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Politics and Health : Short Wave Political polarization is affecting Americans' health, according to a new study. Researchers find higher levels of premature death in Republican-leaning counties compared to those in Democratic-leaning ones. The higher mortality in GOP counties is across the board – everything from heart disease to suicide. Allison Aubrey talks to Emily Kwong about what may be causing these disparities.

Short Wave

How Politics And Health Are Intertwined

How Politics And Health Are Intertwined

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Flags at the base of the Washington Monument fly at half staff as the United States neared the 1 millionth death attributed to COVID. A new study points to differences in health outcomes between Republican and Democratic leaning counties. Win McNamee / Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee / Getty Images

Flags at the base of the Washington Monument fly at half staff as the United States neared the 1 millionth death attributed to COVID. A new study points to differences in health outcomes between Republican and Democratic leaning counties.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Political polarization is affecting Americans' health, according to a new study. Researchers find higher levels of premature death in Republican-leaning counties compared to those in Democratic-leaning ones. The higher mortality in GOP counties is across the board – everything from heart disease to suicide. Allison Aubrey talks to Emily Kwong about what may be causing these disparities.

This story was edited by Jane Greenhalgh and Gisele Grayson and produced by Thomas Lu. Margaret Cirino and Rachel Carlson checked the facts.