A Busy July: Narrative Report on Young Men, Young Voters Talker Call, The Black Opps Project & More
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What 250 Means for Freedom & Representation.
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Two hundred fifty years ago, a group of colonists put a radical idea into writing: that people have the right to govern themselves, and that no one — not a king, not an institution — gets to decide who belongs and who doesn’t. It was a promise made on paper long before it was a promise kept in practice.
This year’s anniversary landed at a strange moment to take stock. Even as the country marked 250 years of that founding promise, we have spent the past year listening to young voters, Black voters, and first-time voters tell us that they don’t feel like the promise is being kept to them. Not because they’ve stopped believing in the ideals, but because too many of them have been talked at by the institutions meant to represent them, instead of listened to.
That’s the throughline in our research we want to share this month: distrust isn’t apathy, but it’s the rational response toward a system that is no longer working for most Americans. And if the last 250 years have taught us anything, it’s that this grand American experiment only moves forward when people who’ve been left out of the story insist on writing themselves back in, which is why this primary season, we’re seeing a surge of mostly young, anti-establishment voters backing democratic socialist candidates in key races across the country.
So this is our small part of that work — research that listens first, communication that meets people where they are, and a running list of the people and communities still owed on that founding promise. Here’s what we’ve been digging into this month.
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New Report: A Narrative Report on Young Men
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HIT Strategies’ first Talker Call of the year convened our researchers and 150 plus participants for a deep dive into the data and dynamics behind shifting political attitudes among young men across demographics. The lively discussion explored fluctuating party affiliations, the evolving media ecosystem, ideological fluidity, and the social conditions shaping how young men engage with politics.
As a follow-up, we are excited to announce our team released an accompanying Narrative Report that expands on these findings in greater depth, offering a closer look at this important voter bloc and highlighting additional insights from our recent research with partners including Third Way, Black Men Vote and more.
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Young Voters Talker Call Recap
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Thank you to everyone who joined our second Talker Call, Not Who You Think They Are, featuring Senior Research Manager Ashley Aylward, Senior Analyst Erica Tebbs, and Analyst Michelle Whitlock. We had over fifty attendees listen to our panelists as they unpacked the latest research on who young voters actually are, what they prioritize, and what it all means ahead of the November general elections and beyond.
The presentation challenged common misconceptions about young voters, explored the issues and political candidates that resonate across key segments, and examined how years of institutional neglect have shaped political trust and engagement. Attendees also heard and discussed practical strategies for building stronger, more authentic connections with this influential and often misunderstood electorate.
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If you missed the event and would like to revisit the full presentation, you can find the Talker Call recording and presentation deck in the link below. Coming soon: one of the largest studies on young voters we’ve ever conducted. If this is on your radar, keep an eye on your inbox for August’s newsletter.
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The Black Opps Project: Phase Two Release on Democracy.
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Black Voters Are Increasingly Motivated Politically, Following Callais Decision and Attacks on Voting Rights
Earlier this year, the Black Opps Project examined the barriers contributing to Black political disengagement and identified strategies to rebuild trust and participation. This month, Phase 2 of the research reveals that recent attacks on voting rights and Black political representation are driving increased political engagement among Black voters. The findings also highlight the messages and messengers that are most effective in mobilizing action, particularly among younger Black voters, as communities prepare for the November midterm elections.
Since summer of 2025, the Black Opps Coalition has conducted several focus groups, polls, and AI content testing with Black voters to understand the barriers that prevent their resistance, the motivations that would increase their resistance, and the actions that we can mobilize them to take now – to increase the likelihood that they vote later.
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New on Substack: Why the Math Belongs in Code and Judgement Belongs to People.
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 HIT Strategies’ Lead Software Engineer, Alex Auritt, recently published the second installment of HIT’s AI series on Substack, “Where AI Belongs in Research and Where It Doesn’t.” The article explores how AI can support researchers in drafting, reviewing, and other judgment-based tasks while emphasizing that core research functions such as weighting, tabulation, and statistical analysis should remain grounded in deterministic methods.
Rather than asking whether AI belongs in research, the piece focuses on where it can add value without compromising methodological rigor. Alex outlines a practical framework for responsible AI use, arguing that while AI can improve efficiency and support researchers’ workflows, human judgment must remain central to research design, analysis, and interpretation. The article offers a behind-the-scenes look at how HIT approaches AI with a focus on transparency, accountability, and quality public opinion research.
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Research in Action at the NFHA Conference
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Senior Research Manager Ashley Aylward and Senior Analyst Erica Tebbs presented at the National Fair Housing Alliance’s annual conference, leading a workshop on messaging and strategies for protecting and advancing fair housing. Grounded in qualitative and quantitative research conducted in partnership with the National Fair Housing Alliance, the session highlighted key findings and practical communications strategies to strengthen public understanding and support for fair housing protections.
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HIT in the Media: MS NOW & On With Kara Swisher
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This month, HIT Strategies continued to share our latest research and insights on the national stage.
President and Founding Partner Terrance Woodbury joined MS NOW to discuss the latest Washington Post-Ipsos poll showing Democrats with a narrow 48% to 45% advantage on the generic congressional ballot. The conversation examined voter enthusiasm, the evolving 2026 midterm landscape, and Black Opps’ latest findings on Black voters.
Founding Partner and Chief Research Officer, Roshni Nedungadi, joined On with Kara Swisher to discuss the state of the Democratic Party, the rise of insurgent candidates, and what HIT’s public opinion research reveals about today’s electorate. Drawing on our work with young voters, voters of color, and other historically underrepresented communities, she examined the trends shaping voter sentiments and the road to the 2026 midterm elections.
Listen to both conversations through our Youtube links.
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 What We Are Reading at HIT
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UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute | The Cost of Fear: The Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Small Businesses and Latino Entrepreneurs in LA County
A new UCLA report examines how intensified immigration enforcement has affected Latino-owned businesses across Los Angeles County. Combining mobility data with surveys and focus groups, researchers found that enforcement operations reduced foot traffic, led to millions in estimated revenue losses, and created lasting financial and psychological strain for entrepreneurs, highlighting the broader economic consequences of immigration policy.
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Common Sense Media: Teens and Explicit Deepfakes in the Age of AI
New research from Common Sense Media explores how AI-generated explicit deepfakes are affecting teenagers, documenting growing awareness, exposure, and concern around nonconsensual image creation. The report examines the risks these tools pose to young people and offers insights for parents, educators, policymakers, and technology companies as AI becomes more accessible.
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Columbia World Projects: The Crisis of Democratic Participation and How to Fix It
This report examines the growing decline in civic participation and trust in democratic institutions, while outlining evidence-based strategies to strengthen engagement. Drawing on research and case studies, the authors argue that rebuilding participation requires institutional reforms alongside greater investment in civic education, community leadership, and public trust.
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Democracy Notes: How Firefighters and Construction Workers Can Help Democrats Rebuild Their Coalition
This essay explores what Democrats can learn from occupations such as firefighters and construction workers about trust, identity, and community connection. It argues that rebuilding support among working-class voters requires engaging with the social and cultural spaces where people form relationships and political identities, rather than relying solely on policy messaging.
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 Partner with HIT.
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HIT Strategies is proud to work with advocacy groups, campaigns, brands, and organizations shaping the future. If your team is looking for reliable, culturally competent insights this year, we’d love to talk.
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