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How does the government help low-income students? | Episode 5 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?
JUST THE FACTS · 9:34M
Why Are US Politics Today So Divisive?
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Just the Facts about the federal budget
Steve talks about the federal budget, including how the government makes money (namely, income taxes) and how revenue collection and spending decisions impact the US federal deficit and debt, military spending, and American daily life.
Just the Facts on the US national debt
In this episode of Just the Facts, Steve Ballmer breaks down the data behind America’s national debt using official U.S. government sources. The US national debt now exceeds $38 trillion, the highest level in history. But that number alone doesn’t explain what the debt is, how it grew, or what it means for the economy.
Just the Facts on federal, state, and local government finances
In this episode of Just the Facts, Steve Ballmer breaks down how government responsibilities and spending are divided across federal, state, and local governments in the United States, using official government data. With nearly 91,000 government entities nationwide, understanding who does what — and who pays for it — is more complicated than it might seem.
What is subsidized housing? | Episode 3 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?
JUST THE FACTS · 7:36M
What is Medicaid and how many Americans use it? | Episode 2 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?
JUST THE FACTS · 7:15M
How do SNAP benefits impact food insecurity? | Episode 4 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?
JUST THE FACTS · 9:19M
What cash assistance does the government provide? | Episode 6 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?
JUST THE FACTS · 7:16M
Crash Course x USAFacts: Big questions on US government
Every episode brought to life with data.
How to know a red or blue wave when you see one
The 2026 midterm elections are around the corner. How will it compare to recent midterms?
How much are candidates spending for the 2026 midterm?
Based on FEC data downloaded October 21, 2026, Senate and House candidates have spent around $2.86 billion on races for the 2026 November midterm election. That's about 84.6% of campaign funds raised this election cycle.
How much debt does the US have?
The US has $40.2 trillion in debt as of September 2026. The federal government borrows money when its spending and investments cannot be funded by federal revenue alone; this debt enables the government to pay for programs and services when funds aren’t immediately available.
How many civilian jobs are in the US federal government?
There are about 2.68 million civilian jobs in the federal government as of September 2026. Federal jobs include all jobs ranging from janitors to air traffic controllers to nurses to postal workers and more. (Enlisted service people are considered government employees but aren’t included in this figure because they’re not civilians.) Out of the 159 million nonfarm jobs in the US, 1.7% are in the federal government, the nation’s largest employer. Another way to look at it: The federal government is responsible for 1 in 60 jobs.
How much money are candidates raising for the 2026 midterm?
Based on FEC data downloaded October 19, 2026, Senate and House candidates have raised around $3.38 billion toward federal races for the 2026 November midterm election.
How much money does the US federal government collect?
The federal government collected $5.26 trillion in fiscal year 2025. This is about $15,400 per person in the US, however individual contributions vary based on income, spending, and other factors. Government revenue is the total amount of money received from individual and corporate taxes, and other sources that are used to pay for government spending.
What is this year’s Social Security cost of living increase?
Social Security payments will go up an average of $75 a month in 2027 — a 3.6% increase.
What is a presidential veto?
A presidential veto is the Constitutional power a president has to power to stop a bill passed by Congress from becoming law. For a bill to be enacted, it must pass by vote in both chambers of Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate — and then signed by the president (or ignored by the president; if the bill passes Congress but then goes untouched for 10 days while Congress remains in session, it automatically becomes law). When the president refuses to sign the bill and sends it back to Congress, that’s a veto.Presidential veto power is not absolute — Congress can override them if both chambers approve the bill with a two-thirds majority.President Donald Trump has issued two vetoes in the current term. Neither of those vetoes were overridden by Congress.
What percentage of public school funding in the US comes from the federal government?
About 11.7% or one in nine dollars of public school funding came from the federal government during the 2023–24 school year. Local and state governments typically provide most school district funding, with the federal government providing the rest. Federal sources provide as little as 0% and as much as 88.2% of funding, depending on the district. Federal funding depends on factors such as poverty levels and other student demographics, availability of state and local revenues, and whether a district is urban, suburban, or rural. During 2023–24, which is the latest year of data available, public schools received $121.2 billion, or $2,460 in federal funds per student.