Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn unveiled survey of 100 CEOs on stage at The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 CEO Council Summit

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, unveiled the results of a survey of 100 American CEOs to gauge sentiment on business priorities, economic outlook, and views of AI advancements heading into 2026. The study, conducted by Stagwell’s National Research Group (NRG), provides guidance on how CEOs are anticipating business, economic and political shifts leading into the new year.

Key findings from the study include:

• CEOs support AI as a transformative force: Nearly all CEOs (85%) see AI as entering a healthy growth phase rather than a bubble, with generative AI viewed as the most transformative technology of 2026. 78% of CEOs maintain they are bullish on AI’s impact on workplace efficiency and innovation.
• CEOs predict economic unease, but maintain measured confidence: While 62% of CEOs believe the U.S. is on the wrong track, nearly three in four (74%) express confidence in the resilience of the U.S. economy heading into 2026.
• Inflation, debt, and jobs dominate CEO agendas: Financial stability is the top policy focus for 2026, with managing inflation (61%), reducing debt (47%), and job creation (33%) marked as top policy priorities.
• Policy and political concerns weigh on CEO confidence: Regulatory and policy shifts (66%) and trade restrictions (60%), are expected to have the greatest impact on business. Nearly half (46%) are pessimistic about political leaders’ stability and predictability.

For the full results, visit stagwellglobal.com.

Methodology
The findings are drawn from research conducted by Stagwell’s National Research Group (NRG) with 100 U.S.-based CEOs leading organizations with 10,000 or more employees. The sample reflects a mix of CEO tenures, cross-industry representation, and B2B and B2C companies. The survey was fielded online between October 21 and November 10, 2025.

About Stagwell 
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact
Maggie Axford
pr@stagwellglobal.com

62% OF VOTERS SAY REPUBLICANS WON THE SHUTDOWN FIGHT, AND 68% APPROVE OF THE DEAL THAT ENDED IT

55% TRUST TRUMP AND THE GOP TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY, 10 POINTS AHEAD OF THE DEMOCRATS, YET MOST VOTERS THINK TRUMP IS LOSING THE BATTLE ON INFLATION

59% SAY INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING MATTERS MOST TO THEM WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY

MOST VOTERS MISINFORMED ON THE ECONOMY WITH MAJORITY SAYING ECONOMY IS SHRINKING AND 71% OVERESTIMATING INFLATION

72% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE GRANTING OF H1-B VISAS

85% SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF MADURO FROM VENEZUELAN OFFICE

78% SUPPORT TRUMP’S 21-POINT PEACE PLAN FOR ISRAEL-GAZA, BUT 68% WORRY HAMAS IS NOW REARMING

64% OF VOTERS SAY UKRAINE SHOULD RECEIVE DIRECT SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM THE U.S. IF IT MAKES TERRITORIAL CONCERSSIONS

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 47%, up 3 points from November. The bump is reflected across each policy issue. Trump’s job approval is highest on fighting crime in U.S. cities (51%) and returning America to its values (50%), and lowest on handling inflation (40%) and tariffs and trade policy (42%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the government shutdown, economy, H1-B visas, drug boat strikes, Israel-Hamas conflict, war in Ukraine, and Venezuela. Download the key results here.

“This poll is a clear bounce back from the government shutdown when attitudes of the American public were really going off of a cliff,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “But the concern for inflation – and what’s perceived as the administration’s failure to deal with it – is the dominant thing weighing down the administration. The State of the Union will be an important opportunity for the President to address some of these issues.”

GENERAL ATTITUDES REVERSE TO PRE-SHUTDOWN LEVELS

• 39% of voters say the country is on the right track (+4 pts., November 2025).
• 47% of voters say the U.S. economy is strong (+4).
• The Republican Party approval rating is at 46% (+2), while the Democratic Party approval rating is at 41% (-2). Congressional approval is at 35% (+8).
• 47% of voters say inflation or affordability is the most important issue to them personally, including a majority across political parties.
• Inflation and the economy remain the top two most important issues facing the country today, followed by healthcare.

MOST TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO SEE MAJORITY SUPPORT

• Most of Trump’s policies continue to see majority support. His most popular policies are lowering prescription drug prices (86% support), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (80%), eliminating fraud in government expenditures (77%), and launching government website to buy discounted drugs directly from manufacturers (70%), with each receiving two-thirds support or more across political parties.
• Trump’s least popular policies include adding work requirements to Medicaid programs (43%), deploying the National Guard to American cities (51%), and tariffs (52%).
• 55% of voters say Trump’s policies will increase inflation (Democrats: 78%; Republicans: 30%; Independents: 59%).
• 43% of voters, a plurality, say Trump’s policies will make them financially worse off.

VOTERS VERY NEGATIVE ON SHUTDOWN, APPROVING OF COMPROMISE AND MORE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH MODERATES IN THE FUTURE

• 62% of voters say Republicans won the government shutdown. Voters are split on which party caused the shutdown.
• 85% of voters say the shutdown hurt the U.S. economy.
• 46% of voters say the recent government shutdown affected them personally.
• 71% of voters say moderate Democrats made the right call to end the shutdown (Democrats: 59%; Republicans: 83%; Independents: 71%), and 68% of voters approve of the compromise that ended the shutdown.
• 77% of voters say leaders should negotiate more through moderates like those who backed the deal that ended the shutdown, including a majority across political parties.

DESPITE TRUSTING TRUMP AND GOP OVER DEMOCRATS TO HANDLE THE ECONOMY, MAJORITY STILL SEE TRUMP LOSING BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION

• 55% of voters say they trust the Trump administration and Republicans to manage the economy over Democrats in Congress (+6 pts., November 2025).
• 71% of voters say inflation is above 3% a year right now, including a majority across political parties, with the median estimate among both Democrats and Independents at 5% and 4% among Republicans.
• 57% of voters say Trump is losing the battle against inflation, and 56% say his tariff policies are harming the economy.
• 57% of voters say the economy is shrinking (-5; Democrats: 77%; Republicans: 31%; Independents: 64%).

VOTERS PERCEIVE THE LAST TIME THE ECONOMY WAS “GOOD” WAS PRE-PANDEMIC 2020

• 48% of voters, a strong plurality across political parties, say the economy was last “good” in 2020 before the pandemic.
• Price of groceries or household items is the top influence on voters’ views of the economy in the past three months (79%), followed by gas prices (55%) and personal financial situation (39%).
• 59% of voters say inflation or cost of living matters most to them when thinking about the state of the economy.
• 49% of voters say stories about the economy are negative (incl. the majority of Democrats and Independents), while 23% of voters say they are positive (incl. the plurality of Republicans).
• Voters are more likely to trust than distrust statements on the economy from government economic agencies and the Federal Reserve.
• After learning inflation has been below 3% since October 2023, 44% of voters, a plurality, say the new information improves their view on the economy, with 45% of voters saying they thought inflation was higher.

BROAD SUPPORT FOR H1-B VISAS

• 72% of voters support the granting of H-1B visas, including a strong majority across political parties.
• 54% of voters say H-1B visas do not cost Americans jobs (Democrats: 61%; Republicans: 45%; Independents: 56%).
• 64% of voters say H-1B visas help America become more innovative, including a majority across political parties.
• 61% of voters say there will always be a need for specialized talent from abroad, including a majority across political parties.

INCREASING SUPPORT FOR MADURO’S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

• 64% of voters say Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should be removed from office. When given context of Maduro’s election fraud and narco-terrorism indictment, 85% of voters say he should be removed, including a majority across political parties (+4).
• Among those who support Maduro’s removal, 76% say the U.S. should arrest Maduro and take him to the U.S. to face trial (+3).
• 54% of voters generally support Trump’s policy toward South and Latin America.
• 74% of voters say Maduro’s government is an enemy of the U.S., and 64% say it is an ally of China and Russia. 71% of voters believe it supports criminal cartels and illicit activities.

BROAD RECOGNITION FOR DRUG OVERDOSE AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WITH TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS IN SUPPORT OF U.S. DESTROYING DRUG BOATS

• 67% of voters say they support the US government destroying boats bringing drugs into the US from South America. 63% believe the boats are appropriately targeted for destruction.
• 65% of voters believe the Venezuelan government is participating in the drug trade, including a majority across political parties.
• 77% of voters say deaths from drug overdoses are a major problem, including a majority across political parties. 64% say drug-related deaths are deadlier than gun violence (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 77%; Independents: 66%).
• 54% of voters say the U.S. military was wrong to launch the second missile that may have killed survivors, with voters split on whether this is a major incident or blown up for political purposes.

MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN, BUT VOTERS WORRY HAMAS IS REARMING

• 70% of voters support Trump’s deal to secure the safe return of Israeli hostages and end hostilities in Gaza, including a majority across political parties and age groups.
• 68% of voters support Trump’s 21-point peace plan for Gaza. When given more details about the plan, 78% support it. 58% of voters say the peace plan played a large role in ending the war.
• 78% of voters say any deal should require Hamas to completely disarm and disband (+4). However, 68% of voters believe Hamas is rearming, including a majority across political parties.
• 59% of voters say there is still a lot of active fighting in Gaza on the ground.
• 69% of voters believe Iran is rebuilding its nuclear capability.
• 48% of voters, a plurality, say Arab governments should be responsible for ensuring Hamas disarms and disbands, while 33% say the U.S. should be responsible and 20% say Israel.

VOTERS BACK U.S. SECURITY GUARANTEES IF UKRAINE COMPROMISES

• 56% of voters say Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia will allow the country and the world to move forward in peace and end the bloodshed. Voters remain split on whether Ukraine should concede or if it can win territory back.
• 64% of voters say Ukraine should receive direct security guarantees from the U.S. if it makes concessions to end the war with Russia.
• 53% of voters say they are satisfied with how Trump is managing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
• 65% of voters say the Trump administration should continue to provide weapons to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia, including a majority across political parties.

The December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on December 2-4, 2025, among 2,204 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. 

About The Harris Poll & HarrisX

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics.  Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.

Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com  

Bringing more than 30 years of experience in market research and polling, Gardner leads Harris Quest at a pivotal time for growth at Stagwell’s The Marketing Cloud and The Harris Poll

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced the appointment of Jonathan Gardner as CEO of The Marketing Cloud’s and The Harris Poll’s Harris Quest, an AI-powered suite of market research and brand management software tools. Reporting into The Marketing Cloud’s CEO Elspeth Rollert, Gardner will spearhead Harris Quest’s best-in-class market research operations, advancing its mission to provide clients with trustworthy and accessible data powered by AI and human-led analysis.

With over 30 years of experience in market research and polling, Gardner brings deep expertise to his new role, having spent nearly a decade at The Harris Poll as COO, overseeing all aspects of client fulfillment at the industry-leading research and consulting firm. Prior to his work at The Harris Poll, Gardner held chief operating positions at The Marketing Cloud, communications firm Subject Matter, and global research consultancy Penn Schoen Berland.

Harris Quest is The Marketing Cloud and The Harris Poll’s unified brand, offering AI-enabled research and marketing technology solutions. Its self-service brand management and survey tools empower its users to deliver real-time, actionable insights for today’s data-driven businesses. 

“Jonathan’s deep understanding of the marketplace and research tech uniquely positions him to lead Harris Quest to its next chapter of growth. His strategic insight  will be critical as we evolve our tools through a combination of AI and human insight —  increasing speed and accessibility while maintaining quality, ensuring The Marketing Cloud continues to set the standard for AI innovation and meet clients where they are,” commented Elspeth Rollert, CEO of The Marketing Cloud.

“Jonathan has been instrumental in helping The Harris Poll stand out in a crowded marketplace with data that is both trustworthy and accessible. With Harris Quest, he’s applying the same commitment to quality and innovation – empowering organizations to make informed decisions,” shared John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll.

Gardner remarked on his new role: “Harris Quest bridges the best of both worlds – combining The Marketing Cloud’s cutting-edge AI tools and The Harris Poll’s market research capabilities – and I’m excited to bring expertise from the service side to build technology with a deep, multifaceted understanding of the product.”

About The Marketing Cloud
The Marketing Cloud (formerly Stagwell Marketing Cloud) is a data-driven suite of AI-powered SaaS and service solutions built for the modern marketer. Powered by proprietary data and advanced tools spanning research, communications, creative, and media, it enables organizations to achieve measurable business outcomes by making smarter decisions, faster. The Marketing Cloud was born out of Stagwell’s (NASDAQ: STGW) award-winning network, known for delivering creative performance for ambitious brands. 

About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact:
PR@stagwellglobal.com 

RATINGS OF DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND PRESIDENT ALL IN LOW FORTIES

TRUMP POLICIES LARGELY FAVORED WITH EXCEPTION OF TARIFFS BUT APPROVAL DECLINING TO 44% AMID ECONOMIC CONCERN AND SHUTDOWN

57% OF VOTERS CHARACTERIZE THE ECONOMY AS WEAK, A 6 PT. INCREASE FROM SEPTEMBER

OFF-CYCLE ELECTION MESSAGE: GOP NEEDS TO BROADEN ITS BASE; ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S POLICIES REJECTED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS ACROSS THE NATION

TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS SEE MADURO’S REGIME AS A THREAT TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY AND 81% SUPPORT REMOVING HIM FROM OFFICE

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the November Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating dropped to a new low of 44%, 2 points down from September. Trump’s job approval is highest on fighting crime in U.S. cities (49%) and immigration (47%), and lowest on handling inflation (39%) and tariffs and trade policy (40%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the off-cycle elections around the country, economy, government shutdown, Israel-Hamas conflict, war in Ukraine, and Venezuela. Download the key results here.

“Keeping the government shutdown has put people in an increasingly negative mood,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “Voters support the Republican policy position, but with the shutdown, a worsening perception of the economy, discontent with tariffs, health care a key concern, and people not getting their paychecks – this is a deteriorating situation the White House has to fix.”

GOP AND CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL DROP AS CONCERNS ON THE ECONOMY GROW

• 57% of voters say the U.S. economy is weak (+6 pts., September 2025).
• 35% of voters say the country is on the right track (-5).
• The Congressional approval rating dropped again to 27%, its lowest point since June 2024 (-5).
• The Republican Party approval rating is at 44% (-3), while the Democratic Party approval is at 43% (+1).
• Inflation and affordability (+3), and the economy and jobs (+4) remain the top two most important issues facing the country today according to voters.
• 48% of voters say inflation is the top issue for them personally (+5).

MOST TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO SEE MAJORITY SUPPORT THOUGH SOME CONCERN OVER DETERIORATING INDEPENDENCE IN GOVERNMENT

• Trump’s policies remain popular, with 16 of 18 policies receiving majority support. Lowering drug prices (85%), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (79%), and cutting government waste (75%) are the most popular; while Medicaid requirements (44%), tariffs (50%), and deploying National Guard in cities (51%) are the least popular.
• 56% of voters believe that Trump has exceeded his authority as president. 51% say Trump is operating like a fascist dictator (+3).
• 59% of voters say Trump is not abiding by all court rulings, and 43% think that the administration works with Congress less than previous administrations.
• 56% of voters oppose President Trump’s construction of a new ballroom at the White House.

VOTERS FEEL EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

• 75% of voters oppose the government shutdown (+5), with 53% placing the blame on Republicans more than Democrats.
• 56% of voters think the Republicans will win the government shutdown (-6).
• 48% say the government shutdown has affected them personally, and 55% say the government shutdown is hurting the economy a lot.
• 74% of voters believe extending the Obamacare subsidies should be debated as part of a separate appropriations bills process. 67% say Democrats should end the shutdown without Obamacare funds.
• 44% of voters support the Senate’s filibuster rule. 37% oppose Republican leaders who want to scrap the filibuster to end the shutdown.

VOTERS SEE BOTH PARTIES AS BECOMING MORE EXTREME AND FARTHER FROM THEIR VIEWS, WANT HEALTH INSURANCE AND FOOD SECURITY

• 43% of voters, a plurality, say the Democratic Party today is moving farther from their own views; 45%, also a plurality, say the same of the Republican Party.
• 61% of voters say the Republican Party today is more of a MAGA/Trump party, while voters are split on whether the Democratic Party is more of a mainstream liberal party (37%) or socialist party (34%).
• 50% say that the Democratic Party understands and prioritizes the issues that matter most to them well; 46% say the same of the Republican Party.
• 46% of voters say they and their family need help with health insurance the most from an outside resource, followed by food security (40%).

OFF-CYCLE ELECTIONS POINT TO NEED OF GOP PARTY TO BROADEN ITS BASE WHILE MAJORITY ACROSS PARTIES REJECT MAMDANI’S POLICIES

• 63% say that the GOP needs to broaden its positions to appeal to more people in the middle.
• 50% of voters think that Zohran Mamdani represents the Democratic Party today (Democrats: 65%; Republicans: 47%; Independents: 38%). 51% say that the Democratic Party moved too far to the left.
• 59% of voters would not consider voting for Mamdani after reading policies (Democrats: 33%; Republicans: 78%; Independents: 65%). A strong majority of voters, including a majority across political parties, think houses, stores, and factories should be left to private enterprise and the market (77%); believe Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people (74%); support increases in police funding (71%); and believe prostitution should be kept illegal (64%). 67% of voters oppose open borders (Democrats: 49%; Republicans: 79%; Independents: 72%).

VOTERS BELIEVE HAMAS IS NOT RESPECTING TRUMP’S PEACE DEAL

• 53% of voters support Trump’s handling of the Israeli-Hamas conflict so far, though 59% say Trump are skeptical of whether Trump will be able to keep peace between Israel and Hamas.
• 71% of voters favor the deal brought together by the Trump administration to secure the safe return of the Israel hostages and end the hostilities in Gaza, and 65% support Trump’s 21-point peace plan.
• 51% of voters say Israel is not respecting the deal with Hamas, while 66% say Hamas is not respecting the deal with Israel. 57% say that Arab governments are not respecting the deal.
• 74% of voters say that the deal should require Hamas to completely disarm and disband as part of the solution to conflict, and 51% say Arab governments should be responsible for ensuring Hamas disarms.
• 68% of voters say the long-term answer to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is for there to be two states: Israel and Palestine.

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

• 65% of voters support Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine, though 63% say Trump will not solve Ukraine.
• 72% of voters support the Trump administration sanctioning Russia’s top oil and gas companies to get President Vladimir Putin to agree to an immediate ceasefire. 72% support additional economic sanctions on Russia to try to force it to end the war (-5).
• 77% of voters say Europe should stop buying oil from Russia and buy it from the US instead if it were practical. 58% support punitive tariffs on governments who buy oil and gas from Russia.
• 65% of voters say the Trump administration should continue to provide weaponry to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia.

STRONG MAJORITY OF VOTERS FAVOR ARREST AND REMOVAL OF MADURO FROM OFFICE

• 63% of voters say Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro should be removed from office. When given context of Maduro’s election fraud and narco-terrorism indictment, 81% of voters say he should be removed.
• 67% of voters think the actions of the Maduro regime in Venezuela threaten U.S. national security.
• 73% of voters say the U.S. should try to arrest Maduro and take him to the U.S. to face trial.

The November Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on November 4-6, 2025, among 2,000 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. 

About The Harris Poll & HarrisX

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics.  Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.

Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com  

Stagwell deepens its commitment to high-quality owned media reflecting the network’s confidence in the commercial power of journalism and news

NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On stage today at Stagwell’s (NASDAQ: STGW) NewsFronts, the inaugural upfront dedicated to exploring the opportunities for brands to invest in the next chapter of news media, CEO and Chairman Mark Penn will announce the network now owns 35% of Real Clear Holdings LLC, publisher of the highly-respected RCP Poll Averages, news publication RealClearPolitics, and 12 other news and analysis sites. Stagwell’s investments in platforms like RealClear are part of the network’s expanding interest in owned media platforms, including ReachTV. This investment also reinforces Stagwell’s belief that news media is both undervalued and a strong business opportunity for brands, a founding principle behind Stagwell’s Future of News initiative.

Stagwell’s clients will benefit from RealClear’s audience, op-ed aggregation and polling capabilities. This investment also continues Stagwell’s longstanding work with news publications through its agencies like Code and Theory, which has fueled digital innovation for nearly 200 newsrooms including Bustle Digital Group, The Minnesota Star Tribune, Time, Thomson Reuters and Vogue.

“This investment reinforces our conviction that quality news has the power to drive meaningful business results. Championing quality news and opinion media isn’t just good for us; it’s good for every business,” shared Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn.

John McIntyre, co-founder and CEO of Real Clear Holdings LLC commented: “As RealClear has collaborated with Stagwell, I am continuously impressed by its breadth, integrity, and focus on quality. Expanding our partnership will deliver strong benefits for our respective audiences and stakeholders. We are excited for the next phase of our growth.”

About Stagwell 
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact
Maggie Axford
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

TRUMP JOB APPROVAL STEADY AT 46% WHILE CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FALLS 5 PTS. FROM AUGUST

MOST VOTERS UNDERESTIMATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OVERESTIMATE INFLATION

85% OF VOTERS SAY CELEBRATION OVER KIRK’S DEATH BY MEDIA PERSONALITIES WAS INAPPROPRIATE

71% OF VOTERS SUPPORT SINKING SOUTH AMERICAN SHIPS CARRYING DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY

34% OF AMERICANS FEEL THEY WILL EVENTUALLY LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM AND 24% BELIEVE THEY ARE LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM

78% OF VOTERS SAY AMERICANS ARE BETTER OFF WITH FREE ENTERPRISE RATHER THAN SOCIALISM

56% OF VOTERS SUPPORT TRUMP’S GAZA PEACE PLAN

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the September Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 46%. Trump’s job approval is highest on fighting crime in U.S. cities (50%), immigration (49%), and returning America to its values (48%), and lowest on handling inflation (40%) and tariffs and trade policy (40%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the economy, political violence, the government shutdown, the American Dream, conflicts in the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine. Download the key results here.

“Voters’ outlook on the country remains largely the same with strong opposition to the government shutdown,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “They feel the rhetoric of today’s political leaders has grown too polarizing and is fueling political violence, and they want leadership that works to unite the country.”

CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL DROPS FROM LAST MONTH

• 40% of voters say the country is on the right track, stable from last month.
• 34% of voters say their personal financial situation is improving (-1 pt., Aug. 2025), particularly among Republican, male, 25-44 y.o., and urban voters.
• The Congressional approval rating is at 32% (-5). The Democratic Party approval rating is at 42% (+1) and the Republican Party approval rating is steady at 47%.
• Among key political figures, voters have the highest net favorable view of Charlie Kirk (+16 net favorable), Erika Kirk (+14), and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (+13).
• 43% of voters say inflation is the most important issue to them personally (-4).

MAJORITY OF VOTERS BELIEVE INFLATION IS ABOVE 3 PERCENT AND THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING

• 65% of voters believe inflation is above 3 percent (Democrats: 70%; Republicans: 62%; Independents: 64%).
• 56% of voters believe the economy is shrinking rather than growing.
• Voters are split 50-50 on whether Trump’s policies are making the U.S. economy stronger or weaker.
• 58% of voters say Trump’s tariffs are harming the economy (+3).
• 56% of voters say Trump is losing the battle against inflation.

VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

• 70% of voters oppose the government shutdown, with 53% blaming Republicans (Democrats: 76%; Republicans: 31%; Independents: 54%). However, 62% of voters say Republicans will win the shutdown.
• 65% of voters say Democrats should end the shutdown by accepting a continuing resolution at current spending levels (Democrats: 39%; Republicans: 90%; Independents: 63%).
• Voters are split on how the shutdown impacts their vote in the midterm elections, with 8% of Democrats they are more likely to vote for Republicans and 9% of Republicans saying they are more likely to vote for Democrats.
• 55% of voters say the Democrats behind the shutdown are motivated by pleasing their base.

THREE IN FOUR VOTERS BELIEVE TODAY’s POLITICAL RHETORIC IS TOO EXTREME, BLAMING IT FOR VIOLENCE

• 75% of voters say the rhetoric of our politicians has become too extreme (Democrats: 83%; Republicans: 65%; Independents: 79%), with 72% saying today’s rhetoric is leading to violence.
• 58% of voters say Trump’s rhetoric is too extreme. 57% believe the same of rhetoric from leading Democratic and Republican politicians.
• Though more than three-quarters of voters say assassinations of Charlie Kirk (78%), United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson (77%), and Minnesota Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman (83%) were unjustified, roughly 1 in 5 say they were justified (Kirk: 22%; Thompson: 23%; Hortman: 17%).
• 53% of voters say Kirk’s assassination made the country worse. 32% felt angry, 23% felt nothing, and 18% felt worried.
• 86% of Democrat voters and 83% of Republican voters say it is unjustified to use political violence to advance their party’s goals.
• 56% of voters believe America can come together with leadership that tried harder to unify it, including a majority across parties.
• At least two-thirds of voters say assassination attempts on Trump, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Governor Josh Shapiro, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were unjustified.

STRONG MAJORITY OF VOTERS FOUND MEDIA CELEBRATION OF KIRK’S DEATH INAPPROPRIATE BUT SAY SUCH BEHAVIOR IS PROTECTED BY FREE SPEECH

• 85% of voters say it is inappropriate for media personalities to celebrate Kirk’s death.
• 62% of voters say the words and actions of those celebrating Kirk’s death is protected by the First Amendment and free speech (Democrats: 70%; Republicans: 55%; Independents: 63%).
• Voters are split on whether it was right of TV networks to fire commentators over Kirk comments (Right: 51%; Wrong: 49%).
• 54% of voters oppose the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, and 58% say Disney was right to reinstate him.
• 64% of voters say social media is operating to encourage political violence today.

MOST OF TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO SEE MAJORITY SUPPORT INCLUDING SINKING BOATS WITH DRUGS, THOUGH A SMALL MAJORITY SAY TRUMP HAS EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORITY AS PRESIDENT

• 18 out of 20 of Trump’s policies continue to receive majority support, with his most popular policies being lowering prescription drug prices (86%), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (78%), and eliminating waste in government expenditures (75%). Adding work requirements to Medicaid programs (42%), tariffs (49%), and deploying the National Guard in cities (51%) are the least popular.
• 71% of voters support the U.S. destroying boats bringing drugs from South America into the country.
• 63% of voters say Trump will not solve the Ukraine war (+4), and 64% of voters say Trump will not solve the Israel-Hamas war.
• 52% of voters say Trump is doing a better job than Joe Biden did as President (-2).
• 52% of voters say Trump is behaving like a strong president instead of a fascist dictator, though 55% say Trump has exceeded his authority as President (Democrats: 83%; Republicans: 24%; Independents: 59%).
• 56% of voters say Trump is not abiding by all court rulings.

AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR FREE ENTERPRISE OVER SOCIALISM AND BELIEVE IN HARD WORK, BUT A PLURALITY ARE SKEPTICAL THEY WILL EVER ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM

• 78% of voters say Americans are better off with free enterprise than socialism, including a majority across political, gender, and age groups, though 37% of voters 18-24 y.o. favor socialism.
• 38% of voters, a plurality, believe they will never live the American Dream, while 34% say they will eventually live it and 28% say they are living it now.
• 61% of voters are homeowners, 84% say they own a car, and 54% say they have a job.
• 57% of voters believe hard work can earn them enough to own a house and have a family, with Republican (73%; net +24 vs. Democrat), male (64%; net +14 vs. female), and 25-44 y.o. (62%; net +12 vs. 55-64 y.o.) voters agreeing with the sentiment most.
• 59% of voters say a college education is important to economic success (Democrats: 66%; Republicans: 57%; Independents: 53%; Men: 62%; Women: 55%).
• 53% of voters say America is on the verge of unprecedented economic opportunities, believing younger generations today have advantages others did not. But 57% of voters say AI will make it harder to get a job.

STRONG MAJORITY OF VOTERS VALUE FAMILY AND KIDS, THOUGH YOUNGER VOTERS ARE PRIORITIZING ECONOMIC SUCCESS

• 71% of voters say having a family is very important to them personally, while 55% say the same about economic success.
• 71% of voters say having a family is more important than having a good job (18-24 y.o.: 51%).
• 78% of voters say having children is something they want or wanted.
• 60% of voters have children, though 28% say they do not expect to have any (Democrats: 31%; Republicans: 22%; Independents: 33%; Male: 32%; Female: 24%; 18-24 y.o.: 32%).

MAJORITY OF VOTERS SUPPORT TRUMP’S GAZA PEACE PLAN

• 51% of voters support Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict (-2 pts., Aug. 2025).
• 56% of voters support Trump’s 21-point peace plan to end the conflict, with 70% supporting the plan after being told major Arab governments support it.
• 79% of voters say Israel should accept the plan and 78% say Hamas should accept it. 51% believe Israel has already accepted it, and 64% believe Hamas has rejected it.
• 83% of voters support the plan’s demands to release of all hostages and create a path to a Palestinian state.
• 69% of voters agree the long-term answer to the conflict should be a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
• 75% of voters support imposing new sanctions on Iran for its continued ambition for nuclear weapons.

TRUMP GIVEN CREDIT FOR HIS EFFORTS TO END WAR IN UKRAINE

• 65% of voters support Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
• 77% of voters support additional sanctions on Russia to end the war, and 68% believe the Trump administration should continue to arm Ukraine and impose sanctions.
• 57% of voters believe governments that buy Russian oil and gas should be punished with tariffs.
• 79% of voters say Europe should buy oil from the U.S. instead of from Russia.

The September Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on October 1-2, 2025, among 2,413 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. 

About The Harris Poll & HarrisX

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics.  Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.

Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com  

Stagwell (STGW) releases third regional wave of its News Advertising study fielded among nearly 10,000 Canadian adults

Stagwell partners with The Globe and Mail to unveil the research at event bringing together Canadian journalists and industry leaders for discussions around the importance of investing in news advertising

TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today released new research in partnership with The Globe and Mail, highlighting a major opportunity for brands to connect with a valuable yet often overlooked audience: Canadian news junkies.

Key Findings Include:

Stagwell partners with The Globe and Mail to unveil the research at event bringing together Canadian journalists and industry leaders for discussions around the importance of investing in news advertising.

• 22% of Canadians are ‘news junkies,’ checking the news an average of five times per day and reading an average of 8.8 news articles per day.
• An even larger share, 71%, are news readers, reading an average of 6.5 news articles/stories per day.
• Canadians are just as likely to follow news as they are sports (22% vs. 21%, respectively).
• Canadians are more likely to follow news (22%) than they are entertainment (14%).
• No brand safety issues were detected among key demographic groups for advertisers, including Gen Z, moms, high earners and university-educated adults.
• Among Gen Z, the average purchase intent for brands whose ads were placed next to news articles on domestic political content was 61%, compared to 59% for sports and 61% for crime—differences that are statistically insignificant.
• Among high earners, the average purchase intent for brands whose ads were placed next to news articles on global politics was 65%, compared to 69% for business, and 64% for entertainment—differences that are also statistically insignificant.

This latest study, conducted by Stagwell’s research consultancy HarrisX, builds on Stagwell’s Future of News initiative, prior U.S. and U.K News Advertising studies, and research into how CEOs and board directors view news media as a powerful advertising tool.

“As we expand our brand safety research to Canada, the message remains clear: advertisers shouldn’t avoid news—they should embrace it. Trusted news delivers engaged audiences and stronger returns worldwide,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell.

“We’re proud to partner with Stagwell to bring the Future of News initiative to Canada. This research underscores the essential role of news media in upholding a healthy democracy, while also offering brands a trusted environment to build meaningful engagement with Canadians,” shared Andrew Saunders, President and CEO, The Globe and Mail.

Stagwell and The Globe and Mail will explore these findings and more at the Future of News Canada Summit today.

About Stagwell

Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.    

Methodology

The Future of News Canada Study was conducted among 9,675 adults across Canada from August 22 to August 29, 2025. HarrisX, a Stagwell company and a leading global research consultancy, conducted the quantitative survey-based online interviews. The sampling margin of error is +/-1.0% for the total study sample, +/-2.5% for each news article tested, and +/-4.9% for each variation of study stimulus. The survey data was weighted to a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults across key demographics, including age, gender, region, race/ethnicity, education, and income, to align with Canadian census. HarrisX obtained the survey sample from multiple industry-leading online sample panels. Throughout the data collection process, HarrisX used in-house technology tools to ensure data quality including authenticating survey respondents and preventing multiple survey submissions.

Media Contact
Madison Wick
PR@stagwellglobal.com

48% OF VOTERS SAY INFLATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THEM PERSONALLY

54% OF VOTERS SAY TRUMP’S ACTIONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ARE JUSTIFIED AND NECESSARY

66% OF VOTERS WANT LAWMAKERS TO PRESSURE THE ADMINISTRATION FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EPSTEIN

52% OF VOTERS SATISFIED WITH TRUMP’S NEGOTIATIONS ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE, A 5 PT. INCREASE FROM LAST MONTH

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the August Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 47%, with highest approval among Republican, male, white, 25-44 y.o., and rural voters. Trump’s job approval is highest on fighting crime in U.S. cities (51%), immigration (50%), and returning America to its values (50%), and lowest on handling inflation (41%) and tariffs and trade policy (41%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the economy and jobs, crime, the Epstein case, conflicts in the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine. Download the key results here.

“Trump has really solidified his political base and is maintaining every point of it,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “He is working on a lot of initiatives that will take time to pan out – but unless there is peace in one of these foreign conflicts or a clear consensus about the economy, the country will likely remain in a partisan rut.”

INFLATION AND AFFORDABILITY REMAINS TOP ISSUE FOR VOTERS

• 34% of voters continue to single out price increases, inflation, and affordability as the most important issue facing the country today (+3 pts., July 2025). 26% of voters say it is immigration (-3).
• 38% of voters say the economy is on the right track, stable from last month.
• 42% of voters say their personal financial situation is getting worse, particularly among Democrats, Independents, women, and Hispanic voters.
• Among key political figures, Trump has the highest favorability at 46% (-2 net unfavorable), followed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+7 net favorable). Voters have a more unfavorable view of Elon Musk (-15 net unfavorable) and President Joe Biden (-14 net unfavorable).

CONTINUED MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TRUMP’S POLICIES BUT WEAKNESS AROUND INFLATION AND FOREIGN POLICY

• 14 out of 15 of Trump’s policies continue to receive majority support, with his most popular policies being lowering prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients and low-income patients (86%), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (75%), and eliminating fraud and waste in government expenditures (73%).
• 54% of voters say Trump is doing a better job than Joe Biden did as president (+3 pts., July 2025).
• 62% of voters say Democrats should take more of a wait-and-see attitude toward Trump’s actions (Democrats: 35%; Republicans: 85%; Independents: 66%).
• 55% of voters say Trump’s policies will increase inflation (Democrats: 83%; Republicans: 33%; Independents: 51%), and 55% say his tariffs are harming the economy.
• 59% of voters say Trump will not solve the Ukraine war, and 64% of voters say Trump will not solve the Israel-Hamas war (+5).

MIXED PERCEPTIONS ON JOBS AND JOB REPORT RELIABILITY

• 51% of voters say Trump’s policies are leading to more jobs in the country (+2). Voters are similarly split on whether his policies are strengthening the economy (51%) and leading to more investment in the country (52%).
• Voters are split 50-50 on whether job numbers have been reliable. 59% of Democrats and Independents say they have not been reliable, while 65% of Republicans say they are reliable.
• 53% of voters say the firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was politically motivated.
• 54% of voters say the U.S. is currently not in a recession (-2), though 58% of Democrats continue to believe the U.S. is in a recession.

VOTERS VIEW AMERICAN CITIES AS UNSAFE, APPROVE OF TRUMP’S ACTIONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

• 54% of voters say Trump’s actions in Washington, D.C. are justified and necessary (Democrats: 28%; Republicans: 85%; Independents: 47%).
• 40% of voters, a plurality, say crime in the U.S. is increasing.
• 56% of voters say typical large American cities are unsafe, especially New York City (63%) and Los Angeles (62%). A majority of voters (55%) say the current level of crime in D.C. is about the same as other parts of the country.
• 54% of voters support the Trump administration declaring a crime emergency in D.C. and the deployment of the National Guard, but 53% of voters oppose Trump’s use of his presidential authority to take over local police.
• 54% of voters say Trump’s actions in D.C. are a distraction from other unpopular policies and personal problems.
• 73% of voters say Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in D.C. is a signal he will perform similar actions in other cities in the future, including a majority across political parties.

MAJORITY OF VOTERS WANT TRANSPARENCY IN THE EPSTEIN CASE, SAYING IT WILL AFFECT THEIR OPINION OF TRUMP

• 65% of voters say transparency in the Epstein case is important to their opinion of Trump (Democrats: 76%; Republicans: 60%; Independents: 59%).
• 72% of voters say they are familiar with the Jeffrey Epstein case, and 63% have heard of the Department of Justice and FBI memo of findings released in July 2025.
• 42% of voters say Trump has handled the Epstein case poorly, with a plurality of voters saying the same for FBI officials and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
• 79% of voters say the Epstein case likely involves a cover-up by powerful elites, including a majority across political parties.
• 66% of voters say lawmakers should pressure the Trump administration to release more information about the Epstein case (Democrats: 85%; Republicans: 47%; Independents: 67%).
• Voters trust independent media (e.g. journalists or podcasts) the most when it comes to full transparency on the Epstein case (52%) over the FBI (47%), DOJ (45%), mainstream news outlets (44%), Trump (39%), and Congress (39%).

VOTERS BLAME HAMAS FOR FAMINE IN GAZA, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT ISRAEL IN CONFLICT

• 74% of voters continue to support Israel over Hamas in the Israel-Hamas conflict (-3). 51% of voters disapprove of Israel’s conduct during the conflict, while 77% disapprove of Hamas’ conduct.
• 53% of voters support Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict thus far.
• 69% of voters say there is a famine in Gaza, including a majority across age groups and political parties. 61% believe Hamas is responsible for the famine (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 74%; Independents: 60%).
• Voters are split on whether they believe criticism of Israel is motivated more by concern for Palestinian human rights (51%) or antisemitism (49%), as well as whether they believe Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza (50-50).
• 57% of voters support the U.S. providing offensive military aid to Israel (Democrats: 44%; Republicans: 74%; Independents: 51%).
• 85% of voters say the U.S. should continue to take all actions necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon (+5). 67% favor a negotiated deal that permanently blocks nuclear weapons development.

TRUMP GIVEN CREDIT FOR HIS EFFORTS TO END WAR IN UKRAINE

• 66% of voters support Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine. 52% say they are satisfied with how Trump is managing negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia (+5).
• 57% of voters agree Trump deserves a lot of credit for pulling off these meetings regardless of whether he succeeds (Democrats: 31%; Republicans: 87%; Independents: 52%). 60% say Biden was not capable of pulling off such meetings with world leaders.
• 60% of voters say the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was unsuccessful in advancing peace, while 51% of voters say the meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders was successful.
• 67% of voters say Putin is playing games and stalling with the U.S. and the West (-6). 67% say Zelenskyy genuinely wants to end the war (+6).
• 67% of voters say the Trump administration should continue to provide weaponry to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia (+2), including a majority across political parties. 69% of voters say Ukraine should receive direct security guarantees from the U.S. if it makes concessions to end the war (+4).

The August Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on August 20-21, 2025, among 2,025 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. 

About The Harris Poll & HarrisX

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics. Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.

Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com

45% OF VOTERS SAY INFLATION AND AFFORDABILITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THEM PERSONALLY, UP 6 POINTS FROM JUNE

69% OF VOTERS SAY BIDEN’S OPEN BORDER WAS A DELIBERATE POLICY

80% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE U.S. TAKING ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO PREVENT IRAN FROM OBTAINING A NUCLEAR WEAPON

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the July Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 47% (+1 pt., June 2025), with highest approval among Republican, male, 35-44 y.o., white, and rural voters. Trump’s job approval continues to be strongest on immigration (50%) and returning America to its values (50%), and weakest on tariffs and trade policy (42%) and handling inflation (42%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the economy, immigration, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” tariffs, conflicts in the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine. Download the key results here.

“Trump’s approval rating has stabilized, but it’s a split electorate and the administration will ultimately rise or fall based on his ability to handle inflation,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “But the administration has a lot to work with in terms of gaining support for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ with many individual policy proposals and tax cuts in the bill popular across political parties.”

VOTERS WHO STRONGLY DISAPPROVE OF TRUMP TICKS UP BUT DEMOCRATIC PARTY APPROVAL RATING REMAINS UNDERWATER

• 38% of voters say they strongly disapprove of the job Trump is doing as President, up 6 points from February 2025. But the Democratic Party approval rating remains low at 40% (-2 pts., June 2025), while the Republican Party approval rating is at 48% (+1).
• 56% of voters say the economy is on the wrong track.
• 43% of voters say their personal financial situation is getting worse (+4 pts., May 2025). Democrats, Independents, women, 55-64 y.o., Black, and rural voters are more likely than not to say it is getting worse.
• Inflation, immigration, the economy, and healthcare are the top important issues for voters today, with 24% prioritizing healthcare (+6).
• Among key political figures, Trump has the highest favorability at 47% (0 net favorable), followed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+5 net favorable). Voters have a more unfavorable view of Elon Musk (-16 net unfavorable) and Chuck Schumer (-15 net unfavorable). Most voters have not heard of or have no opinion of Zohran Mamdani (-8 net unfavorable).

VOTERS SUPPORT MOST OF TRUMP’S POLICIES FROM HIS FIRST SIX MONTHS BUT ARE MORE PESSIMISTIC ON TRADE DEALS AND FOREIGN CONFLICTS

• The large majority of Trump’s policies continue to have majority support, with 85% of voters supporting lowering prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients and low-income patients, and 79% of voters supporting deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. On the other hand, 56% of voters oppose making cost cuts to Medicaid by adding work requirements, and 49% of voters oppose placing tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada.
• 55% of voters support the decision of the Supreme Court to limit the ability of individual federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions, including 33% of Democrats.
• 43% of voters, a plurality, say Trump is doing worse than expected (Democrats: 70%; Republicans: 14%; Independents: 47%).
• 49% of voters believe Trump is making good deals on behalf of the country (-3 pts., June 2025).
• 59% of voters say Trump will not solve the Israel-Hamas conflict (-6).

17 OUT OF 21 POLICY PROPOSALS WITHIN THE “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD OF THE BILL

• 80% of voters have heard of the “Big Beautiful Bill” (+13).
• 44% of voters support the bill (+4), while 44% oppose it (+2). Among those who have heard of the bill, 48% of voters oppose it (+2 net oppose; Democrats: 70%; Republicans: 19%; Independents: 45%).
• Policy proposals within the bill like expanding health savings accounts for farmers (76%), reducing federal spending by $1.3 trillion (69%), increasing the child tax credit (67%), eliminating taxes on tips (66%), boosting military and naval spending (66%), and investing in rural broadband (66%) are the most popular, with majority support across political parties and among those who have heard of the bill.
• Taxing remittances sent abroad (43%) and removing tax and registration for firearm silencers (31%) have the lowest support among the bill’s policies.
• 52% of voters say making 2017 tax cuts permanent will increase federal debt (+12 pts., June 2025).

VOTERS NOW SEE THE ECONOMY SOLIDLY IN TRUMP’S HANDS

• 62% of voters say Trump is mostly responsible for the state of the economy today (+7), including a majority across political parties.
• 53% of voters trust the Trump administration and Republicans more than Democrats in Congress to manage the economy (+3).
• 56% of voters say Trump is losing the battle against inflation and that his tariffs are harming the economy.
• 56% of voters say the U.S. is not in a recession, though 59% of Democrats say we are in a recession.
• 46% of voters, a plurality, say recent economic news is mostly negative, though more voters say they’ve seen mostly positive news stories in the last few weeks (31%; +7 pts., June 2025).

TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES RECEIVE STRONG SUPPORT, WITH TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS ATTRIBUTING OPEN BORDER TO BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

• 60% of voters support the Trump administration’s efforts to close the southern border (-3 pts., June 2025; Democrats: 34%; Republicans: 89%; Independents: 55%), and 75% support the administration’s efforts to deport criminals who are here illegally, including a majority across political parties.
• 67% of voters say the border was open rather than secure under the Biden administration, and 69% say it was a deliberate policy (Democrats: 48%; Republicans: 88%; Independents: 60%).
• 79% of voters say convicted criminals who are here illegally should be deported after their sentence is over, including a majority across parties.
• 65% of voters oppose allowing cities and towns to block the deportation of convicted criminals (Democrats: 52%; Republicans: 72%; Independents: 69%).
• 59% say more due process is needed to prevent unfair deportations, and 52% of voters say Democrats are fighting for human rights in defending deportations.
• 55% of voters support automatic citizenship for the children of those who are here illegally, and 65% say the Constitution requires birthright citizenship (Democrats: 77%; Republicans: 54%; Independents: 66%).

U.S. STRIKE ON IRAN SEES MAJORITY SUPPORT; VOTERS WANT THE U.S. TO DEFEND ISRAEL IF IRAN RETALIATES

• 78% of voters support Israel over Iran in the Israel–Iran conflict, including a majority across political parties and age groups.
• 58% of voters support the Trump administration’s strike on Iran’s nuclear sites last month, including a majority of voters over 25 y.o., and 54% say it was a major accomplishment of the U.S. military.
• 51% of voters say the strike did severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program.
• 61% of voters support the U.S. defending Israel if Iran retaliates (Democrats: 51%; Republicans: 76%; Independents: 55%), and 86% say Iran should not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
• 61% of voters favor a permanent deal preventing nuclear weapons development over a temporary deal.

MAJORITY OF VOTERS WANT HAMAS TO LEAVE GAZA

• 77% of voters support Israel over Hamas in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and 80% say Hamas must release all remaining hostages without any conditions, including a majority across political parties and age groups.
• 56% of voters say Israel should only make a deal with Hamas if Hamas leaves Gaza (Democrats: 48%; Republicans: 62%: Independents: 56%).
• 53% of voters support Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict (+2).

VOTERS WANT TRUMP TO BE TOUGHER ON PUTIN WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PROVIDING WEAPONRY TO UKRAINE

• 60% of voters say Trump has not been tough enough with Putin (Democrats: 73%; Republicans: 48%; Independents: 58%).
• 53% of voters say they are not satisfied with Trump’s handling of Ukraine–Russia talks (+6 net unsatisfied).
• 65% of voters support continuing to provide weaponry to Ukraine and sanctioning Russia (+3 pts., June 2025), including a majority across political parties.
• 72% of voters say America’s relationship with Ukraine is more valuable than with Russia (+4).
• 73% of voters say Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing games and stalling with the West rather than genuinely wanting to end the war in Ukraine.

The July Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on July 6-8, 2025, among 2,044 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. 

About The Harris Poll & HarrisX

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics.  Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.

Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com