Today’s episode is about guns, drugs, cars, and a big question: Why do Americans die so much younger than people in any other rich country?Before the 1990s, average life expectancy in the U.S. was not much different than it was in western Europe: Germany, France, the U.K. But since the 1990s, something very strange and clearly bad has happened. Americans got much richer than Europeans. But American life spans have fallen behind those of Europeans so dramatically that today, the typical American has the same healthy life expectancy as someone in the poorest town in England.So what's going on? To unravel this mystery, today’s guest is John Burn-Murdoch, a data journalist at the Financial Times, who recently published a magisterial investigation of the American death gap.If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_Host: Derek ThompsonGuest: John Burn-MurdochProducer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Data reporter John Burn-Murdoch and politics professor Chryl Laird discuss the racial realignment in US politics, with voters of color shifting right and challenging traditional alliances. They explore the impact on Democrats and the potential reasons for this shift.

The podcast explores the trend of young men and women dividing by gender on their politics, with women leaning liberal and men leaning conservative. They discuss the influence of higher education, the Me Too movement, and social media on this global gender split. The South Korean gender divide is highlighted as one of the most extreme. The frustrations of young men in politics and the impact of gender policies on their views are also examined.

In this discussion, John Burn-Murdoch, the FT’s chief data reporter, and Camilla Cavendish, a health policy expert and FT contributing editor, dive into the rising trend of long-term sickness among young adults. They explore the impact of mental health issues and disability claims on workforce productivity. The duo also highlights the challenges HR faces post-pandemic, including the balance between remote work and necessary in-person interactions. Their insights shed light on the urgent need for tailored support and systemic solutions in workplaces.

Marianna, a commentator on celebrity political endorsements, joins John Burn-Murdoch, the chief data reporter at the Financial Times. They dive into the impact of celebrity endorsements on voter behavior, analyzing how figures like Oprah and Taylor Swift engage the public. The discussion contrasts American and British political strategies while exploring the delicate balance of authenticity in endorsements. They also touch on the recent breakthrough drug for Alzheimer’s, its implications for families, and the ongoing conversations on health care accessibility.

Viktor Valgardsson, a political participation researcher, John Burn-Murdoch, a data reporter at the Financial Times, and Jake Grumbach, an associate professor at UC Berkeley, dive into the concerning trends of youth voter disengagement. They discuss how young people feel alienated from mainstream politics despite high democratic standards in some regions. The guests explore generational divides, suggesting reforms like automatic voter registration and community engagement to encourage political participation among millennials and Gen Z.

Scarlett Maguire, Rob Ford, and John Burn-Murdoch analyze GE 2024 results. Topics include youth voting trends, impact of religion, and connections between posh bakeries and the Lib Dems. They discuss the challenges and strategies for Tory leadership candidates, potential rebellions in the Commons, and the rise of the Green Party and Reform Party in UK politics.

Data reporter John Burn-Murdoch joins Soumaya to discuss the changing relationship between the economy and elections. They analyze how economic sentiment influences voter behavior in the US and UK, mentioning the impact on disaffected Trump supporters and the role of education. The podcast also touches on immigration policies, challenges in the American and British political systems, predictions for Labour and the Tories, recent election results in the UK and US, and emotional hedging in elections.

FT's John Burn-Murdoch joins Lucy Fisher to discuss the Tory campaign woes. They delve into the 2019 Tory collapse roots, potential election results mismatch, and why 'first past the post' system may lead to the biggest distortion in UK history.

Columnist and chief data reporter for the Financial Times, John Burn-Murdoch, challenges common beliefs on immigration. The discussion covers evolving public perceptions, chaos impact on local resources, housing crisis in English-speaking countries, media reactions to alarming events, and upcoming event announcement.