For the first time in history, the world has formally agreed to protect nearly half the planet. In September 2025, the United Nations ratified the high seas treaty, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement—a landmark global pact to safeguard the parts of the ocean that lie beyond any one country's national jurisdiction.

These vast waters—the high seas—cover nearly half of Earth's surface and sustain much of the life on our planet. Yet until now, they've been largely ungoverned, leaving marine ecosystems vulnerable to overfishing, pollution, and the growing impacts of climate change. In this episode of "After the Fact," Pew's director of ocean governance, Liz Karan, explains why this moment represents one of the most significant conservation milestones in decades—and what comes next.

In the heart of South America, the Chaco-Pantanal region holds the planet's largest tropical wetland. It's a place that's teeming with colorful birds, capybaras, anteaters, and even jaguars. Unlike the Amazon, this region has largely resisted deforestation, so conservation here is about preservation, not restoration. Take a trip with us in this episode of "After the Fact," in which Amelia Moura and Natalia Araujo, who work on Pew's conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco of South America project, describe what it's like to visit the Chaco-Pantanal; how Pew works alongside local communities to further conservation efforts; and why it's important to safeguard this region for the future.

As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, Ken Burns offers the nation his latest documentary, "The American Revolution." In a conversation with "After the Fact," the acclaimed documentarian discusses the making of the six-part film, which premieres on PBS on Nov. 16.

He explains that the Revolution required the bringing together of people of all stripes, from farmers and shopkeepers to wealthy landowners, who, in rebelling against the British crown, not only were seeking redress of their grievances but also were becoming citizens, not subjects, for the first time in world history.

Burns invites us to reflect on what it means to be American and how the lessons of our revolutionary past can guide us toward a united future.