The Atlantic is probably using AI to find counties with similar populations that support their narrative without excluding confounding factors.
What would be the results if only whites were compared from both counties?
You also might want to control for things like obesity which might be more prevalent among whites in SC than CA.
This is all done to denigrate white Southerners who typically vote Republican.
I think if you want to live longer it would be smarter to lose weight, exercise and change your diet than the prescription implied by the Atlantic to vote Democrat.
The Atlantic is probably using AI to find counties with similar populations that support their narrative without excluding confounding factors.
This is a Poltico article written by a real person. He cited several studies that have provided the data that his conclusions are based on. If you read the whole article you would see much of the other stuff you mentioned discussed.
I use to know Colin when he lived in Maine. Was a reporter for the Portland Press Herald.
Having said all of this I agree with only part of his premises. I don’t think you can blame the deep south on Republicans as the Dems ruled that area for about 100 years until the last 10 to 20 years.