Entertainment media portrayals don’t just shape culture—they shape policy. For decades, Muslims in film and television have often been depicted through narrow and harmful stereotypes. New research from ISPU shows those portrayals have measurable consequences, influencing public attitudes toward Muslims and shaping support for policies that restrict civil liberties for everyone.

In this episode of Deep Dives with ISPU, Dr. Sohad Murrar, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago and ISPU expert scholar, and Dr. Saher Selod, ISPU Director of Research, unpack ISPU’s report Stereotypes on Screen. Together, they examine how entertainment media fuels perceptions of threat, increases support for surveillance and anti-democratic policies, and reinforces the institutionalization of Islamophobia.

But this story is not just about negative portrayals. Sohad and Saher also explore how complex, human portrayals of Muslims can reduce prejudice, shift attitudes, and strengthen the democratic values that affect us all. At a time when endorsement and upholding of civil liberties feel increasingly fragile, this conversation asks a crucial question: if entertainment media can help construct fear, can it also help rebuild trust?

Communities can grow up together and still miss key pieces of each other’s stories. For Black Christians and Muslims, familiarity doesn’t always translate into understanding. In this episode of Deep Dives, Muslim Wellness Foundation Founder and President Dr. Kameelah Mu’Min Oseguera joins Youth Pastor Candace Simpson of Quinn Chapel AME and ISPU’s Senior Outreach and Partnerships Manager Petra Alsoofy to explore the stories, assumptions, and lived experiences shaping interfaith relationships.

You’ll hear how proximity can still leave room for misunderstanding, how history and structural forces influence the way communities relate, and how combining data with storytelling can create space for honest, courageous conversations.

The American Muslim story is constantly evolving — and ISPU’s American Muslim Poll has been tracking it for nearly a decade. In this episode of Deep Dives, ISPU’s Director of Research and report co-author Saher Selod, PhD, joins Executive Director Tuqa Nusairat to unpack key findings from the 2025 American Muslim Poll.

You’ll hear how Muslim voters showed up in the 2024 election, what the data reveals about civic engagement and rising Islamophobia, and how researchers, policymakers, and journalists can use these insights to build a more accurate and equitable understanding of Muslim communities in America.