murmuration

Every American sees how the numbers have gone up at the gas station. But what those numbers mean depends heavily on politics, trust, and who people believe is responsible. The start of the Iran conflict caused an immediate spike in dissatisfaction across political groups, followed by continued increases over time. But the gap between Democrats, Independents, and Republicans is revealing. Voters may disagree about the causes. They may blame different leaders or policies. But the emotional reaction is remarkably similar: rising fuel costs make people feel anxious, constrained, and pessimistic about the future. Dig into the data in Murmuration’s latest State of Us on Substack: The Politics of the Pump → https://lnkd.in/gY969s3x #GasPrices #CivicPulse

Thrilled to see these partnerships in action. At Murmuration, we believe strong civic life is built through strong relationships — and we’re grateful to partner with organizations like Courageous Colorado, Rise United, and RepresentWomen, all of which are deeply rooted in community and committed to building a more inclusive future. Thank you, Landon, for joining us at our team gathering alongside fellow panelists Jason Llorenz, Linh Nguyen, Alana Persson and moderator Alaina Shearer ⚡️. We’re excited for all that’s ahead together.

72% of Americans say food insecurity is a problem in their state. Here’s how the Iowa Food Bank Association (IFBA) partnered with Murmuration to dig deeper. The IFBA, a nonprofit network of six Feeding America food banks supporting 1,500+ partner agencies, set out to better understand how rising food insecurity is impacting communities and where support for solutions exists. Together, we designed and fielded three custom surveys using Community Voices and Civic Pulse, capturing perspectives from 4,000+ people across Iowa, neighboring states, and nationwide. The results? Clear, bipartisan support for policies that expand access to food, and powerful data to strengthen IFBA’s advocacy efforts. Learn more about the impact: https://lnkd.in/gQdeJYuZ. #MurmurationPartner

Every neighbor was once a stranger. It’s easy to walk away with a very particular impression of American life right now, that whatever held communities together has frayed, or at least weakened. This week, we stepped away from the big narratives and looked at something more grounded: what people are actually seeing in their day-to-day lives,  what moments make them feel like people are capable of goodness, how often they show up for others themselves, and what defines a good neighbor. The answers pointed to something simple but consistent: showing up, being considerate, and offering help without being asked. If everyday life feels disconnected, people don’t necessarily point to a lack of kindness; they point to a lack of consistency, visibility, and shared expectation. Explore the latest State of Us on Substack → https://lnkd.in/g6WA2zF5 #CivicPulse #DataOnKindness

I'm very thankful to murmuration for making rich data, normally only accessible to big money campaigns, party-approved politicos, and corporate backed efforts, available to non-partisan, non-profit, community organizations of all sizes working with regular people to make a difference.

What does it mean to ground civic life in moral clarity, no matter who’s in power? In his Yale classroom, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II starts there. This week on The Exchange, Murmuration’s Chief Marketing and Operating Officer, Michael Slaby, sits down with Rev. Barber to explore what led him to teaching and to building a national moral movement. Rev. Barber founded Repairers of the Breach as a teaching organization to train people in “moral fusion organizing,” an approach to building a shared moral agenda rooted in our deepest values. Today, that work includes training leaders across the country using 14 guiding principles. At its core is a focus on interlocking injustices—systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, denial of healthcare, the war economy, and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism—and a call to build a movement that protects the most vulnerable. Read more about The Exchange on Murmuration’s Substack → https://lnkd.in/gZ9EDN-3 #TheExchange #MoralFusionOrganizing

What can you actually accomplish in four days with the right data? In Boston, Rank the Vote had just days before a critical city council hearing on ranked choice voting. Using Murmuration’s model scores, they quickly identified community members most likely to support the measure—and turned those insights into action with Organizer. In just four days, they launched a targeted outreach campaign that mobilized supporters when it mattered most. The result: Boston City Council advanced a Home Rule Petition to bring ranked choice voting one step closer to becoming a reality in the city. Learn how they did it: https://lnkd.in/gEsJ-yjm #MurmurationPartner

Nearly half of Americans say the biggest problem in their lives right now is simple: money. We partnered with Voto Latino to field a national survey of 6,559 adults across the United States, including 2,413 Hispanic/Latino respondents in English and Spanish—focused on what it actually feels like to live in this economy. That pressure doesn’t just live in bank accounts, it shows up as constant worry and daily tradeoffs. The data shows that 56% of Americans are now "financially uncomfortable," with 71% of the country regularly worrying about their ability to pay for basic necessities. And when costs keep rising, people start cutting back; on driving, on time with family, even on paying bills. What starts as adjustment becomes something closer to survival. → Read the full story: An Economy of Sacrifice https://lnkd.in/gYQWdHXU #EconomicData

As the primary season unfolds and midterms near, a quieter trend is taking hold: political awareness is steadily declining—even as belief in personal impact holds steady. A year ago, about 70% of Americans said they felt politically aware and informed. Today, that number is closer to 60%, not a collapse, but a meaningful erosion. Over the same period, confidence in local government has also declined, reflecting a broader sense that institutions aren’t working as they should. Since May 2025, Civic Pulse has been tracking local political awareness across the country. What we’re seeing raises important questions about attention, engagement, and what shapes local elections—especially as turnout decisions are often made with limited information. Read more in Tuning Out: https://lnkd.in/gM8vcsfz #CivicPulse #NationalTrends