Data & Eggs
Volume 176
In this week's edition: Biden’s big investment in TV advertising, key learnings about Covid-19, and the pandemic’s toll on our mental health
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Covid-19: The global crisis — in data
The Financial Times team has continued to be a crucial source of analysis on the pandemic, led by the work of John Burn-Murdoch. After months of comprehensive coverage, they’ve released an interactive report showcasing some of their most important findings so far. They investigate the numbers behind Covid-19’s enormous death tolls, and predict what the future could hold.
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Flush With Cash, Biden Eclipses Trump in War for the Airwaves
For months, Biden has dominated the airwaves, spending nearly twice as much on television advertising than Trump. He’s been hitting three swing states -- Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin -- particularly hard, spending $53 million to Trump’s $17 million. The New York Times breaks down how the candidates’ advertising war is shaping up in critical battlegrounds leading up to the election.
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Lifelines—A Pandemic Undertow
This project from Periscopic brings attention to the consequences of COVID-19-related recession and isolation on our mental wellbeing. As a result of the pandemic, the number of deaths of despair, from suicide or substance abuse, are projected to rise nearly two million over the next decade. It’s a reminder to connect with others, help people access care, and push for policy that bolsters mental healthcare and addiction services.
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Crime rose unevenly when stay-at-home orders lifted. The racial disparity is the widest in years.
When stay-at-home orders went into effect in March across major U.S. cities, violent crime tended to drop below typical levels. But by mid-May, crime was starting to rise, especially in predominantly Black neighborhoods. A Washington Post analysis of 27 U.S. metros shows that the gulf between the rates of violence in Black and White communities has grown dramatically this year.