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After the Fact: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago17 min
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 wafting down the street? For many, behaviors like these are part of the perception that the way we treat each other in public has become less polite. In fact, almost half of U.S adults say the way people behave in public today is ruder than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we speak to John Gramlich, associate director of short reads at Pew Research Center, to hear about the latest data on how Americans perceive rudeness in their daily lives. We'll also explore how the conversation around rudeness fits into broader challenges in the United States, such as political polarization and declining trust in the nation's institutions and with each other.
- 2 weeks ago16 min
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 severe gastrointestinal illness. But how did public health officials go from hearing about a single case to sounding the alarm on a much larger outbreak? Lettuce explain. In this episode, we speak to Margaret Arnesen, who works on Pew's public health data improvement project, to learn how officials use public health data to detect and respond to outbreaks. We also discuss how effective policies, such as improving electronic reporting and data sharing between states, can make the system faster and more efficient to help keep our communities healthy.
- Sep 25, 202619 min
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 about suicide risk can be the first step toward reducing stigma and connecting people to the help they need. In this episode, we'll hear about who may be most at risk, including student athletes, and how tailored prevention programs can offer hope and support. And we'll learn about how mental health resources at the University of Washington helped members of the women's soccer team support each other through grief and loss. If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit 988lifeline.org and click on the chat button.
- Sep 11, 202619 min
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 San Francisco to hear about harmful algal blooms (or "red tides"), which occur when certain algae grow out of control and create dangerous toxins. The effects of these blooms can harm the health of humans and marine life and affect the livelihoods of people living in coastal communities. Matthew Gribble — an environmental health scientist at the University of California, San Francisco — dives into the research behind these harmful algal blooms and shares ways that the health of people, wildlife, and the ocean are all interconnected. We also hear from a fisher about how the red tides can shorten or delay the fishing season, as well as people who rescue marine mammals that have been poisoned by these toxins.
- Aug 28, 202621 min
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 religious affiliation) is holding steady at 28%. This episode, originally released in 2019, focuses on the shifts in perspectives across generations and the nation's changing religious landscape.
- Aug 14, 202619 min
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 continuing to wait longer to have children. This was a growing trend when this episode originally aired in 2019, where a Pew researcher explains the data behind this change in the American family and two mothers share why they waited to have children.
- Jul 31, 202616 min
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? In this re-release from our "Scientists at Work" series, originally published in 2020, we go behind the scenes at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to talk with geologist and volcanologist Ben Andrews. His job is to answer three key questions about volcanoes around the world: When will an eruption happen, how big could the eruption be, and how fast?
- Jul 17, 202619 min
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 School of Medicine, discusses her work tracking how long COVID develops and an AI tool that can identify its wide variety of symptoms and patterns. Since this episode originally aired in 2024, researchers are still learning about the ways long COVID continues to affect millions of people.
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About 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's After the Fact daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of After the Fact as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official After the Fact product?
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How often does After the Fact release new episodes?
After the Fact publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does After the Fact cover?
After the Fact covers topics including News, Government, Politics. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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