Good morning. Here’s your Early Warning for Wednesday, 28 March 2018. (All times Eastern.)
Early Warning: Get ready for the next big legal battle for the Trump administration. Some 13 states have said they’d file a lawsuit against the federal government to prevent the Census Bureau from including a question about citizenship on the 2020 census. Federal law requires every individual living in the United States to be counted in the Census, including both citizens and immigrants, illegal or otherwise. From 1820 to 1950, this was a standard question on the Census, and the Left is furious, and probably afraid, over the prospect of adding it back. Here’s why it matters: Congressional districts are apportioned to population. If the Census finds that there are fewer citizens living in a district — which doesn’t count illegal immigrants — then the district will likely be redrawn because non-citizens shouldn’t included in representation. And that’s going to greatly reduce the Democrats’ power in the House and in the Electoral College because for so long non-citizens have been a part of those apportioned districts. So it comes as no surprise that California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington are going to challenge this question in court. We’ll have more on this developing topic in Friday’s National Intelligence Bulletin. Subscribe here.
White House
Nothing significant to report.
State Department
Nothing significant to report.
Defense Department
As of its last reported location, the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson (CVN-70) remains in the South China Sea, the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is in the Indian Ocean, and most recently the John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is now underway in the Eastern Pacific.
Congress
The House and Senate deliberate in pro forma sessions this week and there are no scheduled hearings. Congress will reconvene on the week of 09 April 2018.
Federal Reserve/Economy
Nothing significant to report.
Notable Quotable
“Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the N.R.A.’s ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option.” Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John Paul Stevens
