Hansi Lo Wang (he/him)
@hansilowang.bsky.social
@npr.org correspondent reporting on how elections, the census, the Postal Service and other parts of the U.S. government work • signal: hansi.01 • email: [email protected] • newsletter: hansilowang.com/stay-in-touch
Pinned
A major census test begins recruiting workers as some warn about delays
The Census Bureau is looking for temporary workers to carry out next year's major field test of the 2030 census in six states, as the national head count's advocates raise concerns about preparations.
www.npr.org
Got a news tip about the Census Bureau or Postal Service?
I'm a @npr.org correspondent who can be reached on Signal at hansi.01 (please use a nonwork device), and here’s my latest article:
I'm a @npr.org correspondent who can be reached on Signal at hansi.01 (please use a nonwork device), and here’s my latest article:
NEW: Postmaster General David Steiner tells U.S. Postal Service workers that the mail agency's financial situation is "precarious" & USPS — which relies on stamp & service fees, not tax dollars, to keep running — has plans for more cost-cutting & growing its package services in the coming 12 months
PMG addresses employees in new video – USPS Employee News
Postmaster General David Steiner discusses the Postal Service’s financial and performance expectations and his hopes for the organization’s future in his latest video message to employees.
news.usps.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
NEW: Postmaster General David Steiner tells U.S. Postal Service workers that the mail agency's financial situation is "precarious" & USPS — which relies on stamp & service fees, not tax dollars, to keep running — has plans for more cost-cutting & growing its package services in the coming 12 months
NEW: "We create all these frameworks on how the private sector shares your personal data. I'm not convinced that we the government live up to those same standards on a daily basis," Mark Calabria, US chief statistician at OMB overseeing Census Bureau and other statistical agencies, said at @csis.org
Federal Statistics For Economic Security
YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
NEW: "We create all these frameworks on how the private sector shares your personal data. I'm not convinced that we the government live up to those same standards on a daily basis," Mark Calabria, US chief statistician at OMB overseeing Census Bureau and other statistical agencies, said at @csis.org
NEW: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to discuss on Nov. 21 how it will handle a North Dakota case and a Mississippi case on whether private individuals and groups — whose lawsuits have been the main way of enforcing Voting Rights Act’s Section 2 — can keep suing
November 5, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to discuss on Nov. 21 how it will handle a North Dakota case and a Mississippi case on whether private individuals and groups — whose lawsuits have been the main way of enforcing Voting Rights Act’s Section 2 — can keep suing
On Oct. 31, Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, whose district was redrawn in the state's new congressional district map, introduced the fourth bill in Congress that would ban redrawing U.S. House districts more than once a decade unless ordered by a court
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov
November 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
On Oct. 31, Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, whose district was redrawn in the state's new congressional district map, introduced the fourth bill in Congress that would ban redrawing U.S. House districts more than once a decade unless ordered by a court
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
NEW: The governing board of the U.S. Postal Service — which generally receives no tax dollars to keep running and relies on stamp and service fees — is set to meet Nov. 14 to discuss fiscal year 2025 finances and elect a chair and vice chair
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
November 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
NEW: The governing board of the U.S. Postal Service — which generally receives no tax dollars to keep running and relies on stamp and service fees — is set to meet Nov. 14 to discuss fiscal year 2025 finances and elect a chair and vice chair
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
NEW: #2030Census advocates led by The Census Project urge Congress to strike a House funding bill provision that would take away the Census Bureau’s ability to “inquire” more than twice to get a survey response, a change that they say would "adversely affect the quality and availability" of data
thecensusproject.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:26 PM
NEW: #2030Census advocates led by The Census Project urge Congress to strike a House funding bill provision that would take away the Census Bureau’s ability to “inquire” more than twice to get a survey response, a change that they say would "adversely affect the quality and availability" of data
NEW: Democratic Sens. @padilla.senate.gov and @schiff.senate.gov call for the Justice Department to cancel its plan to send federal election observers to polling sites at five counties in central and southern California after a request from the state's Republican Party
www.padilla.senate.gov
October 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
NEW: Democratic Sens. @padilla.senate.gov and @schiff.senate.gov call for the Justice Department to cancel its plan to send federal election observers to polling sites at five counties in central and southern California after a request from the state's Republican Party
Mail-in voters who haven't returned ballots yet: Check your state's deadline to make sure your vote gets counted.
If your ballot must be received by Election Day, consider stopping by a ballot drop box or early voting site. It may be too late for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver it by Nov. 4...
If your ballot must be received by Election Day, consider stopping by a ballot drop box or early voting site. It may be too late for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver it by Nov. 4...
Table 11: Receipt and Postmark Deadlines for Absentee/Mail Ballots
Summary of the state deadlines for when election officials must receive absentee/mailed ballots and postmark deadlines.
www.ncsl.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Mail-in voters who haven't returned ballots yet: Check your state's deadline to make sure your vote gets counted.
If your ballot must be received by Election Day, consider stopping by a ballot drop box or early voting site. It may be too late for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver it by Nov. 4...
If your ballot must be received by Election Day, consider stopping by a ballot drop box or early voting site. It may be too late for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver it by Nov. 4...
Reposted by Hansi Lo Wang (he/him)
🎙️ON AIR:
We're talking to @npr.org's @hansilowang.bsky.social and @cookpolitical.com's Erin Covey about how a weakened Voting Rights Act and escalating efforts to redistrict along partisan lines could affect election outcomes in the future.
❓Are you voting yes or no on Prop. 50? Why?
📻 Listen:
We're talking to @npr.org's @hansilowang.bsky.social and @cookpolitical.com's Erin Covey about how a weakened Voting Rights Act and escalating efforts to redistrict along partisan lines could affect election outcomes in the future.
❓Are you voting yes or no on Prop. 50? Why?
📻 Listen:
Voting Rights Under Scrutiny as Redistricting Wars Escalate | KQED
We look at how the escalating efforts to redistrict along partisan lines could affect election outcomes in 2026 and beyond.
www.kqed.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
🎙️ON AIR:
We're talking to @npr.org's @hansilowang.bsky.social and @cookpolitical.com's Erin Covey about how a weakened Voting Rights Act and escalating efforts to redistrict along partisan lines could affect election outcomes in the future.
❓Are you voting yes or no on Prop. 50? Why?
📻 Listen:
We're talking to @npr.org's @hansilowang.bsky.social and @cookpolitical.com's Erin Covey about how a weakened Voting Rights Act and escalating efforts to redistrict along partisan lines could affect election outcomes in the future.
❓Are you voting yes or no on Prop. 50? Why?
📻 Listen:
Reposted by Hansi Lo Wang (he/him)
A judge has indefinitely halted thousands of layoffs of federal employees announced by the Trump administration since Oct. 1.
Judge indefinitely halts shutdown layoffs noting human toll
A federal judge in San Francisco has indefinitely halted thousands of layoffs of federal employees announced by the Trump administration since Oct. 1.
n.pr
October 28, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A judge has indefinitely halted thousands of layoffs of federal employees announced by the Trump administration since Oct. 1.
NEW: @retiredams.bsky.social & 2 University of Central Florida students want to defend the Census Bureau in the University of South Florida College Republicans' lawsuit over the use of a statistical technique to fill in missing 2020 census data after COVID disrupted counting at group-living quarters
Intervene – #29 in University of South Florida College Republicans v. Lutnick (M.D. Fla., 8:25-cv-02486) – CourtListener.com
Intervene
www.courtlistener.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
NEW: @retiredams.bsky.social & 2 University of Central Florida students want to defend the Census Bureau in the University of South Florida College Republicans' lawsuit over the use of a statistical technique to fill in missing 2020 census data after COVID disrupted counting at group-living quarters
On Oct. 24, an Arizona state judge declined to dismiss a Republican National Committee lawsuit that claims a 20-year-old state law allowing U.S. citizens who were born abroad and have never lived in the United States to vote in federal and state elections violates the Arizona Constitution
Republican Party of Arizona - 2025-10-24 Under Advisement Ruling (CV2025-022859)
www.documentcloud.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:43 PM
On Oct. 24, an Arizona state judge declined to dismiss a Republican National Committee lawsuit that claims a 20-year-old state law allowing U.S. citizens who were born abroad and have never lived in the United States to vote in federal and state elections violates the Arizona Constitution
NEW: The congressional gerrymandering war spreads to New York with a lawsuit by a group of New York City voters represented by @eliaslawgroup.bsky.social, claiming that the state's 11th Congressional District violates New York's voting rights act
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewD...
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewD...
iapps.courts.state.ny.us
October 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
NEW: The congressional gerrymandering war spreads to New York with a lawsuit by a group of New York City voters represented by @eliaslawgroup.bsky.social, claiming that the state's 11th Congressional District violates New York's voting rights act
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewD...
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewD...
NEW: A 17th voting House Republican — Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania — signed on to a resolution saying Congress should ensure the U.S. Postal Service stays an independent federal agency and not privatized. The resolution is stuck in the House Oversight Committee
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov
October 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
NEW: A 17th voting House Republican — Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania — signed on to a resolution saying Congress should ensure the U.S. Postal Service stays an independent federal agency and not privatized. The resolution is stuck in the House Oversight Committee
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
NEW: The full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a request to review a panel ruling that found private individuals and groups in seven states have no right to sue to enforce the Voting Rights Act’s Section 208 protections for voters with a disability or limited language proficiency
#00805377580 in Arkansas United v. John Thurston (8th Cir., 22-2918) – CourtListener.com
JUDGE ORDER: The petition for rehearing en banc is denied. The petition for panel rehearing is also denied [5551120-2]. Chief Judge Colloton, Judge Smith, Judge Kelly, and Judge Erickson would grant t...
www.courtlistener.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
NEW: The full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a request to review a panel ruling that found private individuals and groups in seven states have no right to sue to enforce the Voting Rights Act’s Section 208 protections for voters with a disability or limited language proficiency
NEW: Six paid canvassers in Pennsylvania face criminal charges for allegedly turning in fraudulent voter registration forms ahead of the 2024 election. State AG Dave Sunday says "the motive behind these crimes was personal financial gain, and not a conspiracy or organized effort to tip any election”
AG Sunday Announces Charges Against Canvassers, Pa. Field Director Regarding Submissions of Falsified Voter Registration Forms in Multiple Counties
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the filing of criminal charges regarding numerous voter registration forms that contained falsified information and were submitted in multiple count...
www.attorneygeneral.gov
October 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
NEW: Six paid canvassers in Pennsylvania face criminal charges for allegedly turning in fraudulent voter registration forms ahead of the 2024 election. State AG Dave Sunday says "the motive behind these crimes was personal financial gain, and not a conspiracy or organized effort to tip any election”
NEW: The Justice Department says it plans to monitor polling sites at six locations in California and New Jersey ahead of the Nov. 4 general election for "transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law"
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
October 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
NEW: The Justice Department says it plans to monitor polling sites at six locations in California and New Jersey ahead of the Nov. 4 general election for "transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law"
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
USPS PRO TIP: To make sure your mail-in ballot, tax return or legal document gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office and ask for a manual postmark at the counter in person
Your ballot or other mail may not get postmarked by USPS the day it's dropped off
Close to a deadline for mailing your ballot, tax return or legal document? To make sure it gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office.
www.npr.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM
USPS PRO TIP: To make sure your mail-in ballot, tax return or legal document gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office and ask for a manual postmark at the counter in person
NEW: @amstatnews.bsky.social urges Congress not to adopt a House funding bill provision that would take away the Census Bureau’s ability to “inquire” more than twice to get a survey response because it would "undermine the nation’s statistical infrastructure"
www.amstat.org/docs/default...
www.amstat.org/docs/default...
www.amstat.org
October 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
NEW: @amstatnews.bsky.social urges Congress not to adopt a House funding bill provision that would take away the Census Bureau’s ability to “inquire” more than twice to get a survey response because it would "undermine the nation’s statistical infrastructure"
www.amstat.org/docs/default...
www.amstat.org/docs/default...
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Senate Commerce Committee voted 15-13 along party lines to advance Joyce Meyer’s nomination to be the next undersecretary of commerce for economic affairs to oversee the Census Bureau
Executive Session 15
YouTube video by CommerceRepublicans
www.youtube.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Senate Commerce Committee voted 15-13 along party lines to advance Joyce Meyer’s nomination to be the next undersecretary of commerce for economic affairs to oversee the Census Bureau
NEW: Next year's #2030Census field test, the "2026 Census Test," no longer plans to allow administrators of college dorms and other group-living quarters to review data about the location online before counting starts, according to this Federal Register notice
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
October 21, 2025 at 5:51 PM
NEW: Next year's #2030Census field test, the "2026 Census Test," no longer plans to allow administrators of college dorms and other group-living quarters to review data about the location online before counting starts, according to this Federal Register notice
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
On Day 20 of the federal government shutdown, Ken Beyersdorf — an employee of the Census Bureau's contact center in Tucson, Ariz., who's on furlough & whose union is fighting in court against layoffs that are on hold for now — says, "I'm not sure how we're going to be paying our bills in the future"
October 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
On Day 20 of the federal government shutdown, Ken Beyersdorf — an employee of the Census Bureau's contact center in Tucson, Ariz., who's on furlough & whose union is fighting in court against layoffs that are on hold for now — says, "I'm not sure how we're going to be paying our bills in the future"
NEW: Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is the 66th House Republican to sponsor a bill calling for excluding people living in the states without U.S. citizenship, such as green card holders, from #2030Census results that the 14th Amendment says must include the “whole number of persons in each state”
www.congress.gov
October 18, 2025 at 1:17 PM
NEW: Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is the 66th House Republican to sponsor a bill calling for excluding people living in the states without U.S. citizenship, such as green card holders, from #2030Census results that the 14th Amendment says must include the “whole number of persons in each state”
On Oct. 10, the Census Bureau issued a notice of a mass layoff of 101 employees of its contact center in Tucson, Ariz., which is now on pause because of court order in a lawsuit led by the American Federation of Government Employees
www.azjobconnection.gov/search/warn_...
www.azjobconnection.gov/search/warn_...
U.S Census Bureau
WARN Notice
- AZ Job Connection
www.azjobconnection.gov
October 17, 2025 at 10:59 PM
On Oct. 10, the Census Bureau issued a notice of a mass layoff of 101 employees of its contact center in Tucson, Ariz., which is now on pause because of court order in a lawsuit led by the American Federation of Government Employees
www.azjobconnection.gov/search/warn_...
www.azjobconnection.gov/search/warn_...
NEW: Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida is the 20th Senate Republican to sponsor a bill calling for excluding people living in the states without U.S. citizenship, such as green card holders, from #2030Census results that the 14th Amendment says must include the “whole number of persons in each state”
www.congress.gov
October 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
NEW: Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida is the 20th Senate Republican to sponsor a bill calling for excluding people living in the states without U.S. citizenship, such as green card holders, from #2030Census results that the 14th Amendment says must include the “whole number of persons in each state”