What makes this Supreme Court different from other Supreme Courts?

Here’s what last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decisions signify: Old America has conceded to the New America. The New America is the coalition that came to power with President Barack Obama in 2008 and gave him the winning majority. It’s a coalition of groups marginalized for most of U.S. history: […] Read more »

‘Decline in Moral Values’ Likely to be Big Topic in 2016 Debate

Last week’s Supreme Court decision all but ended the debate about the legality of gay marriage in America. Yet there is ample reason to think it has arrived at the beginning of another trend: a rise in the importance some voters attach to cultural issues in the 2016 presidential campaign. […] Read more »

Trust Differs Most by Ideology for Church, Police, Presidency

In the U.S., liberals and conservatives report markedly different levels of confidence in nearly every key institution Gallup measures, reflecting the general polarization that typifies the country today. The confidence gap — the difference between groups in levels of confidence for a particular institution — is largest for the presidency […] Read more »

Why Gun Control and Abortion Are Different From Gay Marriage

The legalization of same-sex marriage is a potent example of a dominant theme in American history: Over time, civil rights expand, and discrimination ebbs. … As a result, it’s fair to divide the major issues in American political life into two broad categories. In one category are the rights-based issues […] Read more »