David H. Montgomery

@dhmontgomery.com

7249 Followers 765 Following

Words, data, code. Senior data journalist with @today.yougov.com. Host of the French history podcast The Siècle (@thesiecle.com).

A table of baseball stats with the title "WAR by Team"
A payment of $20.05 marked with emojis representing Odysseus’s journey in The Odyssey.
A split bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Do Americans like football better than basketball? Soccer better than hockey? Which sports win most." The chart has the sub-headline: "Which sport do you like more? (% of U.S. adult citizens choosing each sport in head-to-head matches against each other sport)." The chart has the note: "Note: Respondents who skipped each matchup are omitted."
Bookshelves in a living room
A wrap-around bookcase
Arthur meme with D.W. declaring, "That sign can't stop me because I can't read!"
Liv Tyler as Arwen
Moana There’s a line where expense meets proceeds; it’s called green, and no one knows how far it goes. Anyway, the live-action Moana musical ain’t gonna hit it. With a bleak opening weekend of $43 million domestically and $52 million abroad (on already tempered expectations of $130 million to $140 million globally), this attempt to do a live-action nostalgia reboot for an animated franchise that was in cinemas as recently as 20 months ago flopped. An attempted brand withdrawal, to use the Disney parlance, the movie cost $250 million to make and looks to join the live-action Snow White as a movie that bombed because Disney miscalibrated the nostalgia machine. It seems the company has mined all the properties released during the nostalgia sweet spot and has been relegated to remakes of movies that are either too recent or too old.
A split bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "41% of adult men under 30 think they would definitely or probably score a World Cup penalty kick." The chart has the sub-headline: "If you took a penalty kick in a FIFA World Cup match, how likely do you think it is that you would score? (%)." The chart has the note: "Note: Responses of "not sure" are not shown."
Epic Cold In terms of aesthetics that can plausibly stand up to the Marvelization of all things, we are left with one thing that has anything like the cultural footprint to unseat it. Not the only alternative possible—just the only alternative that can crack the domestic box office top ten for the year. Let’s call it Epic Cold. In film, the core trio doing it are Denis Villeneuve, Christopher Nolan, and Zack Snyder. Characteristics: Coldness, obviously. Very clinical, a focus on technique as the important element. Neo-modernist in this regard. Emotional investment is not important to these films. Big ideas and visual spectacle are very important. No Banter. To make an obvious point these films are hella male. Protagonists are often ambiguous, uncertain, distant ciphers. If they have important emotions, they are singular emotions that serve as obsessions. These emotions might be extreme, but they are looked at rather than empathized with. Obvious debts here are Lovecraft, noir, and the “difficult men” school of Prestige Television. (Indeed, its first example is probably Battlestar Galactica.) There are obvious, massive problems with this aesthetic, of which the fact that its most vocal fans are the worst sort of Internet dudebros is only the most obvious. But look, the enemy of my enemy. We can kill it once everyone is doing austere cerebral epics and the top ten for a year has Rendezvous with Rama and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress in it, but for now this is all that’s available to stand up to Marvel as a hegemonizing force. So we’d best find something to like in it. One obvious choice: it’s an aesthetic that lets you grapple with big ideas. This is arguably the only thing it’s good for, but in a world horribly packed with Save the Cat style structures there’s a lot to be said for big idea fiction making a comeback. It’s also just a needed correction. “Look at what everyone’s doing and do the opposite” is never a bad starting point.
A split bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Most Democrats say candidates should drop out after being accused of sexual misconduct — but support for dropping out is lower among Democrats who like Graham Platner." The chart has the sub-headline: "If a candidate you like were accused of sexual misconduct, would you prefer that they stay in the race or that they drop out so they can be replaced on the ballot by another member of their party? (%)." The chart has the note: "Note: Responses of "not sure" are not shown. Respondents were asked their opinion of Platner immediately before being asked about hypothetical candidates accused of sexual misconduct."
A bulletin board full of pictures of animals with names
A table listing the injured players for the Chicago Cubs (15 players) and St. Louis Cardinals (1 player).
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "How many Americans know a fair amount or more about the American Revolution? Fewer than for World War II or the Civil War, but more than for the Roman Empire, French Revolution, or Middle Ages." The chart has the sub-headline: "How much do you know about...? (% of U.S. adult citizens)."
A range plot of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Conservatives are more likely than liberals to have favorable opinions of many founders." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the following people? (% who say "very or somewhat favorable" minus the % who say "very or somewhat unfavorable")."
'On our very arrival in the Chesapeake river, I came across a characteristic trait. "Can you speak French?" I asked the pilot who hailed us. Instantly he answered me, in English, "No, I only speak American!" The claim to separate nationality extended even to the language.'
The term cleavage was actually invented as a euphemism. In the 1930s it was decided that Hollywood movies could be a little too saucy. And so, from 1934 until 1968 all the studios had to abide by the Motion Picture Production Code (also known as the Hays Code and the Johnston Office). This involved a lot of clean-minded chaps staring intently at women’s chests, and deciding whether too much was visible. Thus they protected the dirty-minded from obscene object of their desires. The Johnston Office, were, as I say, clean-minded chaps. So clean-minded that they didn’t use words like chest, or breast, or door-openers. Instead they referred to ‘cleavage’, defined in Time magazine in 1946 as: Johnston Office trade term for the shadowed depression dividing an actress' bosom into two distinct sections
A range plot of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Which groups do Democrats and Republicans want to have more or less power in the U.S.?." The chart has the sub-headline: "Considering political, economic, and cultural power together, do you think it would be better if the following group had more or less power in the U.S. than it has now? (% who say "more power" minus the % who say "less power")." The chart has the note: "Note: Responses of "the same amount of power" and "not sure" are not shown."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Many Americans wish workers and small-business owners had more power in the U.S., and that billionaires and Hollywood execuctives had less power." The chart has the sub-headline: "Considering political, economic, and cultural power together, do you think it would be better if the following group had more or less power in the U.S. than it has now? (% of U.S. adult citizens)."
A computer alert reading: Close Apps Before Scheduled Update Some apps may prevent your Mac from installing the software update later. When you're done for the day, quit any open apps.
GIF of a skeleton blushing in happy embarrassment.
A bar chart with the title, "Did you ever meet one of your great-grandparents?"
CVS Drugstore now ExtraCare Balance at CVS Ends Today... Hey, just circling back on the book club discussion from last week. I finally finished reading that mystery novel and wow, the ending completely caught me...
Which motif best describes the world? Decline: In the Elder Days, great heroes did mighty works, of which only echoes remain Progress: We’ve made mighty works of which our violent and impoverished ancestors could only dream Stasis: Nothing ever really changes. Most things are more or less the way they’ve always been (until now?) Cyclical: All of this has happened before; all this will happen again
Screenshot of a scanned 1959 newspaper article about an odd baseball play.
A photo of a baby wearing a strawberry hat backwards, so that the neck-shade drapes forward over her face like the characters in “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Screenshot of MLB Gameday.
Screenshot of a popup panel with the text: This is a dickover. dickover n. : a modal panel, popover, or curtain presented by a website or app, deliberately obscuring its own content to frustrate the user with an unwanted, unnecessary, mandatory interaction; e.g. asking the user to accept “cookies”, subscribe to a newsletter, install the website’s mobile app, agree to terms of service, or anything else that the user couldn’t give two shits about.
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "What ages Americans think are too young, too old, and a good age for women to marry for the first time." The chart has the sub-headline: "In general, do you think the following age is a good age, too young, or too old for a woman to get married for the first time? (% of U.S. adult citizens)."
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A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Almost all MAGA Republicans say they're voting for Republicans for Congress. Most non-MAGA Republicans say the same, but some aren't sure or say they'll vote for Democrats." The chart has the sub-headline: "If the elections for U.S. Congress were being held today, who would you vote for in the district where you live? (% of Republicans)." The chart has the note: "Note: Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown. Trump approval comes from the question, "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President?" Not enough MAGA Republicans disapprove of Trump's job handling to show their planned voting behavior."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Most non-MAGA Republicans have consistently said they'll vote for Republicans for Congress in 2026." The chart has the sub-headline: "If the elections for U.S. Congress were being held today, who would you vote for in the district where you live? (% of non-MAGA Republicans)." The chart has the note: "Note: The lines represent an average of responses for that week's poll and the two prior weekly polls. Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Strong approval of Trump's job handling during his second term has fallen sharply among non-MAGA Republicans." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President? (% of non-MAGA Republicans)." The chart has the note: "Note: The lines represent an average of the net approval for that week's poll and the two prior weekly polls. Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Political views of MAGA Republicans and non-MAGA Republicans." The chart has the sub-headline: "%." The chart has the note: "Note: Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Voting behavior of MAGA Republicans and non-MAGA Republicans." The chart has the sub-headline: "%." The chart has the note: "Note: Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Demographics of MAGA Republicans and non-MAGA Republicans." The chart has the sub-headline: "%." The chart has the note: "Note: Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Self-identified MAGA Republicans as a share of Republicans and U.S. adult citizens." The chart has the sub-headline: "September 2022 - October 2025: Do you identify as a MAGA Republican? (% saying "yes") October 2025 - present: Are you a MAGA supporter? (% saying "yes")." The chart has the note: "Note: Since the question began being asked of all adults in 2025, between 3% and 6% of Americans have said each week they're MAGA supporters but not Republicans. Responses of "no" and "not sure" are not shown. "
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Most Americans say the economy is getting worse." The chart has the sub-headline: "Overall, do you think the economy is getting better or worse? (%)." The chart has the note: "Note: Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
Screenshot of a scene near the end of The Return of the King where eagles rescue Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Many Americans say they remember a lot from when they were 16, especially younger adults, those who follow the news more, and those whose childhood memories are mostly positive." The chart has the sub-headline: "How much do you remember from when you were 16 years old? (%)." The chart has the note: "Note: News interest comes from the question, "Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time, whether there's an election going on or not. Others aren't that interested. Would you say you follow what's going on in government and public affairs ..." Positivity of childhood memories comes from the question, "Are your memories of childhood...?""
Both pitchers battled fairly well for the next inning or two until the Cubs brought back their dark magic, sorcery that has allowed a team that has barely scored more runs than the Minnesota Twins to somehow find themselves atop the NL Central.
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Donald Trump's net approval among white Americans by education and religious attendance." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President? (% of white Americans who strongly or somewhat approve minus the % who strongly or somewhat disapprove)." The chart has the note: "Note: Lines represent an average of each net approval for that week's poll and the two prior weekly polls. Responses of "not sure" are not shown. Religious attendance comes from the question, "Aside from weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?" Those who responded "never" are marked as "non-religious" and those who say they ever attend services are marked as "religious." "Sometimes attends religious services" includes responses of "more than once a week," "once a week," "once or twice a month," "a few times a year," and "seldom.""
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Net approval of Donald Trump's job handling among all Americans, white, Black, and Hispanic Americans, and white Americans with and without college degrees." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President? (% who strongly or somewhat approve minus the % who strongly or somewhat disapprove)." The chart has the note: "Note: The lines represent an average of the net approval for that week's poll and the two prior weekly polls. Responses of "not sure" are not shown."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Donald Trump's average net job approval over the last three weeks is as low as Joe Biden's ever got." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way [Joe Biden / Donald Trump] is handling his job as President? (% of U.S. adult citizens who strongly or somewhat approve minus the % who strongly or somewhat disapprove)." The chart has the note: "Note: The lines represent an average of the net approval for that week's poll and the two prior weekly polls. Responses of "not sure" are not shown. Data for Oct. 22 - Nov. 5, 2016 and Sept. 26 - Nov. 14, 2020 is among registered voters only."
The 2026 Cubs as “Homer at the Bat” players * Arrested for dozens of unsolved murders: Ian Happ * Radiation poisoning from blue-collar work: Nico Hoerner * Gigantism from nerve tonics: Shota Imanaga * Stuck endlessly rescuing possessions from a burning house: Matt Shaw * Knocked out after a bar argument: Seiya Suzuki * Disappeared visiting the Springfield Mystery Spot: Pete Crow-Armstrong * Hypnotized into acting like a chicken: Daniel Palencia * Fired for refusing to shave: Dansby Swanson
Screenshot of a Reddit thread, in which one commenter posts, "Damn, Minnesota was playing 5D chess the whole time," and another responds, "he's still the second most expensive position player on our payroll due to us retaining salary. safe to always assume whatever chess the Twins are playing is against themselves and they are losing."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Net approval of Trump's second-term job performance." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President? (% of U.S. adult citizens)." The chart has the note: "Note: The line represents an average of Trump's net approval for that week's poll and the two prior weekly polls."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Net approval of Donald Trump's handling of inflation among Americans, Democrats, Independents, MAGA Republicans, and non-MAGA Republicans." The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling these specific issues? [Inflation/prices] (% who strongly or somewhat approve minus the % who strongly or somewhat disapprove)." The chart has the note: "Note: Responses of "no opinion" are not shown. Some surveys asked about Trump's handling of "inflation" and others about his handling of "inflation/prices." Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Americans' most important issues." The chart has the sub-headline: "Which of these is the most important issue for you? (% of U.S. adult citizens)." The chart has the note: "Note: This chart shows several of the most frequently chosen issues from a list of more than a dozen issues. Other issues are not shown."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "MAGA Republicans are more likely to say the economy is getting better than to say it's getting worse, but majorities of Democrats, Independents, and non-MAGA Republicans take the opposite view." The chart has the sub-headline: "Overall, do you think the economy is getting better or getting worse? (%)." The chart has the note: "Note: Identification as a MAGA Republican is based on Republicans' responses to the question, "Are you a MAGA supporter?" Non-MAGA Republicans are Republicans who say "no"; Republicans who say "not sure" are not shown."
A line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Is the U.S. economy getting better or worse?." The chart has the sub-headline: "Overall, do you think the economy is getting better or worse? (% of U.S. adult citizens)." The chart has the note: "Note: Responses of "don't know" are not shown. Data for Sept. 26 - Nov. 14, 2020 is among registered voters only."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Who do Americans think is cool? Most say Samuel L. Jackson is cool and that Kanye West is not." The chart has the sub-headline: "How cool do you think the following people are? (% of U.S. adult citizens)."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Americans are more likely to say other people think it's important to be cool than to say they think it's important." The chart has the sub-headline: "Importance of coolness to you: How important is it to you to be cool?Importance of coolness to others: As far as you know, on average, how important do people you know think it is to be cool?%."
A stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Who thinks they're cool?." The chart has the sub-headline: "How cool do you think you are? (%)."
Stacked bar chart of YouGov polling data with the title, “Americans who love reading to children are more likely to perform character voices when reading.”
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Gandalf defying the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm.
Artist unknown, art of Gandalf the Grey
Art of Gandalf facing down the Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm.