Live fact check of the fifth Democratic debate – CNN, CNN

Facts First:This is not true. The US spent twice as much per capita on health care last year than the average for Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries, but not twice as much as every single one of the organization’s 35 other members.

At $ 10, 586 per capita in 2018, US spending was well over twice theOECD average($ 3, 992) and well over twice the figures for some other major countries, including Canada ($ 4, 974). But Switzerland ($ 7, 317), Norway ($ 6, 187) and Germany ($ 5, 986) were all substantially above half the US level. Sweden ($ 5, 447), Austria ($ 5, 395) and Denmark ($ 5, 299) were also above half, though more slightly.

Sanders has been repeating this exaggeration since at least 2009, when fact-checkers at PolitiFact first noted that it wasn’t true. CNN fact-checked him during theDemocratic debate in September.

– Daniel Dale

Harris on Gabbard’s Fox News appearances

In a heated exchange, California Sen. Kamala Harris said Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard “during the Obama administration spent four years full time on Fox News” criticizing President Barack Obama.

Facts First:Harris’ characterization is misleading. Gabbard did appear on Fox News during the Obama administration, and often criticized the administration’s Middle East policy. But she has appeared much more frequently on Fox News since Donald Trump took office.

Gabbard appeared on Fox News at least 15 times between January 2013, when she first took office, and January 2017 when President Obama left office. She often criticized the Obama administration but primarily in the context of Middle East policy.

By comparison, Gabbard has appeared on Fox News far more frequently during the Trump administration, and since she announced her presidential campaign – appearing at least 15 times in 2019 Alone.

– Andrew Kaczynski

Yang on paid family leave

In response to a question about child care costs, Andrew Yang said, “There are only two countries in the world that don’t have paid family leave for new moms: the United States of America and Papua New Guinea. “

Facts First:

It’s true that America ranks behind all other major developed nations when it comes to statutory paid family leave. But Yang’s claim that only the United States and Papua New Guinea offer no paid family leave appears to be based on a report that is more than five years old.

The United States is the only member of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development that doesn’t offer statutory paid family leave, according to a report from August 2019.

A May 2014 report by the International Labor Organization showed that out of 185 countries and territories that share information on parental leave, only Papua New Guinea and the United States “have no general legal provision for cash benefits. “

The Yang campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its sources.

– Anneken Tappe, with Dan Merica

Harris on childcare and aging first-time parents

During an exchange about paid family leave, Kamala Harris said “it is no longer the case in America that people are having children in their 20 s. People are having children in their s, often in their 40 s, which means these families and parents are often raising young children and taking care of their parents. “

Facts First:

While Americans are having children later, on average first-time parents are in their late 20 s.

The average age of first-time mothers is 26 .8 years old, according to 2017datafrom the Centers for Disease Control. A New York Times study last year that uses 2016datafrom the National Center for Health Statistics puts the age closer at 26 .3 years old. This is up from 24 .9 years old in 2000 and 21 .4 years old in 1970, according todatafrom the CDC.

For fathers, the average age at the time of a child’s birth has risen from 27 .4 years old in 1972 to 30 .9 years old in 2015, according to a Stanford University School of Medicinestudyusing National Vital Statistics System data.

However, the ages of mothers when they have their first children vary starkly based on geographic location, the Times study found – the average age of first time mothers was about 32 years old in San Francisco County, California, compared to about 20 years old in Todd County, South Dakota.

– Caroline Kelly

Buttigieg on aid packages for soybean farmers

The Trump administration has promised $ 28 billion in aid packages to help farmers hurt by President Donald Trump’s trade war with China. During an exchange about whether to continue those subsidies, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg claimed that those payments aren’t entirely making up for farmers’ losses.

“By the way, this isn’t even making farmers whole,” Buttigieg said. “If you’re in soybeans, for example, you’re getting killed.”

Facts First:

Buttigieg is correct – though, while the President has asserted the payments are a symbol of his support for farmers, the Trump administration has said the program is not meant to make up for the entire loss a farmer is suffering because of the trade war.

Soybean farmers, in particular,have been hit hardby Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs. China was once the biggest export market for American soybean growers, but orders came to a halt when the tariffs went into effect in July 2018. The price for soybeans dropped, and a record number was left in storage at the end of last year.

The administration released a first round of aid in 2018, and then announced a second round this past summer as the trade war continued.

“I don’t think either the programs last year or this were ever designed or promised to make farmers whole regarding the trade damages,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on aphone call with reporters in July, when the second round of aid was announced.

“This is really an attempt to recognize farmers have borne a disproportionate share of the trade disruption and these funds are there to support them and enable them to continue farming, Perdue added.

– Katie Lobosco

This story is being updated