Obama returns focus to America’s struggling middle class
As President Obama prepares to make a “major” speech on the economy today, our past reports describe the challenges the middle class has faced in the past decades.
Many Say Economic Recovery Long Way Off
Four years after the recession officially ended, the economic recovery remains a long way off in the view of many Americans. And opinions of economic conditions have slipped back to levels from earlier this year.
America’s Global Image Remains More Positive Than China’s
While publics around the world believe China’s economic power is rising, it has not led to more positive ratings for the country.
Polling’s mixed message for 2014, 2016
At midyear, the national opinion polls provide little indication of which way the political wind is blowing looking ahead to 2014, and 2016. Most of the key public opinion measures are mixed, or uncertain.
Describing Obama, Bush in a word
Public views of Barack Obama today are very different from those of George W. Bush at about this point in his second term. Obama’s job rating is in positive territory, while Bush’s tilted negative. But a look at the one-word descriptions of the two men finds some common ground. Most notably, the word incompetent appears high on the one-word list for each.
For African Americans, discrimination is not dead
America’s struggles with race and racism are never completely out of the news. But it is hard to remember when a series of stories have given this issue such resonance, whether in the rulings of the Supreme Court on affirmative action and voting rights, a tense trial in a Florida courtroom and even the racially insensitive comments of a celebrity chef.
Obama seeks to improve economic ties with South Africa as China edges in
President Obama’s trip to South Africa this week aims to strengthen economic ties between the two countries at a time when China’s growing economic presence in the region has added a new dynamic. According to the European Commission, in 2011, China accounted for a larger share of South Africa’s trade than the U.S. did. And the […]
Obama Job Approval Holds Steady
Barack Obama’s job approval rating has changed little in the past month, despite a series of recent controversies. In part, Obama is benefiting from improving views of the economy – the share rating the nation’s economy as excellent or good has doubled over the past year.
In Germany, they still love Obama
On Wednesday, Barack Obama returns to Berlin, home to one of the more dramatic moments from his first presidential campaign. In July 2008, speaking beneath the city’s 200-foot-tall Victory Column, Obama pledged to heal the transatlantic divisions that had erupted during then-President George W. Bush’s time in office. “The walls between old allies on either […]
Under Obama, Egyptians’ views of U.S. worse than under George W. Bush presidency
Today marks four years since a newly elected President Barack Obama spoke to a packed, enthusiastic audience of students at Cairo University, calling for “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world.” Four years later, much has changed in Egypt, but anti-Americanism persists.
