According to a recent poll conducted by WPA Intelligence and reported by Mediaite, political satirist Bill Maher, known for hosting “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Max, enjoys a higher level of trust among the American public compared to several other prominent media figures. The survey, based on responses from 1,000 participants and with a margin of error of 3.1%, reveals the following findings:
Bill Maher is recognized by 77% of the surveyed individuals and is trusted by 40% of all respondents. Among those familiar with him, 52% expressed trust in him.
Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster, and Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News personality, both had slightly higher name recognition, with 80% and 81%, respectively. However, their trust ratings were lower than Maher’s. Rogan garnered trust from 36% of respondents and 45% of those familiar with him, while Carlson was trusted by 35% of respondents and 43% of those who knew him well.
Jake Tapper, a CNN anchor, had the lowest name recognition among the mentioned figures, with just 53% of the public recognizing him. Consequently, his trust rating with all respondents was also the lowest at 23%. However, among those who were familiar with him, 44% expressed trust in Tapper.
The poll results provide insight into the trust levels that various media figures enjoy among the American public. It suggests that Maher, despite being recognized by a significant portion of the population, is trusted by a larger percentage compared to other well-known figures like Rogan, Carlson, and Tapper. Additionally, the poll highlights the fractured nature of the political media landscape and the varying degrees of trust that Americans place in different sources for accurate information. Another recent survey also indicated that far-right, Trump-supporting influencers like Tim Pool and Jack Posobiec have relatively low trust ratings among Republicans, even among those who primarily consume news online. These findings underscore the complexity of media trust in today’s polarized political environment.
