America’s death row population is shrinking
While most Americans continue to favor the death penalty for murder convictions, far fewer people are receiving death sentences than in years past.
Hillary Clinton’s nomination would end long Cabinet drought
If she wins the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, she will be the first current or former Cabinet secretary nominated by a major party since 1928.
Stock market leads recovery, but inflation cuts into gains
Americans recognize stocks as the feature of the economy that’s recovered the most strongly from the Great Recession. But inflation means the market’s gains aren’t quite as robust as they might first appear.
Jobs situation looks brighter as employers seek to fill more positions
There were 1.8 unemployed people per job opening in January, another indicator of the improving jobs situation.
Ahead of redistricting, Democrats seek to reverse statehouse declines
The national Democratic Party wants to regain some of the 900-plus state legislative seats Democrats have lost since 2009.
5 facts about consistent conservatives
Our research on political polarization found that 9% of Americans, and 20% of Republicans and Republican leaners, express consistently conservative views.
A college degree wasn’t always a ‘must’ for U.S. presidential candidates
If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wins the Republican presidential nomination next year, he’ll be the first major-party nominee without a college degree since Barry Goldwater in 1964.
From telegrams to Instagram, a look at presidents and technology
President Obama’s recent interviews with Buzzfeed and Vox, and his embrace of online news and social media more generally, stands in a long tradition of presidents employing novel communications technologies to speak to Americans directly.
More openings and hires give Americans reason for greater job optimism
As openings and new hires hit levels not seen in years, more Americans say they’re hearing mostly good news about the jobs situation.
Four signs of the improving U.S. jobs situation
The unemployment rate may get most of the attention, but why people are unemployed, and how long they’ve been out of work, can be just as telling about the state of the economy.
