Politics

reportMar 26, 2009

Unusually Wide Gap in ’Satisfaction,’ ’Right Direction’ Measures
reportMar 26, 2009

Unusually Wide Gap in ’Satisfaction,’ ’Right Direction’ Measures

Americans’ perception about the state and direction of the nation usually go hand-in-hand. However, big events, like last fall’s election, can split these two indicators of the public’s national outlook.
reportMar 25, 2009

Americans Favor Carbon Cap, Gays in the Military and Renewing U.S.-Cuba Ties

Overview Washington’s policy agenda has been dominated by the economy and financial crisis during President Obama’s first two months in office. Yet a number of other policy proposals are currently being considered or may emerge in the future. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted March […]
reportMar 25, 2009

Strong Interest in AIG, Positive Views of Congress’ Response

Summary of Findings The controversy over the millions of dollars in bonuses paid to AIG employees attracted considerable public interest last week. In fact, about as many people tracked that story very closely (50%) as followed news about the overall economy very closely (52%). The AIG controversy was the most closely followed story of the […]
reportMar 19, 2009

Support For Health Care Overhaul, But It’s Not 1993

Overview Most Americans believe that the nation’s health care system is in need of substantial changes. But there is less support for completely rebuilding the health care system than there was in April 1993, during the early stage of the Clinton administration’s unsuccessful effort to revamp health care. Still, the public continues to favor the […]
reportMar 19, 2009

Support For Health Care Overhaul, But It’s Not 1993

Overview Most Americans believe that the nation’s health care system is in need of substantial changes. But there is less support for completely rebuilding the health care system than there was in April 1993, during the early stage of the Clinton administration’s unsuccessful effort to revamp health care. Still, the public continues to favor the […]
reportMar 18, 2009

Public Sees More of a Mix of Good and Bad Economic News

Summary of Findings After months of bleak economic news, an increasing proportion of Americans now say they are hearing a mix of good and bad economic news, while fewer say they are hearing mostly bad news. As has been the case for the last few months, very few say they are hearing mostly good news […]
reportMar 16, 2009

Obama’s Approval Rating Slips Amid Division Over Economic Proposals

Overview President Barack Obama’s approval rating has slipped, as a growing number of Americans see him listening more to his party’s liberals than to its moderates and many voice opposition to some of his key economic proposals. Obama’s job approval rating has slipped from 64% in February to 59% currently, while disapproval has jumped from […]
reportMar 12, 2009

Many Would Shrug if Their Local Newspaper Closed

Summary of Findings As many newspapers struggle to stay economically viable, fewer than half of Americans (43%) say that losing their local newspaper would hurt civic life in their community “a lot.” Even fewer (33%) say they would personally miss reading the local newspaper a lot if it were no longer available. Not unexpectedly, those […]
reportMar 6, 2009

Why Surveys of Muslim Americans Differ