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
Event featured publishers discussing the evolving media landscape and opportunities for brands to partner with news media to drive business impact
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, convened leaders across media, marketing, and communications for its inaugural Disruptor Media Showcase in Washington, D.C.
Programming highlights included panel discussions on shifting distribution models and decision-making in today’s evolving media landscape, followed by rapid-fire presentations where publishers demonstrated new approaches to storytelling, audience engagement, and monetization.
“From breaking through the noise in a crowded market to leveraging news as a central driver of business results, publishers are redefining how audiences engage with content through product innovation and how brands connect with their readers,” said Alexis Williams, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Stagwell. “The showcase highlighted the incredible innovation happening across the news landscape.”
Participating publications – including 2WAY, Mutuals, Upward, Breitbart News, COURIER, Crooked Media, The Argument, The Daily Caller, The Daily Wire, The Free Press, Mo News, NOTUS, Puck, RealClearPolitics, Straight Arrow News, and Urban Legend – shared how they are using technology, culture, and new business models to engage audiences from Gen Z to Washington policymakers.
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
Madison Wick
pr@stagwellglobal.com
Originally Released On
Contact:
Alyssa Bourne-Peters
PRophet, US
Alyssa.Bourne-Peters@prprophet.ai
+1 917 592 9795
Sarah Schulze
PRophet, EMEA
Sarah.Schulze@prprophet.ai
+49 16090815945
Sardella Will Take on Dual Roles at PRophet and Allison Worldwide to Lead AI Product Development, Global Client Expansion and Strategic Partnerships
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PRophet, a comms tech suite of essential, award-winning AI-powered software and services for modern communicators, announced today the appointment of Tony Sardella as its global CEO. As part of The Marketing Cloud (formerly Stagwell Marketing Cloud), PRophet connects to a broader suite of AI-driven marketing and communications solutions and supporting its mission to empower communicators with actionable insights, analytics, and predictive tools for a data- and AI-fueled industry.
Sardella will spearhead PRophet’s continued expansion and innovation as the platform enters its next phase of accelerated growth while continuing his role at Stagwell’s Allison Worldwide as Head of Predictive Analytics.
PRophet’s comprehensive suite includes three AI-powered solutions designed to maximize performance for marketing and communications professionals. PRophet Media Intelligence delivers global media monitoring and actionable insights, PRophet Earn uses generative and predictive AI to identify and engage relevant journalists and influencers, and PRophet Influence optimizes influencer discovery, analytics, and campaign tracking through agentic AI.
PRophet has achieved remarkable scale and market penetration since its 2020 launch, growing to become the third-largest communications technology suite globally. In June, PRophet completed the successful integration of media monitoring and analytics provider UNICEPTA (now PRophet Media Intelligence) and influencer management agency and technology platform LEADERS and InfluencerMarketing.AI (now PRophet Influence), further strengthening its market-leading position and expanding its capabilities to serve enterprise clients at unprecedented scale.
“PRophet’s growth has been remarkable, and its foundation remains formidable,” said The Marketing Cloud CEO Elspeth Rollert. “We’ve built something truly revolutionary, a platform that doesn’t just keep pace with industry evolution but actively drives it. Tony’s appointment represents our commitment to not just maintaining this leadership position but accelerating our growth trajectory by bringing advanced technology to the market.”
Sardella brings a unique combination of deep technical expertise and proven communications leadership that positions PRophet for its most ambitious growth phase yet. With more than 30 years of experience leading data-science and predictive analytics organizations, he has built innovative AI/ML systems that turn real-world signals into executive decisions for global Fortune and FTSE corporations. Prior to joining the Stagwell network, he founded and successfully scaled predictive analytics firm evolve24, demonstrating his ability to build and grow technology-driven solutions in the communications space. His decades of senior communications leadership experience with global enterprises including Monsanto provides the strategic acumen necessary to guide PRophet’s expansion into new markets and service offerings.
“I’m incredibly honored to lead both PRophet and Allison Worldwide’s predictive analytics during what I believe will be the most transformative period yet,” said Sardella. “The PRophet team has built extraordinary success and growth that truly revolutionized our industry. My focus is on accelerating that momentum with a foundation that is rock-solid, technology is best-in-class, insights that are actionable and a commitment to client success for the enormous market opportunity ahead.”
For more information, visit www.prprophet.ai.
About PRophet
PRophet is a suite of AI-powered SaaS software and services designed to empower and support the next generation of human-led, AI-fed “communications engineers” working in the PR, social and influencer marketing community.
PRophet Media Intelligence (F/K/A UNICEPTA) is the largest provider of global media, market intelligence and social listening tools, delivering unmatched insights and analysis to communicators worldwide.
PRophet Earn harnesses predictive, cognitive and generative AI to help users discover, target and engage with high-authority journalists and leading influencers. This media relations solution creates and tests “mediable” PR content to predict journalist interest and sentiment.
PRophet Influence, powered by influencermarketing.ai, combines influencer discovery, analytics, brand safety and tracking technologies to inform and manage influencer campaigns with precision and performance in mind.
PRophet was awarded PRovoke Media’s Innovation SABRE in 2023-2025, a 2024 Webby Award, and was included in PR News’ 2024 Tech Hotlist. PRophet is headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington DC, London, Cologne, Berlin, Zurich, São Paulo and Shanghai and is part of The Marketing Cloud (TMC), a suite of data-driven SaaS solutions built for the modern marketer. Visit prprophet.ai to learn more.
Media Contacts:
Alyssa Bourne-Peters
PRophet, US
Alyssa.Bourne-Peters@prprophet.ai
+1 917 592 9795
Sarah Schulze
PRophet, EMEA
Sarah.Schulze@prprophet.ai
+49 16090815945
Stagwell EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Linder; 72andSunny’s Global Chief Growth Officer Damaune Journey; Kettle’s Chief Executive Officer Lauren Kushner; and Left Field Labs’ Founder and Chief Executive Officer Sarah Mehler named Campaign’s 40 over 40 2025 honorees
NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, recognizes four senior executives from across the network who have been named to Campaign’s 40 over 40 2025 list. The list honors executives who have established their careers through noteworthy contributions within the advertising, marketing, communications, media, and technology spaces – from developing groundbreaking creative to transforming client services and beyond.
Stagwell’s four honorees include Stagwell’s EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Linder; 72andSunny’s Global Chief Growth Officer Damaune Journey; Kettle’s Chief Executive Officer Lauren Kushner; and Left Field Labs’ Founder and Chief Executive Officer Sarah Mehler. These distinctions celebrate the bold leadership and creativity that power Stagwell’s global network, spotlighting four trailblazers who are shaping the future of Stagwell and its innovative agencies.
“I am incredibly honored to be named to Campaign’s 40 over 40 list, especially alongside three of my outstanding colleagues from across the Stagwell network Damaune, Lauren, and Sarah,” shared Stagwell’s EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Ryan Linder. “To be part of building the challenger network in an industry that long needed a truly modern alternative, and to do it alongside my intelligent, creative, and hardworking colleagues, has been fulfilling beyond words.”
On September 25, 2025, Campaign will host an event in New York City in celebration of the 2025 awardees. More details on the event and tickets can be found at www.campaignus40over40.com.
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.
Media Contact
Stagwell
Kettle, a Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) agency, posts accelerated growth, expands client roster and builds an all-women C-suite
NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kettle, a digital-first creative agency known for its standout work for clients including Apple, T-Mobile and e.l.f. Beauty has been named to Adweek’s 2025 Fastest Growing Agencies list. The annual ranking recognizes agencies from all over the world whose industry presence is on the rise, with distinction awarded to shops that have achieved significant growth over the past three years.
The recognition reflects Kettle’s accelerated momentum. Over the last two years, the agency has doubled in size while maintaining under 3% employee turnover. In 2024, Kettle reported a 41% increase in net revenue, driven by organic expansion with existing clients and new partnerships with Warby Parker, Robinhood, e.l.f. Beauty, the Legal Aid Society and Mailchimp.
Kettle’s growth strategy is rooted in trust and close collaboration with clients, as seen in its long-standing relationship with Apple. That same approach has driven award-winning work for e.l.f. Beauty, whose website redesign earned recognition from the Webbys and Shorty Awards and for Warby Parker, where Kettle launched Advisor, an AI-powered frame recommendation tool that reimagines online shopping.
That success has carried into 2025. Earlier this year, Kettle was named one of Ad Age’s Best Places to Work 2025, proving that rapid growth can go hand in hand with a thriving, people-first culture. To support its expanding scale, Kettle also built a groundbreaking all-women C-suite led by CEO Lauren Kushner, Chief Creative Officer Camille Imbert and Chief Product Officer Jess Mireau. Kushner’s leadership has been recognized across the industry, including Campaign’s 40 Over 40 and a nomination for Digiday’s Agency Executive of the Year.
Lauren Kushner, Kettle’s CEO, says, “Our growth story is really a partnership story. We blend creativity and technology to take on our clients’ toughest challenges, building digital experiences that don’t just perform but truly connect brands with their audiences. That’s the foundation of our momentum.”
About Kettle
Kettle is a digital creative agency that builds personal, high-impact products and experiences to connect brands with their audiences. Trusted by some of the world’s most ambitious brands like Apple, Nike, T-Mobile, Warby Parker, e.l.f. Beauty and Robinhood, Kettle blends design, strategy and technology to drive lasting impact. Recently named one of Ad Age’s Best Places to Work and an Adweek Fastest Growing Agency, Kettle’s growth reflects the values and culture at the heart of everything it makes. For more information, visit wearekettle.com.
About The Code and Theory Network
The Code and Theory Network is the only technology and creative network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers. Our unique makeup makes us the place where CMOs, CTOs and CIOs come together to drive results for their businesses. We partner with our clients to redefine what is possible to create lasting impact and drive long-term growth. Part of Stagwell, Code and Theory offers a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entirety of the customer-facing journey and implement the technology that powers it. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Truelogic, Create. Group, Rhythm and Mediacurrent. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorganChase, Microsoft, NBC, NFL and Yeti. For more, visit codeandtheory.com
Media Contact
Carly Ross
carly.ross@codeandtheory.com
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced the appointment of Meredith Aronson as Vice President, Corporate Affairs. Aronson will help expand the firm’s growing Corporate Affairs practice, advancing its capabilities in reputation, integrated marketing and communications, research and stakeholder engagement.
With more than 14 years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, Aronson most recently held senior leadership roles at JPMorganChase, where she led brand, product, and purpose-driven marketing initiatives that enhanced trust and reputation. Earlier in her career, she served in the Obama administration, supporting Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign and building public-private partnerships on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Meredith is a strategic, data-driven leader, who understands how to connect data, business, purpose and performance,” said Alexis Williams, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Stagwell. “Her proven ability to lead teams and deliver results will strengthen our Corporate Affairs practice and help clients navigate today’s complex business landscape.”
At Stagwell, Aronson will focus on developing integrated communications and reputation strategies for clients across industries, while also shaping the network’s thought leadership on reputation and the evolving media landscape.
“This is a transformative moment for Corporate Affairs, and Stagwell is at the forefront,” shared Aronson. “I look forward to helping clients anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and connect their business goals with strategies that deliver long-term trust.”
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
Stagwell
pr@stagwellglobal.com
Designed specifically for the Polish market, the insights and engagement solution deliver real-time, actionable insights for Polish brands
LONDON and WARSAW, Poland, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, and Żabka Polska, the owner of the largest chain of modern convenience stores in Poland, have established a joint venture to launch In-Pulse, an advanced consumer analytics and engagement tool designed specifically for the Polish market. The joint venture combines Żabka’s expansive retail footprint and anonymous consumer base with Stagwell’s expertise in data-driven marketing solutions to deliver a tool that offers real-time, actionable insights into Polish consumer behaviour.
Leveraging Żabka’s extensive retail footprint of leading retail stores position in country and its popular Żappka app, and Stagwell’s advanced, data analytics technology and expert knowledge in marketing and e-commerce, In-Pulse curates aggregated data and anonymous insights on millions of Polish consumers. The tool provides businesses with data-driven insights into consumers preferences, shopping patterns, and spending habits, enabling marketers to craft precise, cost-effective strategies.
Both Stagwell and Żabka Polska are leaders in their respective categories. As the challenger network built to transform marketing, Stagwell delivers 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. Żabka is Poland’s leading network of over 11,600 stores in the modern convenience format, handling approximately 4.1 million transactions daily and serving more than 10 million users of the Żappka app.
How In-Pulse Works:
In-Pulse is an end-to-end solution that offers services throughout the entire sales chain. It involves five steps: the first is the collection and analysis of anonymous and aggregated behavioural and transactional data; the second includes the possibility of dialogue with the customer through an application that allows you to ask questions about their opinions and their motivations; the third involves verifying and testing products and services; in the fourth step, it is possible to develop targeted marketing activities and choose communication channels; The last fifth step allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of given solutions and predict effectiveness in various alternative scenarios.
In-Pulse as a unique tool ensures the continuity of the research methodology – it shows the past and present shopping preferences of the real, not declarative segments of customers. Their analysis allows us to develop guidelines on how this segment will function in the future, and thus what products or services would meet their expectations. Thanks to In-Pulse, the consumer gains a greater chance of accessing solutions that they will be interested in and satisfied with.
How In-Pulse Benefits Polish Businesses:
- Data Collection: Tracks anonymous consumer behaviour and transaction data in real time via opted-in communications.
- Customer Feedback: Engages consumers directly for feedback on preferences and motivations
- Testing and Optimization: Enables testing of products and services within the app and in-store environments
- Targeted Marketing: Develops customized strategies for more effective outreach
- Predictive Analytics: Forecasts future consumer behaviour to align business offerings with evolving market needs
Through these capabilities, In-Pulse offers an in-depth understanding of Polish consumer dynamics, making it a valuable tool for the retail and fast-moving consumer goods sectors, where adapting to shifting consumer expectations is key. “Poland is a very important market for Stagwell, not only from a local perspective, but also the entire CEE region. The Polish market is our headquarters when it comes to digital commerce services, and it is here that we have gained an extremely strong partner – Żabka Polska. I am sure that the joint venture, the axis of which is an innovative look at the Polish consumer and real listening to their voice, is a revolution for the entire market,” said James Townsend, CEO of Stagwell EMEA.
“Technological development is one of the main priorities for the Żabka Group. Cooperation with Stagwell can help us in this in terms of implementing solutions that will allow us to respond even better to the needs of our customers,” comments Paweł Grabowski, Head of digital B2B Zabka Future, Zabka Group
“The Polish retail market is entering a new era, where real-time insights are becoming the key to success. Żabka and Stagwell show that the future of retail is not only sales, but above all the ability to effectively manage unique insights about the Polish market, shoppers and consumer behavior. Thanks to In-Pulse, Polish companies will gain a tool that will allow them not only to keep up with global trends, but also to shape them.” – comments Anna Pańczyk, Strategic Partnership & Global Solutions at Stagwell. She adds: “ For the FMCG and non-FMCG sectors, cooperation with In-Pulse can become an “opportunity for development and better adaptation of their offers to the dynamically changing needs of people.”
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.
About the Żabka Group
Żabka Group is the ultimate convenience ecosystem with a mission to create value by simplifying people’s everyday lives. The Group serves a growing number of consumers who are looking for convenience and promotes a responsible approach towards products, packaging, customers, franchisees, suppliers and the broader environment.
The ecosystem comprises Poland’s leading convenience retailer with more than 11,600 physical stores operated under a franchise model, supplemented by 24/7 autonomous unmanned Żabka Nano Stores. The Group also has an advanced, continually evolving digital customer offering. Its Maczfit operation delivers restaurant-quality prepared meals to consumers seeking convenient and healthy food, while Dietly is a leading online D2C meal solutions marketplace. The Group’s eGrocery business is operated through two brands: Jush! and delio. Zabka Group recently entered the highly attractive Romanian market via the acquisition of DRIM.
Żabka’s business in Poland is supported by a well-invested logistics platform, represented by eight distribution centers, 19 cross-docking facilities, and dedicated dark store and dark kitchen infrastructure to support the digital offering.
Since October 2024 the Company’s shares have been listed on the main market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Contact:
Quinn Werner
Stagwell EMEA
PR@stagwellglobal.com
NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, announced the appointment of Slavi Samardzija as Chief Data and Platforms Officer at Stagwell, effective today. In this newly created role, Samardzija will lead the development and execution of a forward-looking data and platform strategy as Stagwell implements its ID Graph and The Machine.
Samardzija brings over 25 years of experience in data and technology, with deep knowledge in building fast-growing platform and service companies that help Fortune 500 businesses use data to improve their marketing, both for consumers (B2C) and other businesses (B2B).
“Samardzija’s leadership will be a driving force behind our holistic data and platform strategy, reinforcing our commitment to champion digital transformation and deliver innovative results for our clients,” commented Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “Samardzija will play a vital role across all of our product lines with a key focus on advancing our new AI-powered orchestration operating system The Machine.”
With numerous executive roles across his 15 years at WPP and more than 10 years at Omnicom, most recently serving as Global CEO at Omnicom Media Group Company’s Annalect, Samardzija has a proven track record of building teams and solutions that utilize data, machine learning, and AI to deliver improved business results for advertisers.
Samardzija remarked on his new role: “I’m excited to join a company that has made digital transformation, proprietary data, and AI core to its strategy from its inception. I look forward to accelerating Stagwell’s growth and its data and platform strategy.”
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
Stagwell
PR@stagwellglobal.com
NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced its participation in three upcoming investor conferences in September 2025.
- September 3: Citi 2025 Global TMT Conference
- Stagwell management will host 1×1 meetings.
- September 4: Benchmark 12th Annual TMT One-on-One Conference
- Stagwell management will host 1×1 meetings.
- September 10: Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference
- Stagwell CEO and Chairman Mark Penn will participate in a fireside chat at 4:25pm PT.
- Stagwell management will also host 1×1 meetings throughout the conference.
Visit stagwellglobal.com/investors to view upcoming investor events and programming from Stagwell. Reach out to ir@stagwellglobal.com with questions.
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.
IR Contact:
Ben Allanson
IR@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

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