Political Issues

The 2010 spill was one of the two biggest stories of the year in terms of news interest. Support for offshore drilling plummeted, but has largely recovered.

In December 2014, the balance of opinion flipped: For the first time, more Americans say protecting gun rights (52%) is more important than controlling gun ownership (46%).

A majority of Americans favor the death penalty for those convicted of murder, but support is at a 40-year low.

Over 1300 executions have occurred in the U.S. since 1977, the year after the Supreme Court reaffirmed its approval of the death penalty. See how many executions have been performed in each state since the ruling.

The U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki has long divided Americans and Japanese: 56% of Americans say it was justified, versus 14% of Japanese.

Many supporters of marijuana legalization cite its perceived health benefits, while opponents say the drug hurts people and society.

Adversaries in World War II, fierce economic competitors in the 1980s and early 1990s, Americans and Japanese nonetheless share a deep mutual respect.

A new Indiana religious freedom law has sparked national debate. Some say it strengthens protection of religious liberty, while others say it could provide legal cover for businesses to discriminate. The U.S. public is divided over these types of issues.

Nigerians head to the polls this weekend for a long-delayed presidential election. Here's what they had to say about the state of their country when we surveyed them in the spring of 2014.