[ModernMech]

Dear god those charts are useless. Different scales all lined up next to each other, no clue as to the value of the bottom of the y axis, no clue as to what the baseline or the peak numbers are, no ability to actually inspect the data... Who are they hiring to do this nonsense at NYT?

[ceejayoz]

They're not intended for comparing chart to chart, there's a table with key numbers below, and links at the bottom to country-by-country, state-by-state, and "look up your city" options.

It's a "look at the spikes" illustration in the spot in an article a big photo would typically go.

[pacala]

Going to be charitable and hope the bottom of y axis is zero.