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Census Bureau to miss Dec. 31 deadline for first time

Photo: David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Census Bureau has confirmed it will miss Thursday's deadline to produce the first set of 2020 census results for its count used to determine representation in Congress.

Why it matters: It's the first time the bureau has missed the end-of-year deadline since Congress set the Dec. 31 date 44 years ago.

The intrigue: Wednesday's announcement was expected, but what is unknown is whether the data will be presented before President Trump leaves office on Jan. 20. Census Bureau staff have a completion target of Jan. 9, NPR reports.

  • The Trump administration has been pushing to exclude undocumented immigrants from the population base used for congressional seat apportionment.
  • The Supreme Court earlier this month said a lawsuit challenging these plans was "premature" and threw out the suit.

Yes, but: The House Committee on Oversight and Reform obtained internal documents indicating that Census Bureau officials do not expect to have the data ready until President-elect Joe Biden takes office, AP notes.

What they're saying: The bureau said in a statement Wednesday it plans "to deliver a complete and accurate state population count for apportionment in early 2021, as close to the statutory deadline as possible."

Of note: There are no penalties for missing the New Year's Eve deadline.

Go deeper

Margaret Talev
Jan 6, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Axios-SurveyMonkey poll: Election fight leaves lasting damage

Data: Axios/SurveyMonkey survey; Chart: Axios Visuals

Nearly 3 in 4 Democrats say the organized effort in Congress to block certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College win is a threat to America's democracy, while 6 in 10 Republicans say it's a defense of it, according to a new SurveyMonkey poll for Axios.

The big picture: The poll shows how badly Biden has been damaged by two months of baseless allegations of election fraud. Just 58% of Americans accept his win as legitimate, while more than one in four doesn't — and most of those skeptics say they won't buy it even if Congress certifies the results today, as expected.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Ina Fried, author of Login
1 hour ago - Technology

Scoop: Google is investigating the actions of another top AI ethicist

Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo by Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Google is investigating recent actions by Margaret Mitchell, who helps lead the company's ethical AI team, Axios has confirmed.

Why it matters: The probe follows the forced exit of Timnit Gebru, a prominent researcher also on the AI ethics team at Google whose ouster ignited a firestorm among Google employees.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Hans Nichols, author of Sneak Peek
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Joe Biden's COVID-19 bubble

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The incoming administration is planning extraordinary steps to protect its most prized commodity, Joe Biden, including requiring daily employee COVID tests and N95 masks at all times, according to new guidance sent to some incoming employees Tuesday.

Why it matters: The president-elect is 78 years old and therefore a high risk for the virus and its worst effects, despite having received the vaccine. While President Trump's team was nonchalant about COVID protocols — leading to several super-spreader episodes — the new rules will apply to all White House aides in "high proximity to principals."

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow

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