--- title: "Sea levels to rise on West Coast; voters dissatisfied with parties" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/sea-levels-to-rise-on-west-coast-voters-dissatisfied-with-parties" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/sea-levels-to-rise-on-west-coast-voters-dissatisfied-with-parties" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/sea-levels-to-rise-on-west-coast-voters-dissatisfied-with-parties.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/sea-levels-to-rise-on-west-coast-voters-dissatisfied-with-parties" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-03T13:05:27.297Z" source_reported: "2026-10-03T12:23:06.000Z" updated: "2026-10-03T13:05:27.297Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 100 hype_score: 65 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-03T13:00:41.877627+00:00" --- # Sea levels to rise on West Coast; voters dissatisfied with parties *Kelvin waves will bring up to a foot of sea level rise, while polls show voter frustration with both parties.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust high (86) due to named expert, poll dataset, multiple independent outlets, specific figures and dates. - Craft 100 of 100, higher is better. Critic score 100 reflects clear context, quotes, specific data, future outlook, and coherent reporting despite headline mismatch. - Hype 65 of 100, lower is better. Hype 65 due to clickbait headline unrelated to article and repetitive thin digests. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Sea levels on the West Coast will rise by up to one foot this month due to Kelvin waves. - Kelvin waves are bulges of water moving at about 6 miles per hour, lifting sea levels. - An AP-NORC poll shows voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack confidence in either party's ability to solve major problems. - The poll also indicates significant dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November 3 election. Sea levels along the West Coast are predicted to increase by as much as one foot this month. This rise is attributed to Kelvin waves, which are described as bulges of water that move along the coast at approximately 6 miles per hour. These waves are expected to bring higher sea levels to California, Oregon, and Washington state. Experts anticipate these waves will continue from October until February. Kelvin waves are distinct from tsunamis and are not expected to cause flooding on their own, but rather a sloshing effect of elevated water levels. An AP-NORC poll indicates that voters favour Democrats on several key issues. However, the poll also reveals a widespread lack of confidence in either political party's capacity to address major national problems. Voters expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the lead-up to the November 3 election. The Democratic Party holds an advantage on issues related to the cost of living, according to the poll. ## Coverage comparison ## Omissions in coverage None of the right-rated digests mention the impending sea level rise due to Kelvin waves along the West Coast. The left-rated digests did not include specific details about the Kelvin waves, such as their speed or duration, focusing instead on the poll results. ## Who covered it Shares of the 20 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 40% (8) - Centre: 55% (11) - Right: 5% (1) 0 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-03T13:00:41.877627+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-03T14:00:16.763Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Seven left-rated reports focused on the AP-NORC poll findings. These reports highlighted voter dissatisfaction with both major political parties and President Donald Trump, noting that Democrats hold an advantage on cost-of-living issues. The digests from The Toronto Star, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Orillia Matters, Thorold Today, Sudbury, Timmins Today, and thealbertan.com all led with the poll's findings about voter sentiment and party advantages. ### Centre - Twelve centre-rated reports led with the findings of the AP-NORC poll. These reports stated that voters favour Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve major problems. They also noted voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The digests from Washington Top News and WBAL also included details about the impending sea level rise due to Kelvin waves along the West Coast. ### Right - The single right-rated report focused on the AP-NORC poll. Its digest stated that voters favour Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems. It also included a quote from Aaron Siever, a 41-year-old from southwest Virginia, expressing frustration with the two political parties. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 7 - veryHigh: 13 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The National Herald](https://thenationalherald.com/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters Favor Democrats on Key Issues but Lack Faith in Either Party to Solve Problems: AP-NORC Poll - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/democrats-have-advantage-on-cost-of-living-ap-norc-poll-shows-but-few-voters-think-either-party-can-solve-big-problems) — Democrats have advantage on cost of living, AP-NORC poll shows, but few voters think either party can solve big problems – WTOP News - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll/article_57bdfc6c-0198-565c-a2f7-1c79e2b37106.html) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/world-news/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll-12853466) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/world-news/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll-12853466) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/world-news/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll-12853466) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/world-news/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll-12853466) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/world-news/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll-12853466) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/world-news/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll-12853466) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/democrats-have-advantage-on-cost-of-living-ap-norc-poll-shows-but-few-voters-think-either-party-can-solve-big-problems) — Democrats have advantage on cost of living, AP-NORC poll shows, but fe - [union-bulletin.com](https://union-bulletin.com/news/national/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems/article_f66a9864-1524-5f0e-a200-75204873d249.html) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/national/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [KPRC-TV](https://click2houston.com/news/politics/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Santa Maria Times](https://santamariatimes.com/ap/washington/democrats-have-advantage-on-cost-of-living-ap-norc-poll-shows-but-few-voters-think/article_d6579ddc-3a3e-5e29-9a4f-18ef91cb72a1.html) — Democrats have advantage on cost of living, AP-NORC poll shows, but few voters think either party can solve big problems - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll/article_90e95060-6a39-5abf-814c-47db2e2321eb.html) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/03/voters-favor-democrats-on-key-issues-but-lack-faith-in-either-party-to-solve-problems-ap-norc-poll) — Voters favor Democrats on key issues but lack faith in either party to solve problems: AP-NORC poll ## Questions **What are Kelvin waves and how will they affect the West Coast?** Kelvin waves are bulges of water that lift sea levels as they move along the coast at about 6 miles per hour. Along the West Coast, they are expected to cause sea levels to rise by up to a foot this month, with continued passage from October until February. **What did the AP-NORC poll find about voter sentiment?** The AP-NORC poll found that voters favour Democrats on key issues, particularly the cost of living. However, a significant majority of voters also expressed deep dissatisfaction with both the Democratic and Republican parties, and with President Donald Trump, and lack confidence in either party's ability to solve major problems. **Which political party has an advantage on cost-of-living issues?** According to the AP-NORC poll, the Democratic Party has an advantage on the cost-of-living issue. This indicates that voters perceive Democrats as being better positioned to address concerns related to the economy and personal finances. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/sea-levels-to-rise-on-west-coast-voters-dissatisfied-with-parties. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Sea levels to rise on West Coast; voters dissatisfied with parties", https://mediabias.news/politics/sea-levels-to-rise-on-west-coast-voters-dissatisfied-with-parties