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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.

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Stockton, Alabama, USA - April 22, 2023: Montpelier Methodist Church is pictured in Baldwin County Bicentennial Park in Stockton, Alabama. The church was built in 1895.

How religion declines around the world

Religion in a country tends to decline in three transitional stages that unfold across generations, a new paper using Center data proposes.

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  • short reads

    Global Warming Not So Hot

    Dealing with global warming ranks at the bottom of the public’s policy agenda.

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    Political Brain

    On a 12-question news quiz, Americans answered an average of 5.3 questions correctly.

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    Filibuster Proof

    Just a quarter of Americans know it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster in the Senate.

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    Colbert Nation

    Just over four-in-ten Americans can identify Stephen Colbert as a comedian and television talk show host.

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    Are Wireless

    Just over half of adults connect to the internet wirelessly at least on occasion.

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    America Online

    Three-quarters of adults use the internet.

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    Government-Sponsored News

    In a study of local media, more than six-in-ten stories come from government officials.

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    Little Reporting in the News

    A PEJ study found eight out of 10 stories studied simply repeated or repackaged previously published information.

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    Favorable First Lady

    Fully seven-in-ten Americans have a favorable opinion of First Lady Michelle Obama.