After the Fact

Move aside, baby boomers. Millennials are one of the largest living generations, and they are not kids anymore. The oldest millennials are now 37, and they are making their mark on the workplace, politics, and America’s public opinion landscape. We discuss this changing demographic with Alec Tyson, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, who digs into the data on who millennials are, what they care about, and the implications for us all. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact.

Money makes policy. As states plan for the future, tax revenue helps them decide what it can be. And nearly half the states still don’t have the revenue they did before the Great Recession. Host Dan LeDuc interviews Pew’s Kil Huh about this and then goes deep with Chris Hoene of the California Budget & Policy Center about how one of the nation’s most populous states is dealing with fiscal uncertainty. To learn more, visit pewtrusts.org/afterthefact.

While millennials have dominated news headlines, there is a new generation on the scene. Our guest— Jean Twenge, author and psychology professor at San Diego State University—calls this group “iGen,” a nod to the impact that mobile phones and the internet have had on their lives. According to Twenge, this generation—people born after 1995—is profoundly different from the five older generations living today, including millennials, Gen Xers, baby boomers, the silent generation, and the greatest generation. Host Dan LeDuc and Jean Twenge discuss the significance of the six living generations and the unique issues that teens today are dealing with, including increased rates of depression and loneliness. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact.

The deepest, darkest parts of the world’s ocean are filled with abundant marine life and rich mineral deposits. But a newly forming seabed mining industry is setting its sights on exploiting these valuable minerals in these fragile ecosystems. Fortunately, the international community can minimize environmental damage by creating science-based rules to oversee the industry. In this episode, we hear from Michael Lodge, secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority, which governs the ocean floor that lies beyond national jurisdiction. He spoke at Pew about the challenges and opportunities ahead on this issue. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact.

As 2017 draws to a close, 88 percent of Americans are connected online—more than ever before—and nearly half of adults use voice assistants. This growing connectivity makes our world safer, more efficient, and more convenient, but it also leaves us vulnerable to security and privacy threats. In this episode, we hear from Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center’s internet and technology research, about trends in technology and data, and how digital advances will continue to shape our lives. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact.

While the national poverty rate has been declining, Philadelphia’s has remained stubbornly high. At 25.7 percent, it is the highest among the nation’s 10 largest cities. That means 400,000 city residents, including more than one-third of the city’s children, live in a household with an annual income of $19,337 or less. In this episode, host Dan LeDuc talks with Larry Eichel, director of Pew’s Philadelphia research initiative, about the faces behind these numbers. We also hear from Matt Bergheiser of University City District about its West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, an innovative program that provides job training to local residents and helps match them with employers. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact.

Up to 1 in 5 fish taken from the sea is caught illegally, costing as much as $23.5 billion globally each year and harming ocean health and fishing communities. Through technology and coordination between governments, law enforcement, industry, and nongovernmental organizations, the tide is slowly starting to turn, however. Host Dan LeDuc talks with Peter Horn, who leads Pew’s work from London with Oversea Ocean Monitor—satellite technology that helps countries detect illegal fishing. We also hear from Sandy Davies, who works with FISH-i Africa, a network of African nations committed to ending illegal fishing. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact. If you appreciate the nonpartisan data and stories our podcast provides, please write a review.

What happens when the medicine we rely on to fight infections stops working? It’s been 30 years since a new type of antibiotic has made it to market. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 2 million Americans fall ill with antibiotic-resistant infections each year—and 23,000 of them die. These superbugs can yield tragic outcomes, as it did for our guests in this episode. U.S. Army veteran Carl Romm was 27 when he died because of drug-resistant bacteria. His parents, Chris and Joyce Romm, are working to teach others about the threat of antibiotic resistance, and in this episode they tell Carl’s story to Pew’s Laura Margison. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact. If you appreciate the nonpartisan data and stories our podcast provides, please write a review!

President Donald Trump recently declared the nation’s opioid epidemic a public health emergency—but what will it take to connect patients with effective treatment? Our previous episode explored the scope of the crisis and proven solutions. In this bonus edition, you’ll hear more from Shawn Ryan, chief medical officer at BrightView Health in Cincinnati, and Cindy Reilly, who directs Pew’s efforts to expand access to medication-assisted treatment. They discuss what’s at stake with host Dan LeDuc, as well as the potential solutions. To listen to our full episode on the opioid epidemic and hear from a patient on her journey to sobriety, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact. If you appreciate the nonpartisan data and stories our podcast provides, please write a review and subscribe.

The nation’s opioid epidemic has been making headlines, and much is required to curtail this public health crisis. In this episode, we learn more about increasing public awareness and expanding treatment opportunities from those on the front lines. Cindy Reilly directs Pew’s work to expand access to proven treatment, and Dr. Shawn Ryan, president and chief medical officer at BrightView Health in Cincinnati, guides patients through treatment. We also speak with a nurse in Minnesota who struggled with substance use disorder and is now on the path to recovery. To learn more, visit >>> pewtrusts.org/afterthefact. If you appreciate the nonpartisan data and stories our podcast provides, please write a review and subscribe.