Axios

California is projected to lose a congressional seat for the first time next year, while states President Trump won such as Texas and Florida will likely gain seats, according to an analysis of new Census data by the Brookings Institution's William Frey.

Why it matters: It only takes a handful of seats to shift a party's power in Congress for a decade. The new data underscores the need for an accurate 2020 Census count, especially with changing demographics in states with booming populations such as Florida, Texas and Arizona.

Former Vice President Joe Biden said at a campaign stop in New Hampshire Monday that he would consider choosing a Republican running mate if he wins the 2020 Democratic nomination, but that he "can't think of one right now," CNN reports.

What he's saying: "There are some really decent Republicans that are out there still, but here’s the problem right now with the well-known ones: They’ve got to step up. You know what I mean?"

Sen. Bernie Sanders released letters from his primary physician and two cardiologists on Monday stating that the 2020 candidate "has the mental and physical stamina to fully undertake the rigors of the Presidency."

Why it matters: The 78-year-old Sanders has faced questions about his health in the wake of a medical procedure he had after suffering a heart attack in October. Sanders included his health history and results from recent lab tests in the release.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will make his first trip to Ukraine this week to "reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” as the country works to end a six-year military conflict with Russian-backed separatists, according to the State Department.

Why it matters: Allegations that President Trump withheld desperately needed military aid to Ukraine to pressure its government to investigate his political rivals have led to his impeachment for abuse of power. The Senate is expected to hold a trial in January.

The Democratic National Committee has rejected 2020 candidate Andrew Yang's request to commission more early-state polls in order to help a more "diverse set of candidates" qualify for the next debate in Iowa, arguing that doing so could appear partial to particular candidates, The Hill reports.

The big picture: Four candidates of color remain in the Democratic primary, but all five candidates who have qualified for the Jan. 14 debate are white. Eight candidates signed on to a request by Sen. Cory Booker earlier this month for the DNC to ease qualification requirements for the debate stage.

President Trump and former President Obama shared the honors as America's most admired man in 2019 in Gallup's annual poll.

The big picture: With both receiving the support of 18% of Americans, it's Obama's 12th time in the top slot — and Trump's first. Trump had previously come in second place for the last four years.

Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 campaign will open a field office in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the next few weeks, his campaign tells Axios.

Why it matters: It’s rare for a presidential campaign t0 open shop in an American territory, and the Virgin Islands aren't scheduled to hold their caucuses until June 6.

A majority of black Americans are more interested in voting in the 2020 presidential election than they were in 2016, according to a national survey of 1200 black voters and non-voters conducted by Third Way and the Joint Center.

Why it matters: Black voter turnout declined significantly in 2016 nationally and in key swing states, ultimately contributing to Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump. New details from focus groups and polling suggests that the motivation to remove Trump from office is firing up black Americans to head to the polls next November.

2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said on the "Iowa Press" television program Sunday that Joe Biden's vote to authorize the 2003 invasion of Iraq is an example of "why years in Washington is not always the same thing as judgment," AP reports.

“He supported the worst foreign policy decision made by the United States in my lifetime, which was the decision to invade Iraq.”

The 2010s were marked by terrorism, major natural disasters, huge political upheaval and, in the U.S. in particular, political polarization.

Zoom in: The decade began with Democratic President Obama, political gridlock in the Republican-controlled Congress and surging partisanship. It's closing with Republican President Trump impeached by the Democratic-controlled House. A bright spot has been the the U.S. economy, which has steadily improved since the financial crisis of the previous decade.

Martin Baron, the executive editor of the Washington Post, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that while Americans may be "numb" to the more than 15,000 false claims made by President Trump and flagged by the Post, the newspaper still has a responsibility to hold "government officials accountable" through aggressive fact-checking.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned Rudy Giuliani in an interview with The Daily Beast to make sure that the information he has gathered about President Trump's opponents in Ukraine isn't Russian propaganda.

“He has not shared any of that information with me. My advice to Giuliani would be to share what he got from Ukraine with the IC [intelligence community] to make sure it’s not Russia propaganda. I’m very suspicious of what the Russians are up to all over the world.” 

Opponents of job outsourcing are making a holiday-season appeal to President Trump: Stop U.S. companies from forcing American workers to train the very same cheaper foreign laborers who will soon replace them.

Why it matters: Trump promised voters he'd end abuses of worker visa programs and save U.S. jobs — but as he campaigns for re-election, advocates say he hasn't done enough.

2020 candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) told ABC News Saturday she voted "present" during President Trump's House impeachment proceedings because she's concerned it would "embolden him." And she said it could cause "lasting damage" to the U.S. if he's re-elected and the Republicans regain the House in 2020.

"I think impeachment, unfortunately, will only further embolden Donald Trump, increase his support and the likelihood that he'll have a better shot at getting elected while also seeing the likelihood that the House will lose a lot of seats to Republicans."

Go deeper:

• Tulsi Gabbard on impeachment vote: "I did not take the easy vote"
• Tulsi Gabbard is the 2020 field's lightning rod