The first #JustTheFacts episodes are officially live! Get the numbers — not rhetoric — on US immigration and the federal budget. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get exclusive access to future episodes. #budget #immigration #usafacts https://t.co/srWk3PRyFo

Crime doesn’t look the same everywhere. In 2024, Alaska was the state with the highest violent crime rate in the US at 724.1 incidents per 100,000 residents. That's more than 7x Maine. Across the US, the rate was 359 violent crimes per 100,000 residents — a drop of 5.4%

When are men getting married, you ask? In 2024, the median age for men getting married for the first time was 30.2 — up from 29.3 in 2014. And in 1956, it was 22.5. Utah and Arkansas are tied for the youngest marriages — where the median age is 27.2. And they're waiting a

President Trump has called for a one-year cap of 10% on credit card interest rates. 💳 In 2024, the average person had $4.2K in credit card debt — a 20% increase from a recent low in 2021 ($3.5K). Of all household debt, credit card debt comes in just above the “Other”

This week, the CDC reduced the recommended childhood vaccine list from 17 vaccinations to 11. Here’s the updated list 👇

Warning: these flu facts might spread fast.

Together, TANF, EITC, CTC, and Supplemental Security Income cost about $163 billion in 2024. That was roughly 2.4% of the federal budget.

In 2024, Supplemental Security Income supported about 7 million people who were elderly, blind, disabled, or living on very low incomes. The average monthly check was $692, and most recipients (84%) were disabled.

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) provides families up to $2,200 per child, annually, as a tax break. About 11% of tax filers received the refundable CTC in 2022.

Another way families can receive federal government assistance is through credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In 2022, about 24 million tax filers (about 15% of all tax filers) claimed these credits. The EITC is refundable, meaning families can receive money

In FY 2024, TANF cost the federal government $18 billion. However, only a portion — about 20% to 25% — was distributed as cash payments to about 840,000 families. The rest was spent on things like childcare, job programs, pre-K, and administrative costs.

Many people have a concept of “welfare,” but there is no longer a program that operates under that name. The closest is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This program gives short-term cash to low-income families with children, capped at 60 months over a family’s

Let's talk about cash — specifically, the billions the federal government sends to tens of millions of Americans each year. From short-term aid for families to monthly checks for seniors, cash assistance programs reach far more people than most realize.

Are Americans waiting longer to tie the knot?💍 In 2024, the median age for women getting married for the first time was 28.6 — up from 27 in 2014. And in 1956, it was 20.1. Women marry youngest in Utah — where the median age is just 25.2. At the oldest? DC with a median

Secretary Kennedy released new dietary guidelines today that include recommendations to consume more high fat dairy (think yogurt and milk) and meat. Over the last few decades, Americans are drinking less milk. Per-person milk consumption has decreased 47% since 1975 — from

In this week's Data Behind the News: Venezuela, Affordable Care Act subsidies, and New Year’s resolutions.

Our 2026 ins and outs.✍️ What's on your list?

This week the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s (CPB) board voted to dissolve after losing over $1B in federal funding. 66.75% of its federal funding supported TV programming like PBS and 22.25% supported radio programming (think NPR). As of FY 2024, federal funding was

🏫Our analyst Leah breaks down what the latest data on 4th and 8th-grade math scores say about US education.

When was the last federal government budget surplus? You might be surprised.

Run to grab an application. 📝 Here are the fastest growing jobs over the next decade.