Stat: 41%: The share of U.S. adults who have some form of health care debt.  Story: Millions of Americans are struggling with debt, from credit card bills to unexpected medical expenses. And many face a tough choice between paying off debt or covering basic needs such as rent, food, and health care. But what happens when these debts go unpaid?  In this episode, Lester Bird of The Pew Charitable Trusts explains how it’s possible for consumers with debt to end up in civil court, facing a...

Stat: 1 foot: the amount the sea level rose in the Chesapeake Bay in the last century, twice as fast as the global average. Story: Climate change is driving sea-level rise and worsening coastal flooding across the globe. And in many coastal communities, the rising waters are changing local environments and the places people call home. For generations, the Nause-Waiwash people have raised families, worked, and practiced traditions like muskrat trapping in the marshlands of Maryland’s...

The rise of deepfakes—realistic fake videos made with artificial intelligence software—is making it even more difficult to sort fact from fiction.  When this episode originally aired in 2019, 57% of social media news consumers said they expected what they see there to be largely inaccurate. And the public continues to be wary about changes in the digital landscape. In 2023, Pew Research Center found that 52% of U.S. adults said they are more concerned than excited about AI in their...

Stat: 2 million: The number of times people with mental health conditions in the United States are jailed annually.  Story: In the United States, law enforcement officers and emergency room physicians are often the only service providers on call to respond to people in a mental or behavioral health crisis—but they don't always have adequate training or capacity to handle these calls. As communities throughout the country grapple with increasing demand for mental health resources, new...

If you’ve ever seen a manatee, chances are you were in Florida—but these aquatic relatives of the elephant also live across 21 African countries. In this episode, 2017 Pew marine fellow Lucy Keith-Diagne discusses the African manatees that live in remote, murky waters, and explains what makes this species different from other manatees and the challenges marine scientists experience in collecting data on them. Since this episode first aired in 2018, Keith-Diagne and her fellow researchers...

Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. In 2019, when this episode originally aired, 50% of the world’s mangroves had been lost. Now, 50% of the world’s remaining mangroves are at risk.  Reversing the decline of these habitats isn’t just a science—it’s an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera along with high-resolution satellite imagery to assess real-time changes in mangrove...

The “After the Fact” team provides data and expert analysis on the biggest challenges facing society today. We go behind the scenes with experts, examine solutions pointing the way forward, and feature people and stories that bring data points to life. What keeps you listening to the podcast? Tell us in a short survey at pewtrusts.org/podcastsurvey. Upon submission we’ll enter your name to win a $100 gift card. The survey deadline is Sept. 15 so fill it out soon for your chance to win. ...

Stat: 13%: The average five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. This is compared to a 90% average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Story: Scientists have made tremendous progress on cancer research to improve patient survival rates. But challenges still exist because some cancers can suddenly become unaffected by treatment.  In this episode, Christina Towers, a cancer cell biologist...

Stat: 11%: An estimated 11% of U.S. adults who have ever had COVID-19 are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID, which can last three months or longer. This suggests that millions of people across the country could be affected. Story: Long COVID is a health condition that’s continuing to puzzle scientists. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, doctors saw some patients who would recover quickly, while other people’s symptoms continued to worsen—and many symptoms varied widely and...

Stat: 150%-300%: Beaches maintained with Indigenous management techniques experience 150% to 300% more clam production than beaches without.  Story: Conserving the environment sometimes requires people to actively manage a natural place and Indigenous communities across North America have shown the way for centuries. In this episode, Marco Hatch, associate professor of environmental science at Western Washington University and member of the Samish Indian Nation, discusses Indigenous...

Stat: 41%: The share of adults who experienced high levels of psychological distress at some point during the pandemic. Story: New studies show that physical touch is vitally important to the human experience. And during the pandemic, many Americans felt the impact of its loss because of quarantines and isolation. But how do our brains and bodies distinguish between different types of touch? In this episode, Ishmail Abdus-Saboor of Columbia University discusses how his research tries to...

Stat: 73%: The percentage of U.S. adults who have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests, according to Pew Research Center Story: Scientific discovery is essential to advancing society and improving people’s lives. In this series, “From Lab to Life,” we’re featuring scientists from a range of fields who share a common goal of making the world a better place. Trust in their work is vital to their success, so many scientists are...

Every day, science is improving the world. A new series from “After the Fact” tells you how. Featuring conversations with scientists from a range of fields, we look at innovative research that’s advancing society and making people’s lives better. We also learn more about the scientists themselves—personal stories of how they got started and what motivates them. Tune in to hear how these researchers are strengthening trust in science, building community, and making the world a better place.

Stat: 49%: The share of Americans who say the availability of affordable housing in their local community is a major problem, compared to 39% in 2018.  Story: Montana has been rapidly attracting new residents for more than a decade and during the COVID-19 pandemic the pace only accelerated. Housing prices there have tripled in some cities just as in many other states that have seen an influx of people.  In this episode, we hear from Montana state lawmakers Daniel and Katie Zolnikov about...

Stat: 12%: From 2017 to 2022, Minneapolis increased its housing stock by 12% while rents remained flat. Story: Minneapolis is drawing positive national attention for the city’s approach to curbing soaring housing costs. In this episode, we hear from Meg McMahan and Jason Wittenberg from Minneapolis’ Office of Community Planning and Economic Development about the city’s history of disparities in zoning policies and the strategies they’re implementing to secure more housing for residents. ...

Stat: 70%: The share of Americans who think young adults today have a harder time than their parents’ generation when it comes to buying a home. Story: Putting a roof over their heads is a struggle for many Americans. Rising house prices, restrictive zoning, increasing rents, and a lack of small mortgages are some of the hurdles facing people who want a safe and secure place to call home. In this episode, Alex Horowitz and Tara Roche, directors of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ housing...

Stat: 60%: The share of Americans who say they’re very concerned about the cost of housing.  Story:  In just a few years, from 2019 to 2022, the national median sale price for a single-family home increased by 25%. And the rising costs of buying and maintaining a house has 60% of Americans concerned. Is the American Dream of homeownership out of reach for many? In this episode of “Housing in America,” Richard Fry, an expert at the Pew Research Center, talks about the current trends in...

Rising rents, escalating home prices, and limited housing supply. They are some of the forces pushing the American Dream of homeownership out of reach for many. Increasingly, there is bipartisan support to find a way forward. In this season, After the Fact explores these trends and the challenges individuals and families face in finding housing that’s affordable and accessible . We also speak with experts and policymakers who are trying to help more people find a place to call home.

Story: Over most of last year, “After the Fact” looked at how people are restoring and building community at a time when the nation is divided and exhausted. From faith leaders to community activists, and from academics to policymakers, we found rich voices who offered stories of people coming together. At a time of division, they showed that unity is possible—and, in fact, is happening in many places, probably even near you. As the new year begins, this special episode shares reflections...

Stat: 57%: The percentage of Americans who believe that partisan conflicts receive too much attention these days. Story: A majority of Americans say partisan fighting gets too much attention while important issues facing the country get too little. In the final episode of our season on polarization, Utah Governor Spencer Cox says elected officials can do better at bridging our political divides. He is chair of the National Governors Association and leads an initiative called Disagree...

Stat: 79%: The share of Americans who believe access to the internet and social media has made people more divided in their political opinions.  Story: Social media plays a significant role in society, but data shows that most Americans believe it negatively affects our democracy and contributes to polarization. In this episode of “Beyond Polarization,” we hear how high school senior Eli Tillemann is helping his classmates learn how to embrace diversity of opinions. We also speak with...

Stat: 65%: The share of Americans who say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. Story: Political polarization has become overwhelming for the majority of Americans, with most agreeing that more attention is being paid to partisan fighting than solving the nation’s problems. But there is hope. In this episode of “Beyond Polarization,” we speak with experts from Pew Research Center about how Americans view politics and opportunities to find common ground. We also...

Stat: An inaccurate “double”: Both Democrats and Republicans imagine that almost twice as many of their political opponents hold more extreme views than they really do, according to a study by More in Common. Story: During times of increased polarization and increasing stresses on democracy, researchers are studying how to break down partisan divides and address misconceptions among members of the public. In the first episode of “Beyond Polarization,” Columbia University professor and author...

If discussing politics feels different today, that’s because it is. Pew Research Center reports that 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics because of the country’s deep partisan divisions. As polarization increases and trust declines, how can we move forward together?    We speak with researchers and bridge builders from across the political and generational spectrum in a new season of “After the Fact.” They share how they are facilitating...