The real numbers behind abortions in the United States

How many abortions are actually performed? Numbers reveal the complexity in the raging debate.

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  • The American society is close to split on the legality of abortions.
  • 45,789,558 abortions were carried out in the U.S. between 1970 and 2015.
  • The abortion numbers are at an all-time low now, trending almost half of what they were.
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Politics & Current Affairs

Will choosing between too many presidential candidates paralyze voters?

With the seemingly endless growth of the Democratic primary field, social behaviorists are worried that we may suffer from choice overload.

  • The Democratic primary field has grown to be one of the largest in history, partially due to a desire to take down Donald Trump.
  • But this may backfire; social behaviorists warn that presenting people with too many choices can produce choice overload, resulting in paralysis and regret.
  • What are the negative effects of being offered too many choices? Are there any benefits to be had from this huge field of candidates?
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Politics & Current Affairs

Mexico plans to decriminalize all illegal drugs

"Prohibitionist strategy is unsustainable," reads the policy plan.

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  • Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has long called for reformations to the nation's drug laws.
  • The five-year policy plan calls for prescribing treatment programs instead of punishments to drug users.
  • It's unclear what effects the laws would have on Mexican cartels, which make the bulk of their money selling drugs in the U.S.
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Politics & Current Affairs

Why Uber and Lyft drivers are striking ahead of IPO

On Friday, Uber will start publicly trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and drivers want to see some of that money.


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  • Uber and Lyft drivers have organized small-scale protests and strikes in about 20 cities worldwide.
  • They're demanding benefits, higher wages, and better worker protections.
  • It seems like the situation might only get worse for drivers after Uber goes public, considering the company will face pressures from shareholders to turn profits.
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Politics & Current Affairs

Why pitting prejudices against each other keeps society free

Should all speech be free? How much intolerance should society tolerate?

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  • For society to stay open and free, you don't need to eliminate prejudice. You need the opposite: All kinds of prejudice pitted against each other.
  • Intellectual diversity helps society as a whole learn the truth. And as long as society has rules that force ideas to be openly tested, the intolerant will not gain the upper hand.
  • "In America it's legal to be intolerant. It may not be right. It may not get you accepted or respected. But absolutely it's legal and it should be legal," says Jonathan Rauch.
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