Olson In-Studio at CNN: Epstein Files, Immigration, & Democrat Transformation
Byline: Olson Strategies Staff
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Dustin Olson, Managing Partner at Olson Strategies, joined CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish for the hour to walk through the Public Opinion landscape on major storylines shaping national politics. Among the topics covered were the House and Senate Epstein Files votes, ICE’s illegal immigration sweeps in North Carolina and elsewhere, and the Democratic Socialists’ hostile takeover strategy rapidly reshaping the Democrat Party from within.
The Release of the Epstein Files
The conversation started with the Epstein Files. Olson highlighted that two-thirds of Americans wanted Congress to force disclosure, and that on a complex issue like this, people will inevitably spin the details to fit their agenda, creating a “two movies on one screen” scenario. Olson noted that it’s essential that victims get justice, and it’s understandable President Trump wants to focus on his agenda and issues that are important to Americans, such as affordability.
“Ultimately, in polling over the summer, 72% of people said that they understood this issue. Two thirds of people said that they wanted Congress to force disclosure. Majorities of both parties actually believe that this has been something that powerful elites are behind and are keeping it a conspiracy. We are looking at two decades of very powerful people trying to keep this under wraps, and four years of the Biden administration sitting on this, and now this is where we're at.”
Immigration Protests in North Carolina
On immigration, Olson pointed to new Harvard-Harris polling showing 54% of Americans still support deporting all ILLEGAL immigrants, and that support jumps to 79% when they’ve committed additional crimes here.
“Looking at national polling in the November Harvard-Harris Poll, it might be surprising to some folks—and it’s actually surprising to me—54% still say that they would like to see all of those immigrants who are here illegally to be deported.”
Democratic-Socialist Takeover of the Democrat Party
Finally, they looked at the Democratic Socialists’ hostile takeover of the Democrat Party, with 250+ Democratic Socialists now in office nationwide, 90% of whom have been elected since 2019, indicating an accelerating trend. The same Harvard–Harris polling shows 50% of Americans now say NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani represents Democrats.
“So something that's interesting from the elections this month that a lot of people don't know is now we have 250+ Democratic Socialists of America elected in office across the country, and 90% of them have been elected since 2019… In the Harvard-Harris Poll, 50% of Americans say that they believe he [Mamdani] represents the Democrat Party, and 65% of Democrats say that.”
📊 For more polling insights, visit: PollingClub.com