Shows / After the Fact
After the Fact
After the Fact is a podcast from The Pew Charitable Trusts that brings you data and analysis on the issues that matter to you—from our environment and the sciences, to larger economic trends and public health. Experts from Pew and other special guests discuss the numbers and trends shaping some of society's biggest challenges with host Dan LeDuc, then go behind the facts with nonpartisan analysis and stories.
Episodes
- After the Fact
What Sea Lions Reveal About Ocean Health
Meet Gary. He's a California sea lion who ended up at the world's largest marine mammal hospital after being exposed to harmful marine algae. Gary needs care…
- After the Fact
Are Americans Getting Ruder?
Do you roll your eyes at dogs invading the grocery store? Cringe at music blasting during your morning commute? Or recoil at the smell of cigarette smoke…
- After the Fact
The Invisible System Keeping Us Healthy
This past summer, at least 20,000 people throughout the United States became sick from cyclospora, a parasite linked to contaminated produce that can cause…
- After the Fact
10 Minutes That Can Save a Life
This year, suicide reentered the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. And although it can be a difficult topic to discuss, speaking openly…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: Algae, Red Tide, and What's on Your Plate
How can what's happening in the ocean directly affect the environment, the food we eat, and our health? In this episode, the "After the Fact" team travels to…
- After the Fact
Faith in America Today
Americans' views of religion have been changing for decades. And in 2026, the share of people who identify as "religious nones" (people who say they have no…
- After the Fact
The American Family: Postponing Parenthood
The fertility rate in the U.S. hit another record low in 2025, with 20% fewer babies born that year compared to 20 years ago, indicating that women are…
- After the Fact
Scientists at Work: Studying Volcanic Eruptions—When, How Big, and How Fast?
Nearly 800 million people around the world live within 62 miles of a volcano. But what if scientists could better predict a volcanic eruption before it begins?…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: What AI Tells Us About 'Long Covid'
This summer, we're revisiting the ways that scientists are using artificial intelligence in their health research. Keyla Sá, a researcher at Yale University…
- After the Fact
What's Next for America at 250?
America has a milestone birthday coming up: This July, the nation will turn 250. As many pause to reflect on the past 250 years, there's also an opportunity to…
- After the Fact
The Butterfly Effect of Apartment Vacancies
The U.S. housing shortage has rapidly increased rents in lower-income neighborhoods—making secure housing hard to find. But how does building high-end…
- After the Fact
The Next Generation of Lawmakers: Young, Scrappy, and… Bipartisan?
With the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the youngest generation of lawmakers is demonstrating how they're working together more effectively…
- After the Fact
What Does a Barbie Pig Have to Do With Seabed Mining?
Meet the "barbie pig," "gummy squirrel," and "headless chicken monster": These fantastical-sounding nicknames belong to real creatures living in the deep…
- After the Fact
When the Electric Grid Goes Down, One Campus Stays Powered
At Gallaudet University, one of the world's only universities designed to serve deaf and hard of hearing students, a groundbreaking project is underway: a…
- After the Fact
You're Probably Wrong About Seagrass
One of the most powerful natural tools we have to protect our environment lives out of sight, just beneath the ocean surface: seagrass. It exists on every…
- After the Fact
What Happens When You Invest Money in Nature
How much does it cost to protect a forest, an ocean, or an entire ecosystem? And where does that money come from? This special crossover episode between "After…
- After the Fact
Message Received: A Solution for Missed Court Hearings
Text message reminders help many of us manage our busy, day-to-day lives—especially for important appointments. But what happens when that appointment is a…
- After the Fact
How Civil Discourse Can Help the U.S. Find Common Ground
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Americans are growing more concerned about the state of the nation's democracy. According to Pew…
- After the Fact
How Parental Stress Fuels Doomscrolling
Getting a first smartphone has become a modern rite of passage for many children and teens. And with the rise of social media and the constant need to stay…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: Making Cancer Treatment Less Toxic
A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. And the chemotherapy that often follows can be particularly rigorous. The American Cancer Society projects that 2.1…
- After the Fact
Do Fewer Homes Mean More Fire Risk?
Last year, a devastating and deadly fire in Milwaukee forced residents to confront a painful reality: The places where many people can afford to live are often…
- After the Fact
What's the Deal With State Budgets This Year?
Each January brings legislators back to their statehouses, where budget decisions once again take center stage. In the past few years, state budgets have been…
- After the Fact
The Treaty That Could Save the Ocean
For the first time in history, the world has formally agreed to protect nearly half the planet. In September 2025, the United Nations ratified the high seas…
- After the Fact
Protecting the Pantanal and Gran Chaco
In the heart of South America, the Chaco-Pantanal region holds the planet's largest tropical wetland. It's a place that's teeming with colorful birds…
- After the Fact
In Conversation With Ken Burns: America's Story of Revolution, Liberty, and Democracy
As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, Ken Burns offers the nation his latest documentary, "The American Revolution." In a conversation…
- After the Fact
Gen Z Vibes on Retirement
Millions of Americans are behind on their retirement savings goals, and nearly 70% of those already retired wish they had started saving earlier. But Gen Z…
- After the Fact
America's Most Problematic Drug Is Alcohol
While opioid use disorder dominates headlines, alcohol quietly remains America's most problematic—and overlooked—drug. Nearly 30 million people are estimated…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: How to Heat-Proof Coral Reefs
The ocean's coral reefs support an estimated 25% of all known marine life yet are threatened by rising ocean temperatures and bleaching. In this "After the…
- After the Fact
The Case for Manufactured Housing
As home prices continue to climb, many Americans are seeking more affordable options. And manufactured homes could be the solution. A new manufactured home…
- After the Fact
From Headlines to Hashtags: How Americans Are Consuming News Today
The way Americans consume information is evolving fast, and younger Americans are increasingly turning to nontraditional sources for their news. According to…
- After the Fact
The Grand Canyon National Park Turns 100
Take a road trip with us this summer as we revisit one of America's most iconic landscapes: the Grand Canyon. This episode originally aired in 2019 to…
- After the Fact
Ken Burns: 'America's Storyteller' on His Creative Process
In this episode, acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns offers us a look into his dynamic creative process and shares what inspires him to create powerful, enduring…
- After the Fact
Scientists at Work: Why Do Mosquitoes Bite You?
This summer, we're taking another look at one of the peskiest and deadliest insects on the planet: the mosquito. Millions of people are infected each year by…
- After the Fact
Keeping the Lights on in the Age of AI
As artificial intelligence grows in popularity, new data centers must accommodate the systems' enormous need for energy. At the same time, household energy…
- After the Fact
Scientists at Work: The Wonder of Blue Whales
Because of their massive size, blue whales are known as the ocean's "gentle giants." They are vital to the ocean ecosystem, but their numbers are declining. In…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: We Need to Talk About Fish
Have you tried to figure out whether the fish you eat is sustainably sourced? At least 1 in 5 fish caught in the global ocean is a product of illegal…
- After the Fact
What Philadelphia Can Teach Us About Homeownership
Each year, The Pew Charitable Trusts releases the "State of the City" report, which offers a data-rich snapshot of Pew's hometown, Philadelphia. In this…
- After the Fact
Are the Kids All Right?
According to Pew Research Center, 55% of U.S. parents report being extremely or very concerned about the mental health of teens today. And several factors are…
- After the Fact
Can State Budgets Withstand Natural Disasters?
Story: Wildfires have once again made headlines, highlighting the growing intensity and frequency of natural disasters across the United States. And these…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: The Forgotten Organ That Built You
Stat: 1/3: Placental-related disorders, such as miscarriage and pre-eclampsia, affect around a third of human pregnancies. Story: The placenta is a temporary…
- After the Fact
Turning Surplus Food into Millions of Meals
Stat: 40%: Up to 40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Story: When you see the…
- After the Fact
How Student Loans Shape Financial Futures
Stat: $1.6 trillion: The amount that Americans collectively owe in student loan debt. Story: In the United States, getting a college degree is often seen as a…
- After the Fact
Living Longer: Our 100-Year Life
More people are living longer. According to Pew Research Center, within the next 30 years, the population of Americans age 100 and over is expected to increase…
- After the Fact
A Conversation With Hank Green
Stat: 45%: The share of U.S. adults who describe research scientists as good communicators. Story: How does good communication help build trust in science? In…
- After the Fact
The Long Journey for Reasonable Opioid Care
Stat: 1 in 4: More than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, but only about 1 in 4 receive any care. Story: Opioid use has become a major…
- After the Fact
The Pursuit of Homeownership on Tribal Lands
Stat: 4 million to 7 million: The United States has a shortage of 4 million to 7 million homes. Story: For many Indigenous communities, the concept of land or…
- After the Fact
Untangling Consumer and Medical Debt in the Courts
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…
- After the Fact
Keeping Indigenous Culture on Maryland's Shores
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…
- After the Fact
Looks Can Be Deceiving: Deepfakes
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…
- After the Fact
Meeting Crisis With Care: Transforming Mental Health and Justice
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…
- After the Fact
Scientists at Work: The Secret Life of Manatees
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…
- After the Fact
The Art and Science of Saving Mangroves
Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. In 2019, when this episode originally…
- After the Fact
Share Why You Listen to 'After the Fact'
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…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: Why Cancer Resists Treatment
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%…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: What AI Tells Us About 'Long Covid'
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…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: How Indigenous Knowledge Informs Science Today
Stat: 150%-300%: Beaches maintained with Indigenous management techniques experience 150% to 300% more clam production than beaches without. Story: Conserving…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: The Science of Touch
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…
- After the Fact
From Lab to Life: Trust in Science
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…
- After the Fact
Coming Soon: From Lab to Life
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…