The Morning Buzz | July 9, 2012

Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? The little-known reason why Ph.D.s are so difficult to earn: it’s not the coursework or the dissertation, it’s the snake fight at the end.

A new Latino Decisions poll reveals that Latinos in Florida are as eager for their President and Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform as they are for their leaders to fix the economy.

Those of you who are following Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ divorce probably know that Cruise’s Scientology is rumored to have played a role in the couple’s split. But did you also know that interfaith marriages with children are less likely to survive overall, at least according to data from 2001? More at USA Today.

Strangely enough, upper-income Americans are feeling worse about the economy than at any other point during 2012, according to Gallup.

A Republican state representative in Louisiana abruptly dropped her support for Gov. Bobby Jindal’s voucher bill to fund private schools after learning that “religious” did not mean “Christian,” and that the bill might thus fund Muslim schools. Nearly half of Americans and two-thirds of Republicans believe that Islam is at odds with American values.

And John Boehner declares that “the American people probably aren’t going to fall in love with Mitt Romney.” But, he says, that doesn’t matter, because a vote for Romney is a vote against Obama.

Want to receive the Morning Buzz as a daily email? Sign up here. For updates and coverage throughout the day, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.