Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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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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  • short reads

    Rate Rap Low

    More than seven-in-ten among the U.S. public, including nearly equal majorities of both blacks and whites, agree that rap’s societal impact is bad.

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    Think Decision to Use Force In Iraq Was Right

    Negative views of the decision to take military action against Iraq are at their highest point since the war began almost five years ago; slightly more than a third of Americans (36%) now say the decision to use military force was right, while 56% see it as wrong.

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    Independents on Super Tuesday

    Independent voters, who will be voting in many of the more than 20 presidential primaries and caucuses being held tomorrow, hold substantially more favorable views of John McCain (64%) and Barack Obama (62%).

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    Economic Worries Rise Among Upscale Americans

    Three-quarters of Americans (75%), now rate strengthening the economy as a top priority for policymakers — up from 68% a year ago. Much of the increased emphasis comes from upper socio-economic groups.

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    Bush’s Last State of the Union

    More than a quarter of Americans (27%) say this year’s State of the Union address is less important than those in the past; last year just 16% saw the 2007 State of the Union address as less important than those in past years.

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    U.S. Muslims Optimistic About Israel

    Most American Muslims (61%) express optimism that a balanced solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be found.

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    Rate Oprah a Good Influence

    Nearly nine-in-ten black respondents (87%) view TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey as a positive influence in the black community; in a virtual tie with Winfrey is comedian, actor and author Bill Cosby.

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    America’s Pastime?

    BaseballThat’s the proportion of adults who said they were especially looking forward to baseball’s World Series according to a January Pew survey, down 13 points from 1988.