The Morning Buzz | June 14, 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?

I’m back from Rio de Janeiro, just as delegates begin to flood the city for Rio+20. Traffic chaos, says the mayor, is inevitable. But you know – it’s not like Rio is hosting the next World Cup or Summer Olympics or anything like that.

If you have a spare moment this morning, tune in to the live stream of “Religious Liberty: What It Is and Isn’t,” an event hosted by the Center for American Progress and featuring our very own Dr. Robert P. Jones, who will be providing an overview of Americans’ opinions on this contentious issue. You can also follow conversations about the event on Twitter at #CAPReligiousLiberty.

Republicans will likely have to moderate their policies on certain social issues if they want to appeal to Millennials – but Democrats may also have to change their tune on Medicare and Social Security to retain their current advantage among this crucial demographic in future elections. Nearly half (48%) of younger Millennials (age 18-24) say they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, while 32% say they have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party.

New York’s Jewish population is on the rise, thanks in large part to the growing numbers of Orthodox Jews. For more on Jews’ perspectives on a wide variety of issues, including the values they see as the core of their Jewish identity, check out the 2012 Jewish Values Survey.

As Gabrielle Giffords’ seat in Congress passes on to another Arizona Democrat, violent rhetoric is creeping back into the 2012 campaign. Shortly after Giffords was shot in January 2011, a majority of Americans said the harsh rhetoric contributed to her targeting.

Could Republicans’ tough talk on immigration hurt or help their chances among evangelicals? Fifty-four percent of white evangelicals say that best way to solve the country’s illegal immigration problem is to both secure the borders and provide an earned path to citizenship. However, nearly two-thirds (66%) also say that the U.S. should make a serious effort to deport all illegal immigrants back to their own countries.

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