Evening Report

Where the US population is growing

by Amee LaTour 12/19/23 05:15 PM CST

The Miami skyline is viewed from the Rickenbacker Causeway in South Florida, Dec. 15, 2023. South Carolina and Florida were the two fastest-growing states in the U.S., as the South region dominated population gains in 2023, and the U.S. growth rate ticked upward slightly from the depths of the pandemic due to a drop in deaths, according to estimates released Tuesday, Dec. 19 by the U.S. Census Bureau. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)

A quick recap of the day and what to look forward to tomorrow

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Evening Report

Where U.S. population is growing

New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the country’s population increased 0.5 percent from July 2022 to July 2023, with 87 percent of that growth concentrated in the South.

“U.S. migration returning to pre-pandemic levels and a drop in deaths are driving the nation’s growth,” Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division, said in a statement.

Some key findings:

About 700,000 people moved to the South from other regions of the U.S., while more than 500,000 came to the South from other countries.
Texas saw the greatest population increase by number of people (473,453), with Florida second (365,205).
New York and California saw the largest population drops by number (101,984 people and 75,423 people, respectively).
The Northeast was the only region that experienced a population decline (43,330 people).

More from Wilder on the overall population increase: “Although births declined, this was tempered by the near 9% decrease in deaths. Ultimately, fewer deaths paired with rebounding immigration resulted in the nation experiencing its largest population gain since 2018.”

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NEW THIS AFTERNOON

Lawmakers speak out against US Steel sale

Democrats and Republicans in Congress are warning about potential harms of the proposed $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japanese Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC), with concerns including national security and union jobs.

Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that the NSC is “a company whose allegiances clearly lie with a foreign state and whose record in the United States is deeply flawed.”
From Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.): “I’m concerned about what this means for the Steelworkers and the good union jobs that have supported Pennsylvania families for generations, for the long-term investment in the Commonwealth, and for American industrial leadership.”

“Fears about an overreliance on Chinese production capacity during the pandemic has led to closer coordination among U.S. economic allies especially in the Asia-Pacific region, notably Japan, South Korea and Taiwan,” The Hill’s Tobias Burns reported.

The deal requires approval from U.S. Steel shareholders as well as government regulators.

Read Burns’s full report here.

at the capitol

Protestors in Rotunda call for cease-fire, end to military aid

US Capitol Police escorted protesters out of the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday amid a demonstration calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. Protest organizers said in a joint statement, “We demand that the United States stop arming Israel and facilitating genocide in Gaza.”

Senators remained in Washington this week to work toward a border deal integral to passing a package that includes aid to Israel, as well as Ukraine and other recipients. Several senators have said a deal isn’t likely to come this week.

IN OTHER NEWS

GOP senators criticize Trump’s ‘poisoning the blood’ comment

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton presents Senate Republicans‘ criticisms of former President Trump‘s recent comment that thousands of immigrants entering the nation daily are “poisoning the blood of our country.”

Andy Kim internal poll shows big lead in NJ Senate primary

An internal poll from Rep. Andy Kim‘s (D-N.J.) Senate campaign shows Kim leading the primary field with 45 percent support. Sitting Sen. Bob Menendez (D), indicted on charges to which he’s pleaded not guilty, polled at 3 percent, and New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy had 22 percent.

OP-EDS IN THE HILL

“Gerrymandering is an enemy to democracy — we need constitutional reform now”

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⏲️ COUNTDOWN

13 days until 2024.

🗓 COMING NEXT

Wednesday: President Biden will be in Milwaukee delivering remarks on “Bidenomics.”

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Evening Report

Where U.S. population is growing

CATCH UP QUICK

NEW THIS AFTERNOON

Lawmakers speak out against US Steel sale

at the capitol

Protestors in Rotunda call for cease-fire, end to military aid

IN OTHER NEWS

GOP senators criticize Trump’s ‘poisoning the blood’ comment

Andy Kim internal poll shows big lead in NJ Senate primary

OP-EDS IN THE HILL

⏲️ COUNTDOWN

🗓 COMING NEXT

Stay Engaged

Evening Report