Data Vis Dispatch, September 23: Politics, Palestine, and interactive tools

Welcome back to the 211th edition of Data Vis Dispatch! Every week, we’ll be publishing a collection of the best small and large data visualizations we find, especially from news organizations — to celebrate data journalism, data visualization, simple charts, elaborate maps, and their creators.

Recurring topics this week include politics, the recognition of the Palestinian state, and all kinds of interactive tools for daily life.

On Monday, France officially recognized the State of Palestine. However, maps of the West Bank suggest that a two-state solution might lack viability. Meanwhile, Israel's ground invasion continues in Gaza City.

Bloomberg: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-palestinian-statehood-west-bank-israeli-settlements/?srnd=phx-graphics-v2"><strong>Israel’s Grip on West Bank Erodes Viability of Palestinian State</strong></a>, September 17 — Bloomberg: **Israel’s Grip on West Bank Erodes Viability of Palestinian State**, September 17

The Wall Street Journal: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-world-sees-hope-for-a-two-state-solution-israelis-and-palestinians-see-none-835b5a6d"><strong>The World Sees Hope for a Two-State Solution. Israelis and Palestinians See None</strong></a>, September 22 — The Wall Street Journal: **The World Sees Hope for a Two-State Solution. Israelis and Palestinians See None**, September 22

Le Monde: Quels sont les Etats que la France ne reconnaît pas ? [Which states does France not recognize?], September 22

The Telegraph: The last siege of Gaza, September 19

Visualizations about the United States are closely tied to President Trump’s actions, covering his anti-crime surge in Washington, D.C. and recently announced Fed rate cuts.

The Washington Post: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2025/trump-dc-surge-helicopters/"><strong>In Trump’s D.C. surge, helicopters hovered and surveilled day and night</strong></a>, September 20 — The Washington Post: **In Trump’s D.C. surge, helicopters hovered and surveilled day and night**, September 20

Deena Zaidi: <a href="https://deenazaidi.com/the-fed-cuts-interest-rate-for-first-time-in-2025"><strong>The Fed cuts interest rate for first time in 2025</strong></a>,<strong> </strong>September 17 — Deena Zaidi: **The Fed cuts interest rate for first time in 2025**, September 17

Other political charts track Thailand’s parliament and explore how German electoral groups view the welfare state.

WeVis: <a href="https://wevis.info/the-committees"><strong>Look through the Committees จับจ้อง ส่องติดตาม ‘คณะกรรมาธิการ’ รัฐสภา</strong></a><strong> </strong>[<em>Keep an eye on the parliamentary 'committee'</em>], September 16 — WeVis: **Look through the Committees จับจ้อง ส่องติดตาม ‘คณะกรรมาธิการ’ รัฐสภา** [*Keep an eye on the parliamentary 'committee'*], September 16

Die Zeit: <a href="https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-09/rechtspopulismus-armut-umverteilung-sozialpolitik-afd"><strong>Wer wenig hat, ist in ihren Augen selbst schuld</strong></a> [<em>Chart title: What is your opinion on the subject of taxes and social welfare benefits?</em>], September 16 — Die Zeit: **Wer wenig hat, ist in ihren Augen selbst schuld** [*Chart title: What is your opinion on the subject of taxes and social welfare benefits?*], September 16

Maps cover the routes of trains and cocaine shipments this week.

The Economist: <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/09/21/rail-travel-is-booming-in-america?giftId=25ef8389-afda-4b0d-931a-36e9ee56db89&utm_campaign=gifted_article"><strong>Rail travel is booming in America</strong></a>, September 21 — The Economist: **Rail travel is booming in America**, September 21

Milan Janosov: "[…] Acessibility, reachability, and isochrone polygons are among the top spatial data exercises for urban planning - that's why it was so great to see this awesome visual on and the @Chronotrains project in general […]”, September 19(LinkedIn, Chronotrains)

The Wall Street Journal: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/mexico-drugs-cartel-oseguera-trump-586f0cec"><strong>America Loves Cocaine Again—Mexico’s New Drug King Cashes In</strong></a><strong>, </strong>September 16 — The Wall Street Journal: **America Loves Cocaine Again—Mexico’s New Drug King Cashes In**, September 16

The future of energy transition relies on rare minerals. The challenge? Meeting a growing demand and effective recycling.

The Kontinentalist: <a href="https://kontinentalist.com/stories/dismantling-green-colonialism-in-transition-minerals-production-for-renewable-energy"><strong>The Curse of Abundance</strong></a><strong>, </strong>September 22 <span class="badge">Extensive interactive article</span> — The Kontinentalist: **The Curse of Abundance**, September 22 Extensive interactive article

Ember: <a href="https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/the-electrotech-revolution/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#full-slidedeck"><strong>The Electrotech Revolution</strong></a>, September 16 — Ember: **The Electrotech Revolution**, September 16

On the education front, eight million students in Brazil lack internet access in school, while European universities excel in fields like Arts, Humanities, and Law, but fall behind in Computer Science and Engineering.

Folha de S.Paulo: <a href="https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/educacao/2025/09/8-milhoes-de-alunos-nao-tem-internet-para-aprendizado-dentro-da-escola-no-brasil.shtml"><strong>8 milhões de alunos não têm internet para aprendizado dentro da escola no Brasil</strong></a> [<em>Chart title: Number of schools with internet access for educational purposes</em>], September 21 — Folha de S.Paulo: **8 milhões de alunos não têm internet para aprendizado dentro da escola no Brasil** [*Chart title: Number of schools with internet access for educational purposes*], September 21

Below, you can explore interactive tools that allow you to create your own HIIT workout, see if an MBA degree is worth the money, or compare your rent in Germany.

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/17/well/move/hiit-workout-exercises.html"><strong>Build Your Own HIIT Workout</strong></a>, September 17 — The New York Times: **Build Your Own HIIT Workout**, September 17

Bloomberg:<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/mba-return-on-investment/?srnd=phx-graphics-v2"> <strong>The Business School ROI Calculator</strong></a>, September 16 — Bloomberg: **The Business School ROI Calculator**, September 16

Bloomberg: Which Premium Credit Card Is Right for You, September 18 lovely micro-interactions

Der Spiegel: <a href="https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/service/mietspiegel-rechner-zahlen-sie-zu-viel-miete-a-17126383-523a-411c-aab0-06dbfef8658f"><strong><span>Zahlen Sie zu viel Miete?</span></strong></a><strong><span> </span></strong><span>[</span><em><span>Do you pay to much rent?</span></em><span>], September 16</span> — Der Spiegel: **Zahlen Sie zu viel Miete?** [*Do you pay to much rent?*], September 16

Our final selection of data visualizations covers gender balance, energy demand of data centers, TV shows, and the night sky.

Visual Capitalist: <a href="https://www.voronoiapp.com/demographics/Gender-Balance-in-the-Worlds-Largest-Countries-6612"><strong>Gender Balance in the World’s Largest Countries</strong></a>, September 21 — Visual Capitalist: **Gender Balance in the World’s Largest Countries**, September 21

Le Monde: <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2025/09/19/comment-recuperer-la-chaleur-des-data-centers-pour-mieux-diminuer-leur-consommation-d-energie_6641816_1650684.html"><strong>Comment récupérer la chaleur des data centers pour mieux diminuer leur consommation d’énergie</strong></a> [<em>How to recover heat from data centers to better reduce their energy consumption</em>], September 19 — Le Monde: **Comment récupérer la chaleur des data centers pour mieux diminuer leur consommation d’énergie** [*How to recover heat from data centers to better reduce their energy consumption*], September 19

Diario Sur: <a href="https://www.diariosur.es/pantallas/series/series-conquistado-mundo-20250923110910-ntrc.html"><strong>Cómo las series han conquistado el mundo</strong></a> [<em>How series have conquered the world</em>], September 23 — Diario Sur: **Cómo las series han conquistado el mundo** [*How series have conquered the world*], September 23

maps.com: <a href="https://www.maps.com/star-map-charts-stars-and-constellations-of-northern-hemisphere/"><strong>Mapping the Northern Sky</strong></a>, September 22 — maps.com: **Mapping the Northern Sky**, September 22

What else we found interesting

Reuters: Scammed into scamming, September 18

The Straits Times: How hawker signboards tell the story of Singapore, September 21

FlowingData: <a href="https://flowingdata.com/2025/09/18/sorting-data-the-quiz-game/"><strong>Sorting data, the quiz game</strong></a>, September 18 — FlowingData: **Sorting data, the quiz game**, September 18

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Data Vis Dispatch, September 23: Politics, Palestine, and interactive tools

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