Topic: Census

Eva St. James argues that the Dutch election proves legacy media still holds immense power to manipulate voters despite the rise of independent platforms like X. In the United States, 2024 census data shows the average voter age is 51, with a median of 48. The hosts conclude that because younger people (ages 18-24) have significantly lower turnout rates (48%) compared to seniors (75%), youth-led movements like those for Bernie Sanders often fail to materialize at the ballot box.

A discussion on the constitutional basis of the U.S. Census focuses on Article 1, Section 2, and the 14th Amendment regarding the apportionment of representatives. Claims are made that the Democratic Party opposes citizenship questions on the census to maximize representation in states like California by counting non-citizens. The historical shift from the three-fifths clause to counting the "whole number of persons" is examined.

President Trump and allies, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Governor Ron DeSantis, are calling for a new census to be conducted before 2030. The proposal aims to exclude non-citizens from the population counts used for redistricting House seats. The ACLU has signaled it will challenge any attempt to alter the "whole number of persons" requirement established by the 14th Amendment.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that only 0.5% of commuters use bicycles, despite the massive expansion of bike lanes in cities like New York. The demographics of urban cyclists are overwhelmingly white, male, college-educated, and aged 20-30. Critics argue that the removal of car lanes for "micromobility" causes unnecessary congestion and serves a very small, privileged segment of the population.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposed a plan to use the U.S. Postal Service to conduct the national census, potentially saving $40 billion every ten years. Lutnick argues that since postal workers already visit every household daily, they could count residents and provide customer service for Social Security forms. The proposal aims to utilize existing government assets more efficiently to reduce federal spending.

The Department of Homeland Security designated September 25th as "If You See Something, Say Something Awareness Day." Simultaneously, reports from the Congressional Budget Office indicate a massive surge in immigration, with 6.5 million illegal immigrants entering the U.S. recently. Analysts suggest this influx provides cheap labor for construction and service industries, effectively suppressing wages for native-born workers.

Speaker Mike Johnson visited Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to announce a bill requiring proof of citizenship for federal voting. While critics argue non-citizen voting is already illegal and rare, proponents suggest the bill is necessary for election integrity and to address concerns about the census. The visit is seen as a move to solidify Johnson's standing with the Republican base.

Representative Yvette Clarke of New York stated during a session that her district in Brooklyn needs more migrants to assist with redistricting purposes. Clarke argued that her community has a "diaspora" that can absorb a significant number of people, leading to criticism that the open-border policy is being used for partisan demographic shifts.

The hosts examine the seniority system in the U.S. Congress, which incentivizes keeping elderly representatives in office to maintain state influence and committee priorities. Data from 2021 indicates the median age of the U.S. population is 38.8 years, highlighting a significant age gap between lawmakers and the general public. The discussion explores how the current legislative structure favors longevity over demographic representation.

New census data from England and Wales reveals that 89.4% of the population identifies as straight or heterosexual. Approximately 1.5% identified as gay or lesbian, and 0.5% identified as a gender different from their sex registered at birth. The hosts contrast these statistical realities with the high level of media and policy focus on gender identity issues.

An anonymous nurse provided a testimonial claiming a significant increase in hospital admissions for strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots following the vaccine rollout. She alleged that 90% of her current patients are vaccinated and suffering from recurring medical issues. The nurse stated that medical professionals are often ridiculed or labeled "anti-vaxxers" if they suggest a correlation between these conditions and the vaccines.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and President Joe Biden announce a "door-to-door" outreach program to increase vaccination rates. The hosts express concern over government lists and privacy, questioning how officials decide which homes to visit. A clip of Biden bumbling the explanation—stating they need to get people "protected from the virus"—is highlighted as a gaffe.

A report suggests the federal government has tasked IBM with creating a new system for Social Security numbers. The hosts reference Edwin Black's research on IBM's history of using punch cards to help Nazi Germany conduct censuses and identify specific ethnic groups.

Taylor Swift expressed frustration over the U.S. Census only offering "male" and "female" gender options, calling it an "erasure" of non-binary and transgender people. She advocated for the passage of the Equality Act and shared her experience performing at the Stonewall Inn. The hosts mock her use of "hip-hop talk" and her political pivot.

Dame Nurse Caitlin provides an update from a North Carolina hospital, reporting that the patient census is so low that floors are being combined. While no one has been laid off, staff are being told to expect reduced hours. This contradicts media narratives of overwhelmed hospitals, a trend the hosts say they are hearing from healthcare workers nationwide.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appears on Seth Meyers to encourage all residents, regardless of documentation status, to participate in the 2020 Census. She emphasizes that the data is confidential and determines federal funding for local schools and infrastructure. In a lighter segment, AOC is noted for participating in a House Rules Committee tradition where members' dogs are photographed as "chair dog of the day."

The House of Representatives voted 332 to 95 to table Al Green's impeachment resolution, with over half of Democrats joining Republicans. Meanwhile, Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross were voted in criminal contempt of Congress over the 2020 census citizenship question. Nancy Pelosi emphasized that the House will continue its committee investigations rather than pursuing immediate impeachment.

President Trump announced he is considering an executive order to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census despite a Supreme Court ruling blocking the move. Critics expressed concern over Trump's statement that the census is used to "find out everything about everybody," arguing it should be a simple headcount.

Former Census Director Kenneth Pruitt discussed the historical shadow cast by the 1940 Census, which was used to facilitate the internment of Japanese-Americans in 1942. The current debate over the citizenship question is linked to concerns about resource allocation and congressional representation for states with large immigrant populations.

Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, launched the Black Census Project to capture the experiences of Black communities, including immigrants and LGBTQ individuals. Garza argued the official 2020 Census is designed to discourage participation through questions about immigration status.