Pew Research Center: Stats Informed, Inspired and Challenged Us to Take On Some of Today's Most Pressing Issues

1. 85% of Americans say political debate has become more negative

This year, the public rendered a harsh judgment on the state of political discourse over the past several years in the US, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

85 percent said it had become "less respectful"
76 percent said "less fact-based"
60 percent said "less issues-focused"

FULL RESULTS

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Flooding is the most common — and most costly — natural disaster in the US, but it doesn't have to be.

Every $1 spent on disaster mitigation saves $6.
77% of Americans say federally funded infrastructure must be flood ready.

Some ways communities are using policy to prepare for flooding:

Map: See how much your state could save with federal investments in mitigation.

3. Only about 400 North Atlantic right whales remain

Scientists calculate that even one North Atlantic right whale death a year is too many if the population is to recover. The main threats: ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.

Time is running out for this endangered species — but innovations like ropeless technology offer hope.

WHAT'S STILL NEEDED

4. U.S. newsroom employment down 25% since 2008

More Americans get news on social media than from print newspapers, and they expect it to be largely inaccurate, the Pew Research Center found.

In related news, newspapers are shrinking—fast:

The number of newspaper newsroom employees has dropped by about 47 percent (2008-18).
Newspaper circulation — both print and digital — has fallen to its lowest level since at least 1940.

Try the tool: See your city's local news habits.

5. Americans suffered 2.8 million-plus superbug infections

What's more, antibiotic-resistant infections kill more than 35,000 Americans every year.

2 reasons the problem is so persistent:

Up to 50 percent of antibiotic use in humans is unnecessary as prescribed.
Deficiencies in antibiotic development: Too few new drugs are in the pipeline to replace ineffective ones.

Priorities for 2020:

Reduce antibiotic use in human medicine.
Improve antibiotic use in animals.
Fix the broken antibiotic market.
Ensure stewardship and innovation funding.
Continue building international solutions.

Take the quiz: Test your superbug IQ

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Pew Research Center: Stats Informed, Inspired and Challenged Us to Take On Some of Today's Most Pressing Issues

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