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After the Fact

The Pew Charitable Trusts

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.

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  • 23 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 19 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S1 · E166
    Nov 14, 2025 · 18 min

    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 with "After the Fact," the acclaimed documentarian discusses the making of the six-part film, which premieres on PBS on Nov. 16. He explains that the Revolution required the bringing together of people of all stripes, from farmers and shopkeepers to wealthy landowners, who, in rebelling against the British crown, not only were seeking redress of their grievances but also were becoming citizens, not subjects, for the first time in world history. Burns invites us to reflect on what it means to be American and how the lessons of our revolutionary past can guide us toward a united future.

  • S1 · E165
    Oct 31, 2025 · 20 min

    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, the latest generation to enter the workforce, is an outlier, with the data showing that they are saving more than millennials and putting new emphasis on planning for the future. What gives? In this episode of "After the Fact," John Scott, who directs Pew's retirement savings project, explains new ways people can save more and earlier. And Taylor Price, a financial educator, influencer, and entrepreneur known online as Priceless Tay, discusses how she's trying to help close the financial literacy gap for Gen Zers.

  • S1 · E164
    Oct 17, 2025 · 23 min

    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 to have alcohol use disorder. In this episode of "After the Fact," Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, an addiction medicine specialist, and Pew's Frances McGaffey discuss the latest trends related to alcohol use, its normalization in American culture, and the evolving science behind its risks.

Showing 21–23 of 23 episodes