Policy Library
We don't tell you what to think,
we just make sure you can
Policy Topics
Free the Facts helps Americans learn about the policies and programs that impact their lives.
Our core issue areas have three things in common:
- They represent promises that the federal government has made to citizens, particularly vulnerable populations.
- They make up a large percentage of government spending and face serious funding challenges in the near future.
- The next generation will be called upon to address those challenges as leaders and voters.
Policy Primers
Think of our policy pages as a “101” course. They deliver the basic information you need to join the conversation about some of our country's biggest public policy challenges.
Want to dive deeper? Follow the links on the yellow sticky notes! And check out our suggested reading in the Questions for Solutions section.
Interested in learning about more issues? Check back here for new releases about Medicare, student loans, and more.
Social Security
More than 65 million Americans rely on Social Security for retirement income, survivors benefits, and disability insurance payments. The program is the single-largest expenditure in the federal budget. Learn more about how the program works, its funding challenges, and some ways to address them.
Learn about the Social Security programWhat's in a number?
Millions, Billions, and Trillions.
Oh my!
To paraphrase Senator Everett Dirksen,
“A trillion here, a trillion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money..."
When talking about the U.S. federal budget and its various programs, the terms “millions”, “billions”, and “trillions” get thrown about freely. In reality, these numbers are so large, and the jump from one to the next so vast, that they can be staggering to wrap your head around.
Users will upload over 1 MILLION videos to TikTok in the next 45 MINUTES.
Over the next MONTH, more than 1 BILLION videos will be uploaded to TikTok.
At the current rate, it will take over 80 YEARS for TikTok to add 1 TRILLION videos!
It would take you almost a WEEK of nonstop walking to take 1 MILLION steps.
It would take you 18 YEARS of nonstop walking to take 1 BILLION steps.
It would take you 18,119 YEARS of nonstop walking to take 1 TRILLION steps!
The 10 PLAYERS in a basketball game sport a combined 1 MILLION hairs on their heads.
Trimming 1 BILLION hairs would clean up just about everyone at PRINCETON UNIVERSITY.
Shearing 1 TRILLION hairs would provide everyone in NORTH CAROLINA with a fresh cut!
The 10 PARTICIPANTS in a basketball game combine for 1 MILLION heartbeats per day.
1 BILLION heartbeats powered TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE through the Cleveland marathon.
The lifeblood of the entire populations of NYC AND Phoenix is moved by 1 TRILLION heartbeats every day!
1 MILLION gallons of paint would be enough to cover most of MANHATTAN.
1 BILLION gallons of paint would cover Manhattan PLUS Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
1 TRILLION gallons of paint would be enough to cover ALL of NORTH and SOUTH AMERICA!
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