Current Events

47% Favor U.S. Military Action Against Syria If Other UN Countries Involved

Despite the strong advocacy of President Obama and other top administration officials, most voters oppose U.S. military action against Syria but are much more supportive if other United Nations member countries are involved. Voters are now more critical of the administration’s handling of Syria.

Just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters favor U.S. military action against Syria in retaliation for that government's use of chemical weapons against its own people. Fifty-nine percent (59%) are opposed to U.S. military action. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

New Low: 28% Think Passage of Immigration Reform Likely This Year

Most voters still want the emphasis on border control, and with this in mind, fewer than ever think Congress is likely to pass immigration reform this year.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor a reform plan that gives legal status to many of those now here illegally as long as the border is really secured to prevent future illegal immigration. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% are opposed to this plan even with the guarantee of stricter border control. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 31-September 1, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

65% Think Congress Should Decide About Syria

Despite Secretary of State John Kerry’s announcement yesterday that the United States has proof of the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons against its opponents, just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should provide increased military assistance to protect the citizens of Syria.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken Thursday and Friday nights, finds that 40% do not think the United States should get more involved militarily in Syria. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 29-30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

31% Favor More Military Help to Syrian Rebels If Chemical Weapons Charges Are True

U.S. voters continue to show little interest in getting involved in the civil war in Syria despite new allegations that the Syrian government may have used chemical weapons against civilians. Just 31% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should provide increased military assistance to protect the citizens of Syria if it is confirmed that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that slightly more (37%) remain opposed to increased U.S. military assistance even if the use of chemical weapons is confirmed, while 33% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 23-24, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

18% Say U.S. Should Continue Military Aid to Egypt

As the death toll continues to rise in Egypt, most voters don’t think the United States should continue to provide military and financial aid to the country. Belief among U.S. voters that Egypt will become a peaceful and democratic nation in the near future has diminished since the Arab Spring in 2011.

Just 18% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should continue providing military and financial aid to Egypt, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-four percent (54%) say the United States should not continue this aid. Another 27% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 15-16, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

31% Think Internet Has Had Bad Influence on U.S. Politics

Americans are becoming even less enthused about the Internet’s influence on American culture, politics and journalism.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% now say the Internet’s impact on American culture overall has been good for the country, down from 37% in April.  Twenty-nine percent (29%) think the Internet’s impact on American culture has been bad for the nation, while 30% say neither. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

24% Think Americans Selfish For Putting Economy Ahead of Global Warming

Voters remain concerned about global warming, but they still express more urgency about the economy and don’t feel selfish for doing so.

When given a choice, 67% of Likely U.S. Voters say creating jobs is more important than taking steps to stop global warming, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-four percent (24%) say taking action on global warming is more important. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 5-6, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

24% Buy Print Copy of Their Local Paper Daily or Nearly Every Day

The news media was abuzz this week when it was announced that the longtime owners of The Washington Post had sold the newspaper to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, a move seen by many as a no-confidence vote in the newspaper business. Fewer Americans than ever prefer reading a print newspaper to an online version, but there's also less confidence that online and other news sources can fill the void left by vanishing traditional papers.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Americans, when given the choice, prefer to read a printed version of a newspaper over the online version, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-nine percent (29%) prefer the online versions of papers, while 12% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted August 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

36% Think A New U.S.-Russia Cold War Likely in Next Few Years

Following President Obama’s decision to snub Russian President Vladimir Putin during an upcoming trip to Europe, U.S. voters’ views of Putin have worsened, but most think it’s unlikely the United States and Russia will reenter a Cold War period.

A plurality (49%) of Likely U.S. Voters, however, agrees that Russia’s decision to grant temporary asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is bad for U.S.-Russian relations. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just four percent (4%) view granting asylum to Snowden as good for the relationship, while 31% believe it will have no impact. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

62% Would Feel Safer If Their Child Attended A School With An Armed Guard

Arkansas’ state attorney general last week limited the ability of local school districts to have armed guards. But most Americans with school-age children continue to say they would feel safer if their child attended a school with an armed guard and think the decision to put armed guards in the schools should be made by local government officials.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Americans with children of elementary or secondary school age would feel safer if their child attended a school with an armed security guard. Just 24% say they would feel safer if their child went to a school where no adults were allowed to own a gun. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on August 4-5, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Favor Stricter Gun Control Laws, 46% Disagree

Americans are evenly divided on whether the United States needs tougher gun control laws, but most still agree that existing laws need to be more strictly enforced.

Forty-six percent (46%) of U.S. Adults believe the United States needs stricter gun control laws, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But just as many (46%) say the country does not need stricter gun laws. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 4-5, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

32% Say Child Born in U.S. to Illegal Immigrant Should Receive Automatic Citizenship

The August recess will allow members of Congress to hear concerns from constituents and other interests on some major legislation before next year’s mid-term elections, perhaps the biggest being immigration reform.  A majority of voters continue to see border security as the most important goal but also value a welcoming immigration policy that only excludes criminals and those looking to cheat the system. Fewer voters, however, favor automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Likely Voters believe gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. While a majority of voters have felt this way for years, that finding ties the lowest level measured to date.  Thirty-six percent (36%) say it’s more important to legalize the status of undocumented workers in the United States. (To see survey question wording,click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

50% See U.S. Involvement in Middle East as Bad for U.S.

An unprecedented 19 U.S. embassies and consulates remain closed today throughout the Middle East and North Africa in response to a terrorist threat from al Qaeda.  While the Middle East has been a major focus of U.S. policy for decades, pluralities of U.S. voters say the country’s involvement in Middle East politics has had a negative effect on both sides. In addition, more voters than ever believe most Muslims view the United States as an enemy.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern politics hurts stability in that region, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 25% believe it helps stability. Nineteen percent (19%) believe U.S. involvement has had no impact on that region, while just as many (19%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 3-4, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

33% Say Media Should Withhold Names, Pictures of Violent Criminals

Following outrage over Rolling Stone magazine’s decision to put a sympathetic picture of the Boston Marathon bomber on its cover, most Americans say the media pay too much attention to the personal lives of violent criminals. One-out-of-three believes the media should withhold the names and pictures of violent criminals in order to grant them less attention.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of U.S. Adults believe the news media focus too much on the personal lives of violent criminals, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just nine percent (9%) believe the media do not pay enough attention to violent criminals’ personal lives, while 19% say the level of attention is about right. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

71% View Rolling Stone's Terrorist Cover Photo As A Publicity Stunt

Rolling Stone magazine sparked outrage last week when it released an image of its August issue cover featuring a flattering photograph of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The magazine’s editors maintain that the photo properly reflects the article’s message and “falls within the traditions of journalism." Most Americans don’t see the decision as an example of good journalism and agree with retailers who have pulled the magazine off the stands, but they also recognize that Rolling Stone has a right to publish what it chooses.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of American Adults believe Rolling Stone’s decision to put Tsarnaev on its cover was simply a publicity stunt, according to a Rasmussen Reports national survey. Just 10% believe the decision was an example of good journalism. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 19-20, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

38% Think Government Is Best Bet for Alternative Energy Development

While President Obama continues to push for government-funded research to promote alternative energy sources, Americans continue to express more confidence in the private sector to develop those sources. Forty-eight percent (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe research by private businesses seeking a profit will do more to meet the U.S. need for affordable energy sources than research by the government, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-eight percent (38%) believe government research seeking alternative energy sources will do more to meet this need. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 14-15, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

44% Favor Ban on Abortion After 20 Weeks, 41% Oppose

Several states including Texas and Wisconsin are advancing new restrictive abortion laws that would, among other things, ban abortions after 20 weeks and require doctors that perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Voters nationwide are almost evenly divided on the 20-week ban but are more supportive of additional doctor requirements.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a ban on abortion after 20 weeks. Forty-one percent (41%) oppose such a ban. Another 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 16-17, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

8% Think Applicant’s Word Is Enough When Seeking Federal Health Insurance Subsidies

The Obama administration has temporarily made it easier for low-income Americans to qualify for health insurance subsidies under the president’s new health care law, but voters overwhelmingly believe that trusting the applicant’s word is not enough.

The health care law provides subsidies for low-income Americans who don’t have access to health insurance from their employer, and 86% of Likely U.S. Voters think these individuals should be forced to prove they are eligible by documenting their income and their lack of access to insurance. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only eight percent (8%) believe it should simply be assumed that all applicants are giving honest information on their applications. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 10-11, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

56% Favor Delaying Individual Health Care Mandate, 26% Opposed

Now that President Obama has delayed implementation of the employer mandate portion of his new national health care law, most voters think he also should delay the requirement that every American buy or obtain health insurance.

Only 35% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the individual mandate anyway, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) oppose the law’s requirement that every American obtain health insurance or else be forced to pay fines. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 10-11, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Favor Reform Plan That Cuts Future Illegal Immigration by Just 50%

The Congressional Budget Office estimated last week that the immigration reform plan now before Congress would stop the flow of future illegal immigrants by no more than 50%, and voters don’t think that’s enough.  Support for the plan has fallen, but it falls even more dramatically when the 50% figure is attached.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 50% of Likely U.S. Voters now favor a plan to give legal status to those here illegally even if the border is really secured to prevent future immigration.  That’s down from 60% less than three weeks ago despite the U.S. Senate’s passage of the measure since then.  Thirty percent (30%) are opposed, and 19% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 8-9, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.