{"id":2889,"date":"2026-08-20T04:01:49","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T04:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=2889"},"modified":"2026-08-20T04:01:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T04:01:49","slug":"the-trump-plan-to-cook-the-census-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=2889","title":{"rendered":"The Trump Plan to Cook the Census Books"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><\/div><p><\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"\">\n<div id=\"article-title-block_42e1bec0750f23149abd13691372bd29\" class=\"article-title \">\n<div class=\"article-title__container\">\n<div class=\"article-title__eyebrow\">\n                            <span class=\"article-title__labels\"><br \/>\n                                        <span class=\"article-title__label\"><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/subject\/politics\/\">Politics<\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                            <\/span><br \/>\n                                    <span class=\"article-title__label-divider\"> \/ <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                            <span class=\"article-title__date\">August 19, 2026<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>From adding a citizenship question to not tracking race and ethnicity, the administration wants to minimize Black and brown political power.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad-block ad siderail-ad float-r-w-3 break-r-4\">\n<p>                                    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/advertising-policy\" class=\"ad-policy\" target=\"_blank\">Ad Policy<\/a><br \/>\n                                    <\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"907\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-607342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/census_form-getty-793x500.jpg 793w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\"\/><\/a><figcaption><span class=\"credits\">(blackwaterimages \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"is-style-dropcap\">After the first Trump administration purposely broke the 2020 Census\u2014the decennial population count that determines congressional representation, among other things\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/2020-census-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I implored the Biden administration<\/a> to do away with Trump\u2019s warped count and commission an accurate one. I said it should be unconscionable to spend 10 years relying on a census that purposely undercounted Black and brown voters, as it would make it even easier for Republicans to gerrymander away minority political representation.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration, of course, did nothing to fix the problem, and Republicans have indeed done everything they can to erase minority representation through gerrymandering. Now Donald Trump is back, and his administration is taking another stab at ruining the Census. This time it\u2019s not only trying to juice GOP representation in Congress but also trying to ensure massive changes in how federal resources are allocated.<\/p>\n<p>Back during Trump\u2019s first term, his administration did not get everything it wanted out of the 2020 Census. You might remember that, in 2019, Trump desperately tried to add a citizenship question to that Census but was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2019\/06\/27\/supreme-court-ruling-census-citizenship-question-1385304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blocked by the Supreme Court<\/a>. Now that he has returned to power, his administration is <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/news\/read-a-new-draft-rule-for-the-census-seeks-sweeping-changes-to-how-political-power-is-allocated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trying to add a citizenship question<\/a> to the 2030 Census\u2014a question that will have two separate but related effects. The first is that it will deter some noncitizens from filling out the form, and the second is that the government will then exclude many of the noncitizens who do answer from the final count. The result: an artificially depressed population count in a number of states.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that Trump is planning anything around the 2030 Census is mildly worrisome to me, given that Trump is <em>supposed to be<\/em> out of power by then. However, the decennial Census is a massive government undertaking, and mid-decade planning for the thing is not inherently abnormal.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Trump\u2019s attempt to radically change the Census just as the count was set to get started in 2019 is what scuttled his plan. Chief Justice John Roberts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/18pdf\/18-966_bq7c.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote the unanimous opinion<\/a> blocking the addition of the citizenship question, arguing that the administration\u2019s reason for adding the question was contrived, and thus the administration didn\u2019t meet the criteria for amending the Census questionnaire. This time, Trump is starting early and doing what the court pretty much told him to do to get a second bite at the apple. This is the consistent call-and-response practice between the court and this president: Trump tries something outrageous; the Supreme Court says \u201cno\u201d but tells him exactly how to do it in the future; Trump does it the way the Supreme Court wants and then gets his way. Remember this when you\u2019re \u201ccelebrating\u201d any ruling that initially seems adverse to Trump\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n<p>In any event, blocking noncitizens from being counted by the Census would be a devastating change, not only to how we determine political representation but also to how the government functions. Trump and the Republicans justify the citizenship question by arguing that, since noncitizens can\u2019t vote, they shouldn\u2019t be included in our Census counts. That argument is flawed. Noncitizens still use, and are entitled to use, government resources, which means that having an accurate count of how many <em>people<\/em> live in a state or locality, regardless of citizenship or voting status, is still critical. It literally determines what cut of federal funding states and localities get across a host of issues.<\/p>\n<div id=\"current-issue-block_49615ee4a108fabf149a007cb740f579\" class=\"current-issue  float-l-w-2\">\n<h4 class=\"current-issue__title\">\n                    Current Issue<br \/>\n            <\/h4>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/september-2026-issue\/\" class=\"current-issue__cover\"><br \/>\n        <img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" decoding=\"async\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Cover of September 2026 Issue\"\/><br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moreover, excluding noncitizens from the count is not the only major change Trump is planning for the 2030 Census. <em>Talking Points Memo<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/news\/read-a-new-draft-rule-for-the-census-seeks-sweeping-changes-to-how-political-power-is-allocated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">obtained a draft copy<\/a> of the new rules circulating around the Department of Commerce (the executive agency charged with administering the Census) and discovered that the Trump administration is also trying to change how people record where they live; the administration wants to shift from using a person\u2019s \u201cusual residence\u201d to the one available on their tax records.<\/p>\n<p>This is a direct attack on young people, and especially college students. Often the \u201cusual residence\u201d of a student or recent graduate is, you know, where they actually live: in a college dorm, town, or urban enclave. But, for the purposes of taxes, they might still be listed as living with their parents. I, for instance, lived and voted in Massachusetts during college and law school, but my tax residence never changed from my parents\u2019 house in New York. This change would essentially give young people less political power, while giving their parents more.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a third proposed change that would potentially be more devastating than all the others: Trump wants the Census to <em>stop<\/em> counting the race and ethnicity of the people living in this country.<\/p>\n<p>I am sure that Republicans will try to sell this change as some kind of wonderful, post-racial, \u201ccolorblind\u201d moment of social advancement, but do not fall for the Kumbaya okey doke. Knowing the racial and ethnic makeup of the country is critical for a number of programs designed both to ameliorate the legacies of segregation and racism and to identify new expressions of bigotry. Even though the current administration thinks those programs should not exist, the hope is that Trump won\u2019t be in charge through 2040. Yet if he is able to prevent the government from counting the number of Black and brown people in the country, he will be able to frustrate restarting those programs, even long after he is (hopefully) out of power.<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"cta-block_52854ffcabb155f0a3da191a9179ad1e\" class=\"cta float-l-w-3\">\n<p>And then there\u2019s the more immediate problem of congressional redistricting. Remember, racially motivated gerrymanders are the only kind of gerrymanders that are still, technically speaking, unconstitutional according to this Supreme Court. But if Trump can prevent the government from counting where minorities live, it will be truly impossible to ever prove that a gerrymander was designed to take away their power. You won\u2019t be able to argue that a district was designed to erase the Black vote if you are not allowed to know where Black people actually live.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also the argument that the forced ignorance of our racial and ethnic makeup is textbook erasure of minority communities. Whatever we want to do with the information about race and ethnicity, we should at least have it as part of our official count of ourselves.<\/p>\n<section aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad fullwidth-ad contained row position-relative ad-block alignfull \">\n    <!--Ad policy starts here--><br \/>\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/advertising-policy\" class=\"mid-ad-policy\">Ad Policy<\/a><br \/>\n        <!--Ad policy ends here--><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"popular-block_24a9fc5a1dc1af677892f5e4c5579f08\" class=\"popular-articles\">\n<div class=\"swiper\">\n<p><h2>Popular<\/h2>\n<p>            <span class=\"swipe-msg\"><span class=\"sr-only\">\u201cswipe left below to view more authors\u201d<\/span>Swipe \u2192<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n<ol class=\"popular-articles__list\">\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-articles__list-item swiper-slide\">\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Given the Trump administration\u2019s well-documented racial animus, I have to assume that these proposals will go forward as part of the planning for the 2030 Census. I also have to assume that the Supreme Court will allow these changes to go through, as their concerns last time were entirely process-oriented, and Trump is giving himself enough time to do the process correctly.<\/p>\n<p>That means that the only real chance to stop this will be for Democrats to take control of the White House in 2028 and put somebody in charge at the Commerce Department who will be laser-focused on fixing the Census. Democrats must recognize the problem, the existential danger it poses, and prioritize correcting it.<\/p>\n<p>This is not a sexy issue. \u201cI will unfuck the Census,\u201d is not going to generate a lot of applause during a stump speech in New Hampshire. And yet, it must be a critical, \u201cfirst hundred days\u201d priority for an incoming Democratic administration\u2014if we are allowed to have one.<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-end-\" class=\"article-end \">\n<div class=\"article-end__authors\">\n<div class=\"article-end__author\">\n<h5 class=\"article-end__author-name\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/elie-mystal\/\">Elie Mystal<\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/h5>\n<p>                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ElieNYC\" class=\"article-end__author-twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"14\" viewbox=\"0 0 17 14\" fill=\"none\"><br \/>\n\t<default:path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M15.2054 3.54558C15.2122 3.6951 15.215 3.84463 15.215 3.99527C15.215 8.58792 11.7194 13.8834 5.32683 13.8834C3.36455 13.8834 1.53779 13.3083 0 12.3221C0.271606 12.354 0.548252 12.3702 0.828257 12.3702C2.45677 12.3702 3.95536 11.8147 5.14483 10.8829C3.62384 10.8543 2.34085 9.84963 1.89844 8.4692C2.11068 8.51008 2.32797 8.53136 2.55253 8.53136C2.87006 8.53136 3.17695 8.48936 3.46815 8.40984C1.87772 8.09008 0.680414 6.68501 0.680414 5.00273C0.680414 4.98705 0.680414 4.97305 0.680414 4.95793C1.14858 5.21833 1.68452 5.37514 2.25461 5.39362C1.32219 4.76921 0.708415 3.7063 0.708415 2.5006C0.708415 1.8633 0.879778 1.26633 1.17882 0.753361C2.89302 2.85621 5.45395 4.23887 8.34249 4.38392C8.28313 4.12967 8.25233 3.86423 8.25233 3.59206C8.25233 1.6729 9.80861 0.117188 11.7278 0.117188C12.7274 0.117188 13.6301 0.539436 14.2641 1.21425C15.0559 1.05913 15.8002 0.769041 16.4716 0.370873C16.2118 1.18289 15.6602 1.86386 14.9428 2.29395C15.6462 2.20939 16.3159 2.02235 16.9392 1.74626C16.4739 2.44292 15.8842 3.05557 15.2054 3.54558Z\" fill=\"#666666\"\/><br \/>\n<\/default:svg><br \/>\n                        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-end__author-bio\">\n<p>Elie Mystal is\u00a0<em>The Nation<\/em>\u2019s justice correspondent and a columnist. He is also an Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center. He is the author of two books: the <em>New York Times<\/em> bestseller <a href=\"https:\/\/thenewpress.com\/books\/allow-me-retort\"><em>Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy\u2019s Guide to the Constitution<\/em><\/a> and <em>Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America<\/em>, both published by The New Press. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/elie\/\">subscribe to his <em>Nation<\/em> newsletter <em>Elie v. U.S.<\/em>\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_incontent_2 --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<!-- Tag ID: thenation_registration_billboard --><\/p>\n<section class=\"collections collections--col-0\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<h2 class=\"collections__title\">More from <span class=\"not-italic\">The Nation<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"collection__row\">\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/progressive-populism-rural-voters-democrats\/\" aria-label=\"Meet Alissa Ellman, Rust Belt Populist\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, 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fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oswego.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"The City Hall clock tower and surrounding buildings in Oswego, New York, part of New York\u2019s 24th Congressional District.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>\u201cYou have to talk about these issues like a human being, and not like an MSNBC host on TV.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jim-shultz\/\">Jim Shultz<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/delaney-hall-detention-facility-newark-nj\/\" aria-label=\"Delaney Hall Detention Facility, Newark, New Jersey\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-18_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Delaney Hall Detention Facility, Newark, New Jersey\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<p class=\"dek\">A privately operated ICE detention facility where enforcement, profit, and human dignity collide\u2014echoes of concentration camps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/oppart\/\" class=\"collections__label\">OppArt<\/a><br \/>\n                                            <span class=\"collections__divider\"><br \/>\n                            \/<br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                        <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/karen-guancione\/\">Karen Guancione<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/democrats-fundraising-scam-pac-report\/\" aria-label=\"Democrats Really, Really, Really Don't Want People Investigating Their Scammy Fundraising\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-613393234.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"A paper donkey, the animal symbol of the Democratic Party, hangs from the ceiling at the Virginia Victory Coordinated Campaign Field Office on October 8, 2016, in Arlington, Virginia.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Several of the party\u2019s top committees threatened to raise legal hell over a new study into the way they pry money out of seniors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/chris-lehmann\/\">Chris Lehmann<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/trump-uss-lincoln-crisis\/\" aria-label=\"Trump\u2019s Loose Grip on Reality Could Sink the Navy\u2019s Ships\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2290770448.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Donald Trump waves to the press after landing at the Ellipse near the White House on August 16, 2026\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>The dire conditions on the USS <em>Abraham Lincoln<\/em> are due to a president\u2019s being dangerously detached from what\u2019s actually happening in the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\">Jeet Heer<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_btf_medrec --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpContentAuthor\" value=\"Elie Mystal\"\/><br \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpTags\" value=\"government,law,politics,racism-and-discrimination,supreme-court\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script type=\"afdab4dc2c2fb0a91c3573ef-text\/javascript\">\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n\t\t{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n\t\tif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n\t\tn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n\t\ts.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '233793277040432');\n\t\tfbq('track', 'PageView');\n\t\t\t\t<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Politics \/ August 19, 2026 From adding a citizenship question to not tracking race and ethnicity, the administration wants to minimize Black and brown political power. Ad Policy (blackwaterimages \/ Getty Images) After the first Trump administration purposely broke the 2020 Census\u2014the decennial population count that determines congressional representation, among other things\u2014I implored the Biden&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[646,4718,4717,72,289],"class_list":["post-2889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-books","tag-census","tag-cook","tag-plan","tag-trump"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}