What does the federal government spend your tax dollars on? Social insurance programs, mostly
From Social Security to national parks, a look at long-range trends in federal outlays relative to the U.S. economy
As Republicans’ views improve, Americans give the economy its highest marks since financial crisis
Nearly six-in-ten people in the United States say the economic situation is very or somewhat good, the most positive assessment of the economy since 2007.
Partisans in ‘safest’ counties for their party more willing to discuss political differences
Partisans in counties in which their party was politically dominant in the 2016 election were much more likely to support seeking common ground politically.
Federal criminal prosecutions fall to lowest level in nearly two decades
Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against 77,152 defendants in fiscal year 2016. That’s a decline of 25% since fiscal 2011.
Many lower-income Republicans see ensuring health coverage for all as a government responsibility
Lower-income Republicans are somewhat more likely than higher-income Republicans to support the Affordable Care Act, and many say ensuring health care coverage for all is a government responsibility.
How much does science knowledge influence people’s views on climate change and energy issues?
People’s level of science knowledge helps to a degree to explain their beliefs about climate and energy issues, but it depends on their partisanship.
A wider partisan and ideological gap between younger, older generations
The generation gap in American politics is dividing two younger age groups, Millennials and Generation X, from the two older groups, Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.
What backgrounds do U.S. Supreme Court justices have?
When President Donald Trump nominated federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death last year of Justice Antonin Scalia, he chose a candidate whose professional background is very much in line with previous and current justices.
In Republicans’ views of a border wall, proximity to Mexico matters
Republicans who live closer to the U.S.-Mexico border are less supportive of the wall than are those who live farther away.
Public remains divided over role of government in financial regulation
As Donald Trump and congressional Republicans take steps to roll back Obama-era financial regulations, the public remains divided over whether regulations of financial institutions have gone too far or not gone far enough.
