Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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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.

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    Unemployment & Presidential Approval

    The unemployment rate stood at 7.6% when Obama took office; its rise, and the corresponding fall in Obama’s approval rating, so far mirrors Reagan’s first term.

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    Olympic Spirit

    Six in ten Americans were especially looking forward to the Winter Olympics.

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    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.