report | Feb 27, 2015

More View Netanyahu Favorably Than Unfavorably; Many Unaware of Israeli Leader

Survey Report The public has a more positive than negative view of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his address to a joint session of Congress next week. About four-in-ten (38%) have a favorable opinion of the Israeli leader, compared with 27% who hold an unfavorable view. Roughly a third (35%) express no opinion […]

report | Feb 26, 2015

Democrats Have More Positive Image, But GOP Runs Even or Ahead on Key Issues

Survey Report This week’s political battles over immigration, funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the Keystone XL pipeline have been waged by opposing parties that possess starkly different strengths and weaknesses. Majorities say the Democratic Party is open and tolerant, cares about the middle class and is not “too extreme.” By contrast, most […]

report | Feb 24, 2015

Growing Support for Campaign Against ISIS – and Possible Use of U.S. Ground Troops

Survey Report The public has grown more supportive of the U.S. fight against ISIS, as about twice as many approve (63%) as disapprove (30%) of the military campaign against the Islamic militant group in Iraq and Syria. Last October, 57% approved and 33% disapproved. The possibility of sending U.S. ground troops to the region is […]

report | Feb 23, 2015

Increased Public Support for the U.S. Arming Ukraine

Survey Report As fighting continues in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russian-backed rebels, the public has become more supportive of sending arms to the Ukrainian government and increasing sanctions on Russia. More still oppose (53%) than favor (41%) the U.S. sending arms and military supplies to the Ukrainian government, but support for arming Ukraine […]

report | Feb 10, 2015

Views of Job News Turn Much More Positive Over Past Year

Survey Report For the first time since the end of the recession in 2009, a greater share of the public is hearing mostly good news (28%) than bad news (22%) about the job situation. Nearly half (47%) say they are hearing a mix of good and bad news. This marks a stark change from a […]

report | Feb 9, 2015

83% Say Measles Vaccine Is Safe for Healthy Children

Survey Report An 83% majority of the public says vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) are safe for healthy children, while about one-in-ten (9%) think such vaccines are not safe. An additional 7% volunteer that they don’t know. Majorities across virtually every demographic and partisan group view the vaccines as safe. […]

report | Jan 22, 2015

Most View the CDC Favorably; VA’s Image Slips

Survey Report The public continues to express positive views of many agencies of the federal government, even though overall trust in government is near historic lows. Large majorities express favorable views of such government agencies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NASA and the Defense Department. In fact, favorable opinions surpass unfavorable […]

report | Jan 20, 2015

Obama in a Word: ‘Good,’ ‘Incompetent’

Survey Report As public perceptions of Barack Obama have changed over the course of his presidency, so too have the words used to describe him. The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Jan. 7-11 among 1,504 adults, finds that the words good (35 mentions) and incompetent (33 mentions) are used most frequently to […]

report | Jan 16, 2015

Most Support Stronger U.S. Ties With Cuba

Survey Report Fully 63% of Americans approve of the Obama administration’s decision last month to re-establish diplomatic ties with Cuba after more than 50 years. And there is equally broad support for going further and ending the decades-long U.S. trade embargo against Cuba (66% favor this). Yet there is broad public skepticism that a thaw […]

report | Jan 15, 2015

Public’s Policy Priorities Reflect Changing Conditions at Home and Abroad

Survey Report As views of the economy improve and terrorist threats persist, the public’s policy priorities have changed: For the first time in five years, as many Americans cite defending the U.S. against terrorism (76%) as a top policy priority  as say that about strengthening the nation’s economy (75%). Since Barack Obama began his second […]

report | Jan 14, 2015

Obama Job Rating Ticks Higher, Views of Nation’s Economy Turn More Positive

President Obama enters the seventh year of his presidency in a familiar position when compared with his recent predecessors. His 47% job approval rating places him squarely between George W. Bush (33%) and Bill Clinton (63%) at similar points in their second terms. Obama’s rating is comparable to Ronald Reagan’s in January 1987 (49%), when […]

report | Jan 12, 2015

Terrorism Worries Little Changed; Most Give Government Good Marks for Reducing Threat

Survey Report In the aftermath of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris — and months after the start of U.S. airstrikes against ISIS — there has been little change in the public’s worries about an imminent terrorist attack in the United States. One-in-four (25%) are very worried about a domestic terrorist attack happening “soon,” while about […]

report | Jan 8, 2015

The Politics of Financial Insecurity

While the least financially secure Americans are more likely to back Democrats, that support is undercut by low political participation. Those who are financially insecure are far more likely to opt out of the political system altogether.

report | Dec 18, 2014

As U.S. Energy Production Grows, Public Policy Views Show Little Change

Survey Report The public is gradually becoming aware of America’s energy boom. Currently, 54% say domestic energy production has been increasing in recent years, up from 48% in September 2013. Meanwhile, the recent slide in gas prices is registering widely: An overwhelming 89% say that that pump prices have fallen in the past month. Despite […]

report | Dec 16, 2014

Perceptions of Job News Trend Upward

For the first time in at least five years, as many Americans say they are hearing good news as bad news about the nation’s job situation.

report | Dec 15, 2014

About Half See CIA Interrogation Methods as Justified

Following the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on post-9/11 CIA interrogation practices, 51% of Americans say these CIA methods were justified, compared with 29% who say they were not.

report | Dec 11, 2014

Few See Quick Cure for Nation’s Political Divisions

Survey Report As 2014 draws to a close, the public is deeply pessimistic about the prospects for healing the nation’s deep political divisions. And most Americans think continued partisan gridlock would wreak significant damage on the country. To start, perceptions of the current level of political division continue at record levels: 81% say the country […]

report | Dec 11, 2014

Immigration Action Gets Mixed Response, But Legal Pathway Still Popular

Survey Report The public is divided over President Obama’s recent executive action that expands the number of undocumented immigrants permitted to stay and work in the U.S. At the same time, Americans continue to broadly support a pathway to legal status for people in this country illegally. About as many disapprove (50%) as approve (46%) […]

report | Dec 10, 2014

Growing Public Support for Gun Rights

Survey Report For the first time in more than two decades of Pew Research Center surveys, there is more support for gun rights than gun control. Currently, 52% say it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while 46% say it is more important to control gun ownership. Support for […]

report | Dec 8, 2014

Sharp Racial Divisions in Reactions to Brown, Garner Decisions

Survey Report The public has very different reactions to the recent grand jury decisions in two police-related deaths that have sparked protests in cities across the country. By 50% to 37%, Americans say a grand jury made the right decision not to charge former Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael […]

Refine Your Results