soapboxUpdated 16m agoIssue taxonomy
The 29 political issues we track across YouTube and podcasts, grouped under 12 topics. Each has an explicit left- and right-leaning position, and every mention is scored against those - not US-political stereotypes - then weighted by each channel's audience and capped at 3 episodes a day, so the signal reflects stance per audience rather than who posts most often. Click any issue for the channel-level breakdown.
What's being talked about
last 7 days
8,922 mentions across 12 topics
| Foreign Policy & National Security | 1,818L+1.7 | |
| Government & Rule of Law | 1,170L+3.3 | |
| Economy & Work | 1,153L+0.6 | |
| Political figures & parties | 1,140L+2.5 | |
| Tech, Media & Speech | 855L+1.1 | |
| Immigration | 733R+2.4 | |
| Civil Rights & Identity | 507R+1.4 | |
| Elections & Democracy | 452L+1.9 | |
| Crime, Guns & Drugs | 387R+2.3 | |
| Health Care | 340L+2.7 | |
| Climate, Energy & Environment | 212R+3.0 | |
| Education | 155R+3.4 |
Bar length is mention count over the last 7 days; the tint and L/R figure show each topic's volume-weighted lean. The full taxonomy is below.
Foreign Policy & National Security →War, diplomacy, defense, terrorism, and foreign affairs.
China policy
US–China relations, trade, Taiwan, tech competition.
L Cooperation and engagement
R Hawkish containment and decoupling
Iran conflict
US-Iran tensions, US military strikes on Iran, Iranian nuclear program, regional proxy conflicts, and the diplomatic vs. military approach to the Iranian regime.
L Oppose US military strikes on Iran; favor diplomatic/nuclear-deal path; concern for civilian impact and regional escalation
R Support US military action against Iran; hawkish on the regime; back Israeli operations against Iran; oppose nuclear concessions
Israel–Gaza
The Israel–Hamas war and US posture toward Israel/Palestinians.
L Sympathy with Palestinian civilians, criticism of IDF
R Strong support of Israel and military operations
Ukraine–Russia
The Ukraine war and US/NATO posture.
L Sustained military aid to Ukraine
R Reduce/end US aid, negotiate with Russia
Veterans & military affairs
Veterans' care and benefits, the VA, and how the country treats those who served.
L Fully fund the VA and expand veterans' benefits and mental-health care.
R VA accountability and private-care options; restore readiness and recruiting.
Economy & Work →Inflation, jobs, trade, taxes, and economic conditions.
Government spending & debt
Federal spending, deficits, the national debt, and budget and shutdown fights.
L Deficits are manageable; protect public spending and raise revenue from the wealthy.
R Cut spending and waste (DOGE), shrink government, and rein in the national debt.
Housing & homelessness
Housing costs, supply and zoning, rents, and homelessness.
L Build affordable units, tenant protections, and fund homeless services.
R Deregulate and cut zoning to boost supply; enforcement-first on encampments.
Inflation & affordability
Cost of living, prices, and wages.
L Government intervention to lower costs
R Free-market and reduced regulation
Social Security & Medicare
The future of Social Security and Medicare and how to fund them.
L Protect and expand benefits; fund by taxing the wealthy.
R Reform, means-test, or partially privatize for long-term solvency.
Trade & tariffs
Tariffs, trade deals, import and export policy, and trade protectionism.
L Tariffs are a regressive tax that raises prices; favor open, rules-based trade.
R Tariffs protect American workers and industry; leverage to fix unfair trade.
Immigration →Border, asylum, deportation, and migration policy.
Health Care →Health policy, coverage, drug prices, and entitlements.
Health care & coverage
Health insurance, coverage, drug pricing, and the role of government in care.
L Government should guarantee coverage — expand public options/ACA and regulate drug prices.
R Market-driven care — repeal mandates and reduce the federal role.
Public health & medical establishment
Vaccines, the FDA and CDC, pharma, chronic disease, and trust in medical authorities (MAHA).
L Trust public-health institutions and the scientific consensus; expand preventive care.
R Skeptical of pharma and health agencies; medical freedom and the MAHA agenda.
Crime, Guns & Drugs →Crime, policing, gun policy, and drug policy.
Crime & public safety
Crime rates, policing, prosecution policy.
L Reform-oriented, address root causes
R Tough-on-crime, more policing
Drug policy
Drugs, addiction, and enforcement.
L Decriminalization, treatment, and harm reduction.
R Enforcement and crackdowns, including border fentanyl.
Gun policy
Firearms regulation and Second Amendment rights.
L Stronger gun control — background checks, restrictions, assault-weapon limits.
R Protect Second Amendment rights; oppose new restrictions.
Civil Rights & Identity →Abortion, LGBTQ, race, and discrimination.
Abortion & reproductive rights
Abortion access, reproductive policy.
L Pro-choice, expand access
R Pro-life, restrict access
Race & discrimination
Racial discrimination and equity (distinct from DEI-in-education).
L Systemic racism is real; defend anti-discrimination protections.
R Favor a colorblind standard; skeptical of DEI and reverse discrimination.
Transgender / LGBTQ policy
Trans rights, gender-affirming care, sports, schools.
L Affirming policies and protections
R Restrictive policies, especially for minors
Education →K-12 and higher-ed policy, curriculum, and DEI in schools.
Elections & Democracy →Elections, voting, and the integrity of democratic institutions.
Election integrity
Voting access, ballot security, election administration.
L Expand access, reject fraud claims
R Stricter ID/security, take fraud claims seriously
Gerrymandering & redistricting
Fights over electoral district maps and the Voting Rights Act: partisan and racial gerrymandering, redistricting, and the weakening of VRA protections (Section 2, preclearance).
L Courts/commissions should curb gerrymanders; enforce the VRA
R Map-drawing is the legislature's job; limit race-based mandates
Government & Rule of Law →Justice system, courts, corruption, and federal institutions.
Government corruption & institutions
Corruption, self-dealing, and trust in federal institutions.
L Concern over self-dealing, oligarchy, and conflicts of interest at the top.
R Concern over an unaccountable "deep state" bureaucracy that needs draining.
Justice system & rule of law
Politicization of the DOJ/courts, prosecutions, and the rule of law.
L The administration is politicizing justice and eroding the rule of law.
R The justice system was weaponized against conservatives and needs accountability.
Tech, Media & Speech →AI/tech regulation, free speech, privacy, and the media.
AI, crypto & tech
AI safety and regulation, crypto and digital assets, antitrust, and platform power.
L Stronger regulation and consumer protection
R Lighter-touch regulation, innovation-first
Free speech & moderation
Platform moderation, censorship, First Amendment debates.
L Pro-moderation to limit harm
R Anti-moderation, free-speech absolutist
Climate, Energy & Environment →Climate change, energy policy, and the environment.