In 2010 surveys, 42% of Americans favored same-sex marriage — up from 37% just in 2009 — while fewer than half (48%) opposed gay marriage for the first time in Pew Research Center polling.

Despite concern about mounting federal debt, majorities or pluralities continue to favor increased spending in five of 18 program areas.

Among adult internet users who engaged with a political campaign on Twitter or a social networking site, more supported Republican congressional candidates than Democratic candidates.

Among internet users, 7% of adults friended a candidate or political group on a social networking site or followed them on Twitter.

More than seven-in-ten Republicans say protecting gun rights is more important than controlling gun ownership, while nearly as many Democrats say gun control is more important.

Over the entire course of 2010, just 1% of news coverage was devoted to the Iraq war.

Hispanic voters are nearly three times more prevalent in states that gained congressional seats and Electoral College votes in the 2010 reapportionment than they are in states that lost seats.

While 16% of Americans are unaffiliated with any particular religion, not a single member of Congress lists his or her religion as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.”

For the first time, the internet has surpassed television as the main source of national and international news for people younger than age 30.