Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Political Issues

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    Public Worried about Iran but Wary of Military Action

    Summary of Findings Most Americans believe that Iran wants to possess nuclear technology in order to develop nuclear weapons, not energy. But there is broad public opposition to launching U.S. air strikes against military targets in Iran, with multilateral sanctions by far the preferred option approach for dealing with the situation. More than eight-in-ten Americans […]

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    The Iraq-Vietnam Difference

    Public opinion toward the U.S. war in Iraq bears striking parallels – and clear contrasts – with the war in Vietnam more than three decades ago. In both cases, presidents tied their political fortunes to the war. And in both cases, they paid a heavy political price when the public grew disillusioned with the conflict. […]

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    Judge Allows Religious Rights Case at Guantanamo Bay to Move Forward

    Washington, D.C. A May 10 Associated Press article reports that U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina is allowing four former detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to pursue a lawsuit alleging their U.S. captors violated their religious rights. The Pew Forum responds to questions raised by the news. Featuring: David Masci, Senior Research Fellow, Pew Forum on […]

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    Anti-Semitism and Anti-Americanism

    Washington, D.C. In his new book, Überpower: The Imperial Temptation of America, Josef Joffe offers an analysis of the danger and burden of America’s standing as a singular global power. He also investigates the similarities between classical anti-Semitism and the recent rise of anti-Americanism throughout the world. Joffe was interviewed following an event on Capitol […]

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    In the Battle of the Bulge, More Soldiers Than Successes

    At a time when the nation’s waistline has expanded to record girth, about two-thirds of American adults are either dieting, exercising or doing both. But by their own reckoning, they don’t have much to show for their efforts.

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    Eating More; Enjoying Less

    Americans are eating more but enjoying it less. Just 39% of adults say they enjoy eating “a great deal,” down from the 48% who said the same in a Gallup survey in 1989.