Short Reads

Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

short readAug 6, 2026

Darline Graham, accompanied by her husband, Larry Nordone, is sworn in as U.S. senator by Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley of Iowa on July 14. Graham was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The U.S. Senate has had 43 appointed members since 1990, and 27 of them (63%) have run to keep their seat.

short readAug 3, 2026

A kindergarten teacher at Ridgetop Elementary School in Austin, Texas, instructs students in Spanish. (Mikala Compton/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images)

short readJul 28, 2026

Visitors view the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23, 2025. (Tom Brenner for the Washington Post via Getty Images)

short readJul 23, 2026

An AI sign at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in July 2024. (Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

short readsMar 15, 2013

Number of Homeowners Who Became Renters Trends Upward

In 2011, 3 million recent movers who were previously homeowners became renters, with the change concentrated among the young.
short readsMar 14, 2013

Republicans Want Their Party to Move in a More Conservative Direction

Six-in-ten Republican voters say they want to see the GOP move in a more conservative direction.
short readsMar 13, 2013

Wide Partisan Gap Exists Over U.S. Aid to World’s Needy

The number of Republicans who would decrease U.S. aid to the world’s needy is 45 points more than that of Democrats.
short readsMar 12, 2013

Public Puts Priority on Developing Alternative Energy Sources

More than half of Americans say the priority for addressing U.S. energy needs should be put on developing alternatives to production of oil, coal and natural gas.
short readsMar 11, 2013

More Republicans than Democrats Think Their Own Party Is out of Touch

Over a third of Republicans (36%) say the GOP is out of touch with the American people, a figure higher than Democrats who say the same of their party.
short readsMar 8, 2013

Women Make Significant Gains in the Workplace and Educational Attainment, but Lag in Pay

Women comprise almost half the workforce (46.7%) and now surpass men in college enrollment and completion. But their earnings still lag men.
short readsMar 7, 2013

U.S. Catholics Divided on Direction of Church under New Pope

Just over half of U.S. Catholics say the next pope should maintain the traditional teachings of the church; nearly as many favor new directions.
short readsMar 6, 2013

Just Under Half of Public Sees Action on Gun Laws as Essential this Year

Though nearly half of the public says it is essential for the president and Congress to act on major gun legislation this year, Democrats are much more likely to say this than Republicans.
short readsMar 5, 2013

Partisans Divided About Level of U.S. Support for Israel

About four-in-ten Americans say the level of U.S. support for Israel has been about right, but there’s a partisan gap on the issue.
short readsMar 4, 2013

Top Reason for Taking a Break from Facebook: Too Busy

About one-in-five (21%) Facebook users who took a break from the service say they did so because they were too busy and didn’t have time for it.

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Short Reads

Most U.S. senators appointed since 1990 have run to keep their seat – and most have won

What do Americans think about language learning in U.S. schools?

Most Americans favor big changes to the political system that likely would require amending the Constitution

What Americans think about the global AI race

Number of Homeowners Who Became Renters Trends Upward

Republicans Want Their Party to Move in a More Conservative Direction

Wide Partisan Gap Exists Over U.S. Aid to World’s Needy

Public Puts Priority on Developing Alternative Energy Sources

More Republicans than Democrats Think Their Own Party Is out of Touch

Women Make Significant Gains in the Workplace and Educational Attainment, but Lag in Pay

U.S. Catholics Divided on Direction of Church under New Pope

Just Under Half of Public Sees Action on Gun Laws as Essential this Year

Partisans Divided About Level of U.S. Support for Israel

Top Reason for Taking a Break from Facebook: Too Busy

Short Reads

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