll, the Marist College Poll.
Lee Miringoff (Director of MIPO), Barbara Carvalho (Director of the Marist Poll), Jay DeDapper (Director of Strategy + Innovation), Mary Griffith (Associate Director), and frequent expert guests, dig deep to give you a look at the inner workings of polls and what they tell us about our world, our country, and ourselves.
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Episodes
A Deeper Dive into Our Data
April 12, 2024 15:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBLast episode, we dug into the results of our latest poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour, but we didn't get to a bunch of questions we think are really interesting. So, we're going back for more and digging deeper. Next, did you go out to watch the eclipse? Turns out a lot of Americans did but what did our producers find when they went searching for polling data on past eclipses. We were VERY surprised. Finally, this week's fun fact asks a question that had us trotting out our very best Aust...
Is Gen Z Really All That Different from Boomers?
April 05, 2024 15:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBWhat do Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and single use plastics have in common? They're all part of our latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll and we're diving deep into the data to explain some surprising results. Next, could Gen Z stay politically liberal as they age? The Washington Post's Philip Bump is our guest to help us dig into this theory. Gen Z is the biggest generation since the Boomers but, at least right now, they are displaying some very different behaviors from those of the generation ...
Too Much TikTok?
March 29, 2024 15:15 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBWe're digging into our first-of-the-season Texas poll to see if Democrats can break the decades-long GOP hold on the Lone Star State. Our data suggests Biden may not pull that off, but could Colin Allred turn Texas a little less red? Next, we've turned Poll Hub over to our Gen Z student producers for a segment on TikTok. Why? For starters, the rest of us aren't really on it...or so we thought. The debate over whether the Chinese-owned app should be allowed to continue operating in the U.S. ...
Will AI Change the Classroom?
March 22, 2024 15:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBThe 2024 election may, like those in 2016 and 2020, come down to the results in a handful of battleground states. We love polling these states and our first of this year are Georgia and North Carolina. It's early but the data tells a lot about the opportunities and challenges Joe Biden and Donald Trump face. Then, we have an awesome extended segment on AI in education. Some teachers and college professors worry about Chat GPT being more like "Cheat" GPT but others are embracing the technolo...
Hybrid Work is Here to Stay
March 14, 2024 21:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBHistory shows the State of the Union address rarely provides presidents with a lasting bounce in the polls so, while Joe Biden may have been hoping for one after his widely praised speech, that it didn't happen is not a surprise. It's also not a surprise that the coverage around it and the cringey GOP response from Alabama Sen. Katie Britt fit the new normal: political journalism as sports coverage. Next up, with the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, office life for white collar workers has...
What's Up With That NY Times Poll?!?!
March 08, 2024 16:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBThe latest NYTimes/Siena Poll has been getting a lot of attention, but not all the good kind. Plenty of Democrats are upset about what it shows and how the Times covered it. Others used the numbers to bolster arguments about Biden's age or Trump's electability. But, we argue the REAL problem is the poll's methodology itself. It's a novel way of trying to solve issues that plague polling but it's an experiment with no control group and it's reported as gospel... Then, we relax as Lee return...
Dating Apps & Gen Z: No Honeymoon?
March 01, 2024 16:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBOnline dating has been around for nearly 30 years, but what is it like today? We're looking at data showing how, who, and why Americans are online dating. Are there plenty of fish in the online sea? Next, the opioid crisis has nearly vanished from the headlines, but it's deadlier than ever. One solution is the life-saving drug Narcan that can stop overdoses, and Americans support making it widely available. So why isn't it? We finish we our fun fact: As the days get longer, the weather get...
Fear of Vaccines on the Rise?
February 23, 2024 16:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBIn its first year, the RSV vaccine has had what appears to be fairly low vaccination rates, but its appearances may be deceiving. Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt College School of Medicine joins to help answer how the pandemic has affected confidence in vaccines. Then, new data shows Gen Z is going to bed early, eating dinner early, and listening to more jazz. Are they young people who are old at heart? We have two of our own Gen Z students join us to get to the bottom of it. What is...
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in America
February 16, 2024 16:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBIn our latest poll, we asked Americans how they feel about race relations and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts in education and business. As part of our recognition of Black History Month, Marist's VP of DEI, Dr. Edward Antonio, is here to talk about it from an "inside" perspective. Then, a fun fact that might leave you craving delivery. What is the best takeout food?
Has Polling Changed For Good?
February 09, 2024 16:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBOur latest poll w/NPR and the PBS NewsHour looks at the numbers on Biden, Trump, Congress, and big 2024 election issues. We're looking deep into the crosstabs! Next, the field of polling has gained some new techniques, lost some old ones, and is paving the way to a new era of polling. Our guest, CNN's Ariel Edwards-Levy, joins us to discuss what has changed in polling, what's working, and what's not. We finish with a fun fact for the moment: Are you Team Super Bowl or Team Valentine's Day?
Groundhog Love...and Science
February 02, 2024 16:27 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBPunxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather since the 1800s. That's a long track record and our team is looking back at his history to see just how accurate the weatherman groundhog really is...and how he compares with other animal prognosticators! Next, it's been a terrible couple of weeks for journalism with multiple layoffs and closures across big and small outlets. Ad revenue is the main issue, but it doesn't help that Americans' opinions of the profession has fallen. We're lookin...
Marist Students Hit New Hampshire!
January 26, 2024 14:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBWith Trump's wins in New Hampshire and Iowa, is the GOP nomination sewn up? Nikki Haley doesn't think so but, based on polling in the next primary states -- AND data from the exit polls, it's hard to see any other end game for her than "game over." Then, 34 of our very own Marist students travelled with us to the New Hampshire primary to experience retail politics firsthand. Three of them join us to discuss what they saw, what they learned, and what surprised them most. And, we finish with...
Et Tu, New Hampshire?
January 19, 2024 15:55 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBTrump swept the GOP field in Iowa and now it's on to famously contrarian New Hampshire. Some polls suggest Nikki Haley might take a big bite out of the MAGA momentum but what does our brand new survey of New Hampshire voters tell us? Finally, do you believe in ghosts or UFOS? How about Bigfoot? This week's fun fact is all about the unbelievable.
New Weight Loss Drug Phenomenon
January 12, 2024 16:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBA new class of weight loss drugs have the potential to dramatically improve the health of hundreds of millions of obese and overweight people. But they're costly, require forever use, and do not have long track records of safety. What do Americans think of these new drugs? Then, pollsters often ask Americans who they're going to vote for. Some also ask about candidates and babysitting or bungee jumping. Really! Are pollster's alternative questions another way to find out support? Finally, ...
What We're Watching in 2024
January 05, 2024 16:00 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBNew year, new attitude? Apparently, not according to our latest poll showing Americans head into 2024 as pessimistic as we've ever seen them. Why so bummed, especially with a historically great economy? We have some thoughts. Then, we ask if that sour mood will impact the 2024 election, which is well under way. What things are we going to be watching this year to better understand what happens in November? Finally, the team breaks down their rather interesting New Years resolutions and loo...
Poll Hub Wrapped - The Best of 2023
December 21, 2023 15:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBWe had Poll an amazing 2023 filled with incredible guests, interesting (to us!) topics, and some crazy fun facts. What many people may not realize is also how our student producers transformed Poll Hub in this, our sixth, season. To celebrate, the team is reminiscing on our most memorable moments and listening back to clips. And, we end with one last fun fact for 2023. Would you rather head into an adventure with James Bond or Sherlock Holmes? What about Harry Potter or Lara Croft?
Can Gender Roles in the Workplace Really Change?
December 15, 2023 16:08 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBOur new poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour goes deep into a bunch of issues, that in any normal presidential election year, would be getting a lot of attention: abortion, EVs, entitlement programs, funding wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, immigration, and more. But this isn't a normal election year... Next, we're discussing new research on women in the workforce with Dr. Kristin Bayer, Chair of the History Department and the Director of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program...
Standardized Testing in Higher Education... Is it Necessary?
December 08, 2023 16:51 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBIs marijuana public opinion changing? New York state has announced the opening of new dispensaries after several lawsuits, but does this show progress in approval nationwide? Are standardized tests like the SATs becoming unnecessary in higher education? We have expert Cathy Engstrom on to discuss what the future holds for test requirements. Finally, we end with a holiday fun fact for our Christmas lovers. What is your favorite part of the season?
Is Every Day Casual Friday?
December 01, 2023 16:09 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBHas the pandemic changed office attire for good? Data shows that dressing for the workplace has gotten much more casual, but not for everyone. There are gender and generational gaps. But, the business suit is, for all intents and purposes, mainly gone. Then, do Americans value friendship? For several decades, some research has shown we've been steadily losing our social connections, but a new Pew Poll suggests something different. Most of us have a LOT of "close" friends. And, we finish wi...
New York Quality of Life
November 22, 2023 14:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBHas the quality of life in New York gone down? Our latest New York State poll asks the question. How are the leaders of New York holding up? Are Hochul, Santos, Adams, and other politicians holding up to New Yorker's standards? This week's episode ends on a special 'tis-the-season fun fact that will have you debating turkey or stuffing.
Revisiting the Tipping Point
November 17, 2023 16:07 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBWhat's behind the interesting numbers we found on a growing isolationism in light of wars in Israel and Ukraine? We explore that, what Americans think of using government shutdowns as political weapons, and a growing belief that politicians -- not the system -- that's the problem with our politics. Next we head back to a segment from a February episode about what, at the time, seemed like a new reality of out-of-control tipping. New data has been released and we're revisiting the topic of t...
Our AI Future
November 10, 2023 16:01 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBAI now has the ability to write convincing spam emails, mimic human voices, create false images and even videos. Have we entered a scary science fiction movie come to life? Next, autonomous vehicles -- think driverless taxis -- are becoming more common in some cities, but do Americans really trust them? Timothy B. Lee from the Understanding AI newsletter joins us to discuss the implications of AI in vehicles. And, we finish with the week's fun fact jumping back in time to see what people o...
Will This Time Be Different?
November 03, 2023 15:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBOn October 25th, the deadliest shooting in Maine occurred in Lewiston. Since the attack, Maine politicians have been put in the hot seat over their opposition to gun control measures including an assault weapon ban. And one of them did shift his position. Is it the beginning of a change, or just an aberration in our never-changing, stalled debate on America's mass shooting epidemic? Can a difference in a degree really shorten your life? New research looks at the difference between the life ...
The Great Phantom Crime Wave
October 27, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBMore Americans than every fear crime is going up. But it's not. In fact, it's historically very low and, in most categories, fell quite a bit in 2022. Why the disconnect? We're digging into the data to see if Americans are equating crime with feelings of safety. Then, in today’s job market, getting that first post-grad gig can be easier said than done. Many believe internships are a big plus and, while some data backs up that notion, does it therefore follow that colleges should require the...
Spoiler Alert! RFK Jr. Could Upend 2024
October 19, 2023 14:27 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBThird party candidates have a mixed history of swaying elections towards one candidate over another. Ross Perot and Jill Stein are fairly recent examples of candidates who may have swung elections but is RFK Jr. in their league? Our new polling with NPR and the PBS NewsHour suggests he might be, but not necessarily in the way you might think. Then, luck of the lotto has a strong appeal for many Americans, especially with the proliferation of billion-dollar jackpots. How have we gone from no...
The (New) Middle East War
October 13, 2023 15:10 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBHamas launched a surprise attack on Israel in what is being termed "Israel's 9/11." The terrorist attacks on civilians, including barbaric killings of children and a massacre at a music festival, have shocked the world. In the past, Americans have not had strong opinions on the conflict in the Middle East. But the most recent polling, from just before the attacks, showed Democrats have growing support for Palestine and Republicans are still hard set on supporting Israel. Will that change now...
A Very Meta Podcast About...Podcasts
October 06, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBOur new poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour is out and the data covers how Americans feel about the Republican candidates, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and the legal battles of both. The results show Americans making an interesting comparison. Then, a silly question considering you're reading this: Are you a fan of podcasts? More and more Americans are but, with their success, comes a common modern media problem: misinformation. Melissa Kiesche from Edison Research helps us answer if we can trus...
Strikes, Unions, and America's Relationship with Substances
September 29, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBFirst, writers and actors walked out in Hollywood and now auto workers are picketing car factories. The companies involved have noted how much these strikes cost Americans in terms of missing entertainment and potentially higher car prices, but a majority of Americans appear to be on the side of the strikers. Maybe more so now than at any time in past half-century. Then, new research shows there are big generational divides over the perception of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Not surpris...
Americans Avoiding Marriage
September 22, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MBFederal government shutdowns are new, but they've become increasingly common as our politics has become ever-more polarized. But shutdowns during Clinton, Obama, and Trump all reflected much more poorly on one party. If House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shuts things down, will he help seal his party's fate in 2024? Then, Americans are heading to the altar much less often than we did just a few decades ago. What's up? We're digging into a heap of data to understand why the bloom is off the (marri...
Future of Affirmative Action and Parenting for the Digital Age
September 15, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBAffirmative action has been overturned, so... what now? Barbara Mistick (@barbaramistick), president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, joins the team to discuss what this could mean for the future of colleges, diversity levels, and the job applicant pool. Is parenting harder now than it was 20 years ago? New data says parents think it is. Dr. Kathleen Vigil, professor of education at Marist College, joins us to explain that, while parenting has never been...
Old Politicians and Bad Questions
September 08, 2023 15:28 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBAge. A tricky topic, especially in politics. A lot is being made of Joe Biden's age, but also that of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Diane Feinstein, and Donald Trump. Polls show Americans want younger leaders but...they keep electing old ones. Maybe it's not just about age... Then, a new paper by some polling industry researchers has us asking their question: Are we asking the wrong questions in our polls? When nearly everything is viewed through a partisan (or tribal!) le...
Student Loan Forgiveness and Sex Work (Not related!)
September 01, 2023 15:12 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBJoe Biden ran on a platform of dealing with the huge burden of student debt that impacts tens of millions of Americans -- many in their 30s and 40s. But now that the courts have killed his cancellation plan, will the administration's latest plan for trying to limit the damage so much debt is doing to families and the economy as a whole, actually work? And where do Americans land on these questions? Then, a subject that's little discussed but is as old as time. Sex work. Technology has drama...
Climate Anxiety is Real
August 25, 2023 15:15 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThis has been a summer defined by extreme weather events. Record-breaking heat, deadly wildfires, intense hurricanes, unprecedented rainfall, devastating floods, and more. If all these symptoms of climate change have you worried, you're not alone. We talk with Dr. Steven Taylor about how the changing climate is leading to heightened anxiety, especially among younger people. Then, fast fashion brands like H&M and SHEIN are mainstays of the fashion world, producing new styles at a head snappi...
Aliens Aren't Real But They Are Friendly?
August 18, 2023 15:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBOur latest poll is out, and we're breaking down the data on Trump's legal woes, Biden's approval rating, and the 2024 election. Then, we're switching gears to something more otherworldly... aliens. With the latest House hearings on ETs, we are looking at Americans' very weird and somewhat confounding views on such questions as, have aliens visited, are UFOs spaceships, and is the U.S. Government covering it all up? But maybe best of all...are clients friendly? Finally, we finish with a loo...
Challenges Faced By Transgender Kids
August 11, 2023 15:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBOne of the most prominent culture war issues of our time is also one of the most dangerous...for kids. Transgender health care and rights are front and center in our political debate and, recently, conservatives have moved to focus on trans kids. We look at where Americans land in this discussion and dig into how schools are - and aren't - helping the children they're supposed to be educating and protecting. Next, almost no one argues America faces a housing crisis. There are simply too man...
Once Again: The Climate Crisis
August 04, 2023 15:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBWe begin by looking at the results of our new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. A majority of Americans agree that climate change is affecting their communities--whether from wildfire smoke, blazing temperatures, or disastrous floods. However, since 2018, the number of Americans who think climate change is a major problem or should take precedence over economic growth has decreased. We discuss why that might be. Next, how soon is too soon? A question the Poll Hub team asks as new numbers reveal...
It's Barbie's World
July 28, 2023 15:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBBarbie is the hottest movie of the summer AND a battle in the culture wars. For this segment, we kicked the men out of the studio so the women on our team could talk about the journey Mattel's doll has made throughout the years. The intergenerational panel talks about the movie's themes of gender roles and feminist perspectives. And, as the movie faces mixed reviews, we hear reactions from the women on the Poll Hub team on which parts of the movie resonated with -- or confused them -- the mo...
Aspartame and Food Safety Concerns
July 21, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MBMost Americans believe that it is the government's responsibility to ensure the safety of the food they eat. Yet, opinion divides about whether or not these institutions have the best interest of the public in mind. With the World Health Organization's recent concerns about Aspartame, a common sweetener present in some of our food and drinks, individuals may be more likely to set aside diet sodas. Yet, other food safety concerns may overshadow the importance of this one. Then, while AI has ...
A New Epoch of Climate Change
July 14, 2023 15:30 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBBetween the floods in NY and New England, the vast and historic heat wave across the Southwest, Canadian forest fire smoke creating historically bad air quality, and the earth having multiple back-to-back hottest days in recorded history all over the past month, you might not think climate change is still an issue. But, you’d be wrong. Still, a LOT has changed in how Americans think about it since Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth made it a mainstream issue. Next, voice assistants like Siri, ...
Social Media: Teen Danger?
July 07, 2023 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBA majority of Americans agree that teachers should be the ones responsible for setting school curriculum. However, book bans and laws prohibiting teachers from discussing content related to racial and LGBTQ+ issues highlight how politicians are getting directly involved in the education system. Public opinion shows parents think that the government has much more important responsibilities in protecting children from harm. The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued a warning in May about...
SPECIAL EPISODE: Music is...
June 21, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBThis special edition of Poll Hub represents a break from our past 299 episodes, not only because our student producers researched and wrote it all, but also because we focus on a single topic. We have special segments on earworms, one-hit wonders, and Americans' view of rock music, plus all this: We start with "Why music?" How did a podcast that covers public opinion and survey science end up with a special episode on music? Then, we explore the correlation between a person’s age when a so...
Unconditional Support From Republicans?
June 16, 2023 17:00 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBWe start out by taking a look at the results of the new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll that was released Friday. The majority of Americans believe that Trump has either done something illegal or unethical. Republicans, on the other hand, still have a very favorable impression of Trump. It means he still likely has the inside line to the nomination, but other data in the poll suggests he would have a very tough time winning the general election if it were held today. While this is all unchart...
Do Teachers Think They Should Be Armed?
June 09, 2023 14:31 - 21 minutes - 20 MBMany Americans have said the economy is in a recession for almost a year, but it's not. And, economic data shows that things are actually pretty good and/or getting better in terms of unemployment, income, and inflation. Why the disconnect? It's the same for crime – even though crime rates have generally been dropping for decades, a majority of Americans have said, in most years, it's getting worse. We unpack what's driving the divergence. Next, should teachers carry guns on campus? The RAN...
Are We Really Post-Pandemic?
June 02, 2023 16:31 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBThe public health emergencies for COVID are largely over around the world and by nearly all accounts, people in most places are living like they did pre-pandemic. Yet, scientists warn the pandemic is not really over and plenty of risk from variants and new viruses remains. Did we learn anything from last three years? Or are we just happy to have gotten through it? Then, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made a deal on the debt limit that, barring any surprises in the Sena...
Will Texas Turn Purple THIS Time?
May 26, 2023 15:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBWe start with a deep dive into the data of our new poll with NPR and the PBS NewsHour. Americans favor the Biden position of raising the debt limit separately from any discussion about spending cuts, but, if default happens, they would pretty much blame both sides equally. Then, friend-of-the-poll and longtime Texas journalist John Sparks joins us in studio to help us understand if national Democrats should still be thinking the Lone Star state will soon turn purple. Colin Allred – former...
No College and No Recycling?!
May 19, 2023 15:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBSince the start of the COVID pandemic, data shows more young people are choosing to skip college. High tuition costs and a very strong job market are partly driving this but, if it continues, will those who passed on college suffer over the long term? And, how can the economy deal with fewer skilled workers? Next, how much do you recycle? Polls show Americans are very pro-recycling and many of us do our part. But we look at data showing a lot of recycling might be going in the garbage. Fin...
Culture Shock: Gallup's Take on the New Workplace
May 12, 2023 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBA new book called Culture Shock explores how the pandemic affected the workplace and offers data-backed solutions to employers grappling with the new normal: Workers reluctant to come back to office full-time and employers desperate to fill those desks. Gallup's Jim Harter and Jim Clifton wrote the book and Harter joins us to discuss. A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Biden with a new low in support that lags behind both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. There has been a lot of coverag...
Have We Legalized Weed Too Soon?
May 05, 2023 14:59 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBWhile marijuana is still federally illegal, it's legal in nearly every state for recreational or medical use -- or both. But new health studies raise the question, have states moved too far, too fast? We look at both public opinion data showing a lightning-fast change in public opinion and scientific research showing pot may not be as benign as many think. Then, our star team of student producers come to the other side of the microphone to talk about something they know much better than t...
The Shrinking Racial Employment Gap
April 28, 2023 15:07 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBFirst the team dives into the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll. It covers everything from Trump and Biden to abortion. We asked a lot of questions and we're breaking down all the results. For decades, the employment gap between black workers and white workers has always favored white workers, but is this gap shrinking? Guest Valerie Wilson @ValerieRWilson joins us to talk about a new study showing a shrinking gap and what this means for Americans. Finally, what's worse: being an only ch...
Working Less & Are We Really So Independent?
April 21, 2023 15:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBAxios recently ran a piece looking at Gallup Poll data showing 49% of Americans identify as independents -- a big increase over the past decade. But...is this really accurate? The Washington Post's Phillip Bump and Charles Franklin from the Marquette Poll have serious doubts. We'll explain why the Gallup data isn't really the issue. Next, has the pandemic made workers lazy? New data shows that workers are working fewer hours than pre-pandemic -- but there are big differences among differe...