Facts on the Ground

If you want to understand what’s actually happening in America right now on any number of thorny topics, a presidential debate — and most moments of a presidential campaign — might be just about the worst place to start. Debates are notorious as a place for candidates to misrepresent, spin, and flat-out lie to cast their record and their plans in the best light. And fact-checking, while valuable, doesn’t always give a complete picture either. As the presidential election gets underway in earnest, Vox’s Facts on the Ground project is here to help you understand the state of the country on some of the most contested policy areas, including the economy, crime, abortion, and immigration. Amid the noise, our reporters are here to ground you with expertise and perspective. —Libby Nelson, editorial director for policy, politics, and ideas What two years without Roe looks like, in 8 charts Americans are confronting a whole new reality of patchwork abortion access after the Dobbs decision. by Nicole Narea [Image: https://platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/FactsOnTheGround_Final_01.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] Why do Americans always think crime is going up? Crime is actually falling. Here are three theories on why that doesn’t seem to reassure voters. by Abdallah Fayyad [Image: https://platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/WhyDoAmericans_Vox.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] The winners and losers of the Biden economy Younger workers have done well under Biden. Fast food fanatics have not. by Eric Levitz [Image: https://platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/FactsOnTheGround_Economy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] Biden’s border record: Trump’s claims vs. reality The border trends during Biden’s presidency, and how his policies played into them, explained. by Andrew Prokop [Image: https://platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/FactsOnTheGround_Border_Final_6-26.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] --- Credits Editorial Director: Libby Nelson Reporters: Abdallah Fayyad, Eric Levitz, Nicole Narea, Christian Paz, Andrew Prokop Editors: Sean Collins, Caroline Houck, Lavanya Ramanathan, Patrick Reis Art Director: Paige Vickers Managing Editor, Audio & Video: Natalie Jennings Audio: Amina al-Sadi, Laura Bullard, Rob Byers, Victoria Chamberlin, David Herman, Miranda Kennedy, Noel King, Andrea Kristinsdottir, Amanda Lewellyn, Sean Rameswaram Style & Standards: Elizabeth Crane, Kim Eggleston, Melissa Hirsch, Caity PenzeyMoog, Sarah Schweppe Audience Lead: Shira Tarlo | Audience: Kelsi Trinidad Special thanks: Bill Carey, Nisha Chittal, Swati Sharma ---