Plurality of Americans support current level of defense spending
A plurality of Americans say defense spending should be kept at current levels.
Just 28% of Republicans believe GOP advocates its principles well
A minority of Republicans believe that their party is doing a good job in standing up for its traditional positions of smaller government, tax-cutting and conservative social values.
Sochi Olympics shine spotlight on Russia’s Muslim population
Security has been among the main storylines leading up to the Winter Olympics, set to begin in Sochi, Russia. Sochi is not far from the city of Volgograd, the target of several recent suicide bombings, and according to The Associated Press, up to 100,000 security personnel have been deployed to guard against potential terrorist acts. […]
Key findings about growing religious hostilities around the world
Highlights from the fifth annual Pew Research Center study of religious hostilities around the world.
Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High
A third of the 198 countries studied had a high or very high level of social hostilities involving religion in 2012. About three-in-ten countries had a high or very high level of government restrictions on religion, roughly the same as in 2011.
As 2014 brings new state laws, a look at public opinion on the issues
Every new year means adding thousands of new state laws to the books. This year’s wide range includes everything from tanning bed age limits (Illinois), to a new ban on selling shark fins (Delaware). While most new laws represent incremental change, sometimes state laws can also signal broader movement on a public policy issue or […]
Congress ends least-productive year in recent history
Congress enacted 57 laws -- just 49 of them substantive -- in the first session of its two-year term, the smallest first-year legislative output in nearly two decades.
In Deficit Debate, Public Resists Cuts in Entitlements and Aid to Poor
Survey Report As President Obama prepares to sign a bipartisan budget agreement that its proponents describe as a modest step toward addressing the deficit, the public shows little appetite for making some of the spending cuts often discussed as part of a broader “grand bargain” on the budget. The latest national survey by the Pew […]
States that allow same-sex marriage also provide protections for religious groups and clergy who oppose it
The battle over same-sex marriage has been about more than whether to allow gays and lesbians to wed. In every state where same-sex marriage is legal – including Illinois, which today became the 16th state to allow gays and lesbians to marry – politicians and others have also debated how to best protect religious freedom. […]
Texting while driving may be common, but it’s illegal in most states
Number of states that ban texting while driving.
