JLRay
@jlray.bsky.social
Texas. Senior director of polling at YouGov. Adviser to Young Men Research Initiative.
johnlray.github.io
johnlray.github.io
There were a LOT of message tests this time around and we'll do a full deep dive on those in the coming weeks. For now, we've highlighted one test of a hypothetical "cut red tape/build more housing" candidate versus a "socialist/more public goods" candidate. Register your guesses now!
November 20, 2025 at 11:08 PM
There were a LOT of message tests this time around and we'll do a full deep dive on those in the coming weeks. For now, we've highlighted one test of a hypothetical "cut red tape/build more housing" candidate versus a "socialist/more public goods" candidate. Register your guesses now!
We included a lengthy battery of items on civic engagement. Some real uh, mixed news there. But ultimately, young men generally believe elections remain the best way to gain power, rather than "more extreme options."
Some notable exceptions in this regard.
Some notable exceptions in this regard.
November 20, 2025 at 11:06 PM
We included a lengthy battery of items on civic engagement. Some real uh, mixed news there. But ultimately, young men generally believe elections remain the best way to gain power, rather than "more extreme options."
Some notable exceptions in this regard.
Some notable exceptions in this regard.
On foreign affairs, its the center-left versus everyone else. Liberal and progressive young men think America should have an active role in the world.
Socialists, moderates, conservatives, and the far right all think the US should step back.
Socialists, moderates, conservatives, and the far right all think the US should step back.
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
On foreign affairs, its the center-left versus everyone else. Liberal and progressive young men think America should have an active role in the world.
Socialists, moderates, conservatives, and the far right all think the US should step back.
Socialists, moderates, conservatives, and the far right all think the US should step back.
Fully 1 in 3 young men who voted Trump in 2024 now disapprove of the job he's doing as President. Put this one straight in your pocket when you go home for the holidays. That's a lot of regret!
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Fully 1 in 3 young men who voted Trump in 2024 now disapprove of the job he's doing as President. Put this one straight in your pocket when you go home for the holidays. That's a lot of regret!
A lot of young men gamble. But notably, just because young men gamble doesn't mean they're in love with the current state of affairs in terms of how easy it is to gamble. Guys who gamble a lot are actually slightly *more* supportive of more guardrails around online/sports gambling.
November 20, 2025 at 11:03 PM
A lot of young men gamble. But notably, just because young men gamble doesn't mean they're in love with the current state of affairs in terms of how easy it is to gamble. Guys who gamble a lot are actually slightly *more* supportive of more guardrails around online/sports gambling.
We put some numbers on how social media malaise impacts young men. Young people perceive folks they hang out with to be about as successful, wealthy, educated, etc. as themselves.
The people they're exposed to on social media? Overwhelmingly "wealthier," "more successful," "more attractive," etc.
The people they're exposed to on social media? Overwhelmingly "wealthier," "more successful," "more attractive," etc.
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM
We put some numbers on how social media malaise impacts young men. Young people perceive folks they hang out with to be about as successful, wealthy, educated, etc. as themselves.
The people they're exposed to on social media? Overwhelmingly "wealthier," "more successful," "more attractive," etc.
The people they're exposed to on social media? Overwhelmingly "wealthier," "more successful," "more attractive," etc.
In school, most of young mens' male mentors are coaches. Most of young mens' women mentors are teachers. Young guys say they mostly had women teachers in K-12, and male coaches. Straight out of @profgalloway.com's appraisal of the lack of male teachers in K-12.
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 PM
In school, most of young mens' male mentors are coaches. Most of young mens' women mentors are teachers. Young guys say they mostly had women teachers in K-12, and male coaches. Straight out of @profgalloway.com's appraisal of the lack of male teachers in K-12.
Crypto: More young men own crypto than have a 401k. Yowza.
However, very few young men are "all in" on crypto, and those who are actually are making decent money but not in jobs that provide a 401k. Crypto is more common among higher-income young men, *not* those who "have no other option."
However, very few young men are "all in" on crypto, and those who are actually are making decent money but not in jobs that provide a 401k. Crypto is more common among higher-income young men, *not* those who "have no other option."
November 20, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Crypto: More young men own crypto than have a 401k. Yowza.
However, very few young men are "all in" on crypto, and those who are actually are making decent money but not in jobs that provide a 401k. Crypto is more common among higher-income young men, *not* those who "have no other option."
However, very few young men are "all in" on crypto, and those who are actually are making decent money but not in jobs that provide a 401k. Crypto is more common among higher-income young men, *not* those who "have no other option."
We had a full module on how young people use AI. Young men were "excited" and "hopeful" for what AI might mean in their lives. Young women? "Anxious." Young men actually looking for work were more likely to say they thought AI as hurting their employment prospects.
November 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
We had a full module on how young people use AI. Young men were "excited" and "hopeful" for what AI might mean in their lives. Young women? "Anxious." Young men actually looking for work were more likely to say they thought AI as hurting their employment prospects.
I know this isn't the point but it's funny that every single news story involving the DOJ seems to be rife with quotes from judges and other legal experts to the effect that "everyone on Trump's legal team is a fucking moron"
open.substack.com/pub/thedownb...
open.substack.com/pub/thedownb...
November 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I know this isn't the point but it's funny that every single news story involving the DOJ seems to be rife with quotes from judges and other legal experts to the effect that "everyone on Trump's legal team is a fucking moron"
open.substack.com/pub/thedownb...
open.substack.com/pub/thedownb...
The latest from @ymriofficial.bsky.social -- some conspicuous silence, and notable noise, on which parts of the manospnere are talking about Epstein and which aren't.
open.substack.com/pub/youngmen...
open.substack.com/pub/youngmen...
November 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The latest from @ymriofficial.bsky.social -- some conspicuous silence, and notable noise, on which parts of the manospnere are talking about Epstein and which aren't.
open.substack.com/pub/youngmen...
open.substack.com/pub/youngmen...
still thinking about this spam from a Democratic Senator that told me Mikie Sherrill (+8 over 2024, +11 over 2021) and Abigail Spanberger (+11 over 2024 +18 over 2021) were "not particularly strong candidates" and that I should give to Graham Platner instead
November 15, 2025 at 11:44 PM
still thinking about this spam from a Democratic Senator that told me Mikie Sherrill (+8 over 2024, +11 over 2021) and Abigail Spanberger (+11 over 2024 +18 over 2021) were "not particularly strong candidates" and that I should give to Graham Platner instead
About 1 in 3 Trump voters now express "regret" or "disappointment." Weakest MAGA has ever been.
November 15, 2025 at 4:56 PM
About 1 in 3 Trump voters now express "regret" or "disappointment." Weakest MAGA has ever been.
And never forget your handy bowel disruptor
November 15, 2025 at 4:40 PM
And never forget your handy bowel disruptor
Family only allowed to do this for me if they're remaking the Itchy & Scratchy perpetual murder cycle
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Family only allowed to do this for me if they're remaking the Itchy & Scratchy perpetual murder cycle
The latest from YouGov (n~4.6k) -- pretty much everyone thinks Trump knew Epstein. And almost no one thinks he knew "nothing" about what Epstein was doing. By a +12 margin, people think Trump was involved.
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
November 13, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The latest from YouGov (n~4.6k) -- pretty much everyone thinks Trump knew Epstein. And almost no one thinks he knew "nothing" about what Epstein was doing. By a +12 margin, people think Trump was involved.
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
New from @ymriofficial.bsky.social - we're building new social listening tools to track the manosphere so you don't have to.
Why did young people blame "both sides" for the shutdown? They got news from guys who aren't exactly process experts.
youngmenresearchinitiative.substack.com/p/what-young...
Why did young people blame "both sides" for the shutdown? They got news from guys who aren't exactly process experts.
youngmenresearchinitiative.substack.com/p/what-young...
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
New from @ymriofficial.bsky.social - we're building new social listening tools to track the manosphere so you don't have to.
Why did young people blame "both sides" for the shutdown? They got news from guys who aren't exactly process experts.
youngmenresearchinitiative.substack.com/p/what-young...
Why did young people blame "both sides" for the shutdown? They got news from guys who aren't exactly process experts.
youngmenresearchinitiative.substack.com/p/what-young...
Many thanks to The Downballot for covering a framing experiment of ours on the Generic Congressional Ballot. Democrats are in a pretty good spot going into 2026, but with the current state of the party brands, you might as well remind voters they can kick out GOP incumbents next year.
November 12, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Many thanks to The Downballot for covering a framing experiment of ours on the Generic Congressional Ballot. Democrats are in a pretty good spot going into 2026, but with the current state of the party brands, you might as well remind voters they can kick out GOP incumbents next year.
Another great day to delight in the fact that while most young men recognize Elon Musk and are exposed to news about him in some capacity, the overwhelming majority of them also think he's full of it
www.ymrp.org/polling
www.ymrp.org/polling
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Another great day to delight in the fact that while most young men recognize Elon Musk and are exposed to news about him in some capacity, the overwhelming majority of them also think he's full of it
www.ymrp.org/polling
www.ymrp.org/polling
Need this guy to pay him a visit on his next trip
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Need this guy to pay him a visit on his next trip
The latest from YouGov (n ~ 4.3k)
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
November 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The latest from YouGov (n ~ 4.3k)
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
From YouGov, Trump was at -40 on handling of the shutdown, but within Congress, both sides (and both wings of both parties) were taking heat. Far from clear how this impacts 2026 except to say we're no longer talking about Trump's weakest issue.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ya...
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ya...
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
From YouGov, Trump was at -40 on handling of the shutdown, but within Congress, both sides (and both wings of both parties) were taking heat. Far from clear how this impacts 2026 except to say we're no longer talking about Trump's weakest issue.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ya...
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ya...
"Put $3.3 million on the books for a $250k condo in a flood zone..."
November 8, 2025 at 11:39 PM
"Put $3.3 million on the books for a $250k condo in a flood zone..."