Voters who rely on left-wing cable news don’t approve of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire deal with Iran – until they’re told what’s in it – results of a new McLaughlin Poll show, highlighting the harmful influence of bias by omission.
The national survey of U.S. likely midterm voters, conducted June 17-23, asked the following question:
“From what you have seen, read or heard in the news do you approve or disapprove of the ceasefire deal that President Trump has made with Iran?”
A majority of all voters (51%-34%) said they support what they’d “seen, read, or heard,” as did an even stronger majority of voters who are prone to watch right-of-center cable news (72%-17%). Voters who don’t regularly watch cable news favored the deal by a 42%-36% margin.
In contrast, a majority of voters who regularly watch left-of-center cable news said they oppose the agreement (54%-35%).
However, when left-of-center cable viewers were asked about individual provisions in the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal, they approved – by a wide margin.
Fully 73% of left-of-center cable watchers said they approve of the requirement that Iran agree to never produce nuclear weapons and allow American and international inspections to verify Iran’s compliance. This sentiment was shared by 83% of right-of-center cable viewers and 75% of those who don’t watch cable news.
Likewise, regarding the ceasefire agreement’s requirement that Iran stop funding international terrorism against Israel and other nations, 73% of left-of-center cable news watchers voiced approval. Approval was similarly strong among those who either watch right-of-center cable (76%) or don’t regularly watch cable news (75%).
The survey’s results reveal “an important lesson about media consumption and political messaging,” Pollsters John McLaughlin and Jim McLaughlin observed in an article discussing their findings:
“These differences strongly suggest that many Americans are not hearing the most popular elements of the agreement.”
The importance of voters being, not just accurately – but, also fully – informed about issues, such as the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement, continues to increase as the November midterm elections approach.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of all likely midterm voters regularly consume cable news each week, including 72% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats.
Only 55% of Independents said they regularly watch any cable news, however.
