Hard Numbers: US Census bungle, US election workers afraid, Sweden ups defense spending, Oz beefs up army

Hard Numbers: US Census bungle, US election workers afraid, Sweden ups defense spending, Oz beefs up army
Sign encouraging participation in the US Census in Somerville, Massachusetts.
REUTERS/Brian Snyder

18.8 million: The 2020 US Census reportedly miscounted a whopping 18.8 million people. The miscount underrepresented people of color while overcounting whites. This raises questions about the Census numbers’ validity as a basis for reallocating congressional and state Electoral College votes.

20: That’s the percentage of US election workers who plan to leave their jobs before the 2024 presidential election. Many cited increased levels of harassment and intimidation.

2: Sweden will raise its defense spending to 2% of GDP — it’s currently spending 1.3% — as soon as possible in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Sweden’s defense capability must be greatly strengthened,” said PM Magdalena Andersson.

80,000: Australia will up its standing army by one-third to almost 80,000 troops over the next two decades. The Aussies are a crucial US ally and members of the AUKUS and the Quad initiatives to counter China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific.

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Ian's Quick Take: The US Agency for International Development is in the process of being shut down. Nearly all Washington staff have been put on leave, they're closing missions abroad, the State Department moving to evacuate all staff around the world. Why should we care? Does this matter?