Dayton Deliberates: A New Model for Local Democracy Launches in Dayton
IDEA has partnered with FIDE North America, the City of Dayton, and Unify America to launch Dayton Deliberates, the first project in the country to combine a Citizens' Assembly with a Deliberative Town Hall at the local level. Fifteen Dayton residents participated in the project's opening focus group in March, and the Dayton City Commission endorsed the public hospital as the topic for deeper citizen deliberation. The Citizens' Assembly begins in May, and the Deliberative Town Hall follows in September. In addition, the project has been named one of Ohio State's 2026 Programs of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship. More information about the project will be shared soon.
IDEA and MAHD Lab Launch Second Raven, a Substack on Public Opinion Polling
IDEA and Ryan Kennedy's Machine-Assisted Human Decision-making (MAHD) Lab launched Second Raven, a new Substack newsletter for anyone who wants to understand what public opinion polls actually tell us, and where they mislead us. Each issue takes a real, widely reported poll result and walks readers through what the numbers mean, what the question design may have gotten wrong, and what we find when we ask the question with a more robust method. Recent topics have included Americans' support (or lack thereof) for political violence and gerrymandering.
IDEA Joins Launch of Deliberative State Governance Initiative in Washington, D.C.
On February 18, IDEA Associate Director Amy Lee joined international democracy experts and state government leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the launch of the Deliberative State Governance initiative, a new program to bring Citizens' Assemblies into state-level policymaking. IDEA partnered with FIDE North America and Meridian International Center on the initiative, which organizers called the most senior-level convening on Citizens' Assemblies ever held in the United States. The inaugural workshop brought together leaders from five states to explore how democratic innovations can involve the public in policymaking.
IDEA Researcher Heads to Malawi for Deliberative Town Halls on Climate and Development
IDEA PhD candidate Jack Fernandes is in Malawi, conducting Deliberative Town Halls to assess whether deliberative conversations between Members of Parliament and constituents can improve the way legislators and citizens make decisions about climate-resilient infrastructure. The project partners with both Deputy Speakers of Malawi's National Assembly: Hon. Victor Musowa, First Deputy Speaker, and Hon. Esther Jolobala, Second Deputy Speaker, who is also the first woman ever elected to represent Machinga East. The study will survey about 300 Village Development Committee members across two constituencies, with half randomly assigned to participate in the town halls. Fieldwork began in March.
IDEA's First Summer Democracy Fellows Are Heading to Washington, D.C.
This summer, IDEA will send its first class of Summer Democracy Fellows to Washington, D.C., where they will work in Congressional offices and share their knowledge of democratic innovation with staff. The fellowship will benefit students and offices alike while strengthening IDEA's presence and credibility on Capitol Hill.
AI Interviews Deepen Survey Responses But May Also Shape Opinions, New Study Finds
IDEA researcher Ryan Kennedy, working with the University of Houston, found that AI-conducted interviews produce richer, more detailed survey responses than traditional methods. The research also raised the possibility that the AI interviewing process shapes respondents' views on the issues discussed, a finding that fed directly into the launch of Second Raven.
Michael Neblo Testifies Before Congress: Americans Want a Real Conversation, Not Just More Communication
On December 16, IDEA Director Michael Neblo testified before the House Subcommittee on Modernization, presenting new survey research showing that Americans remain committed to democracy but want it to be more responsive. His testimony drew on IDEA's research into citizen engagement and provided evidence that deliberative formats can rebuild trust where traditional political communication has fallen short.
IDEA Speaker Series: Dr. Benjamin Miller on Democratic Citizenship
On March 25, IDEA welcomed Dr. Benjamin Miller, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois, for a talk on democratic citizenship and the role citizens play in preserving and strengthening democracy. Dr. Miller's recent book challenges conventional thinking about civic education in liberal democracies.
IDEA Speaker Series: Dr. Annelise Russell on Congress's Crisis of Communications
On March 11, Dr. Annelise Russell, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Kentucky, visited IDEA to present Tweeting Scared: Congress's Crisis of Communications. Her presentation explored how the daily operations of Congress have come to resemble a disaster response, with staff and professionals constantly adapting to the rapid pace of news and digital information. The talk drew from her recent book of the same title, published by Oxford University Press.
IDEA Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science with Dr. Amanda Robinson
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, IDEA sat down with Dr. Amanda Robinson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ohio State, to talk about her path from a biology undergraduate to a leading scholar of comparative politics. The conversation traces unexpected turns, from a cold call to a future Nobel laureate to sixteen years of research partnerships in Malawi, and how her work now informs IDEA's expanding international projects.
IDEA Director and Associate Director Featured in The Lantern on Civic Engagement
IDEA Director Michael Neblo and Associate Director Amy Lee were featured in The Lantern to discuss why Americans have disengaged from politics and what would bring them back. Neblo, who testified before Congress on this issue in December, argues that what appears to be apathy is actually learned helplessness among citizens who have stopped believing that their participation matters. Lee discussed the role Ohio State students can play through deliberative forums and why a land-grant university is the right institution to lead this work.