As the 2008 election approached, the public mood about the economy was not very good, but it was better than it is today. At that time, about half (48%) of Americans said jobs were difficult to find, a number that increased to 79% in 2011.

Following the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses four years ago, 40% of Americans said that the amount of press coverage it received was too much.

The biggest one-week story of the year was the May 1 killing May of Osama bin Laden by Navy Seals, which filled 69% of that week’s newshole. It was the biggest weekly story ever measured by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism since they began tracking coverage in January 2007.

More than half (52%) of combat veterans who served in the post-9/11 wars said they had suffered emotionally traumatic or distressing experiences while in the military.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Democrats say that what bothers them most about the tax system is their belief that wealthy people are not paying their fair share; only 38% of Republicans agree.

One-third of voters say their own representative in Congress should not be re-elected.

Nearly half (46%) of unauthorized adult immigrants in the U.S. today are parents of minor children.