Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Politics

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    Most Say Illegal Immigrants Should Be Allowed to Stay, But Citizenship Is More Divisive

    Overview A new survey finds that seven-in-ten Americans (71%) say there should be a way for people in the United States illegally to remain in this country if they meet certain requirements, while 27% say they should not be allowed to stay legally. Most who favor providing illegal immigrants with some form of legal status […]

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    Supreme Court’s Favorable Rating Still at Historic Low

    Overview As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on two same-sex marriage cases, and with several other high-profile cases on its docket, the court’s favorability rating remains close to an all-time low. A national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted March 13-17 among 1,501 adults, finds that 52% view the court favorably, while […]

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    The GOP’s Staunch Conservative Problem

    The outsize influence of hard-line elements in the party base is doing to the GOP what supporters of Gene McCarthy and George McGovern did to the Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s — radicalizing its image and standing in the way of its revitalization. Read the commentary on The Washington Post site.

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    Obama Job Approval Slips as Economic Pessimism Rises

    Overview Barack Obama’s job approval rating has tumbled since shortly after his re-election, as the public’s economic expectations for the coming year have soured. Despite substantial public awareness of recent gains in the stock market and rebounding real-estate values, the percentage saying economic conditions will get worse over the next year has risen to its […]

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    Growing Support for Gay Marriage: Changed Minds and Changing Demographics

    Overview The rise in support for same-sex marriage over the past decade is among the largest changes in opinion on any policy issue over this time period. A new national survey finds that much of the shift is attributable to the arrival of a large cohort of young adults – the Millennial generation – who […]

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    A Decade Later, Iraq War Divides the Public

    Overview A decade after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the public offers a divided judgment of the war: 46% say the U.S. has mostly succeeded in achieving its goals in Iraq, about as many (43%) say it has mostly failed. The public also is split over the original decision to use military force in Iraq. […]

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    Why Own a Gun? Protection Is Now Top Reason

    Overview The vast majority of gun owners say that having a gun makes them feel safer. And far more today than in 1999 cite protection – rather than hunting or other activities – as the mai reason they own guns. A national survey finds that nearly half of gun owners (48%) volunteer that the main […]

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    Views of Economic News Remain Mixed

    Overview As federal spending cuts take effect and the stock market has reached record highs, the public continues to say they are hearing a mix of good and bad news about the economy. Overall, 58% say they have been hearing mixed economic news; a third (33%) have been hearing mostly bad news about the economy, […]