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─────── September 12, 2026 ───────
Happy Saturday!
When’s the last time you actually memorized something from Scripture? Not just heard it, but knew it? We partnered with Bible Memory Project to help with that: Verse to Consider is a monthly kit that mails you one verse to hold onto, plus a wristband, a perspective card, and a devo to dig deeper. October’s box is up now. Use code TPO50 for 50% off your first month.
Fun fact: the U.S. has a census coming up in 2030, and the Administration just proposed two changes: which residents count toward House seats, and what the form asks about race and ethnicity. That got us noodling… What even is the census? How does it work? And what’s the point? Let’s take a dive into the country’s largest headcount.
New here? TPO Explains does a shallow dive into your most-asked questions every Saturday.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Our loving Lord is not just present, but nearer than the thought can imagine—so near that a whisper can reach Him.”
Amy Carmichael
BREWING QUESTIONS
WHAT YOU’RE ASKING
What’s the census?
A big federal roll call.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s ABCDs: always be collecting data. Uncle Sam runs several kinds of censuses (economic, government, etc.), but the Big Kahuna is the Decennial Census held every 10 years on April 1. It counts every resident and where they live, and it’s constitutionally mandated. April 1, 2030 will be America’s 25th.
Why’d the Founding Fathers think we needed a census?
Originally? To divvy up House seats, direct taxes, and gauge the country’s pool of military-age men.
The first census asked for a tally of your household by gender, age, and whether they were free or enslaved. Today, the census includes questions on things like race and ethnicity, and the data determines how Uncle Sam distributes trillions of dollars in federal funding each year, how states redraw district lines, and how many House seats each state gets (check whether your state has been gaining or losing seats).
How do they count all those people?
Every household gets an invite by April 1, with the option to respond by mail, phone, or online. About 77% of homes answer on their own.
But if you don’t reply, a census worker can (literally) knock (and knock and knock and knock) on the door up to six times. After three unsuccessful attempts, the bureau can ask a “proxy” (think: landlords, neighbors, or real estate agents) or use administrative records (think: IRS or home-ownership documents).
… but it’s not perfect. For roughly 1% of the count, it does the math equivalent of “we’ll estimate,” and in the last census, the national over- or undercount came to 0.24% (see how good your state was at taking attendance).
What if I just don’t answer?
Technically, a fine up to $5,000… though nobody’s actually been prosecuted since 1970. Still, undercounting can cost your community funding and representation for a decade.
The upside: your answers are kept confidential by law. The Census Bureau only publishes aggregate statistics, and flat-out says that it won’t hand over your individual answers to the FBI, ICE, or the IRS, with “no exceptions.” The one catch: hang on 72 years and your form does go public, but hey, your great-grandkids can look you up!
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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
The God of the universe knows us intimately, better than we know ourselves and with perfect accuracy. He doesn’t over- or undercount, even our sins, yet He loves us. Rejoice in that truth and praise Him today.
“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Luke 12:6-7 (CSB) (read full passage)
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HOUSE BLEND
WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY
Trying out this week’s Mini Crossword
Weekend plans = me and who…?
A snail mail letter just for you. Created by TPO Reader Amy W., The Kindred Letter Society helps you take a step away from algorithm-driven life, and reacquaint yourself with the things that are uniquely human. Every month, you’ll get a personal letter, curated paper goods, small keepsakes, a Spotify playlist, and more! Remind yourself of the joy of real, meaningful mail (not just extended warranty offers).*
*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!
WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…
Top News Link: See how much each country shrank on the U.N.’s new world map.
Top Christian Perspective: The best reminder for when you need to re-orient your focus. Download and save it here!
Top Whipped Cream: Oh deer. Plz do not disturb this sweet lil baby!
TAKE IT TO GO
WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING
What We’re Bringing to Bible Study
Our Filament-enabled Bible*
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Just take the quiz to find the right Filament Bible Collection Bible for you, and start studying God’s Word with thousands of trusted resources at your fingertips.
Kathleen Wadkins | Managing Editor, Table Hog Sharer
*From our partners
WHAT WE’RE PRAYING
A blessing from the book of Numbers
“May the LORD bless you and protect you;
may the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
may the LORD look with favor on you
and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (CSB) (read full passage)
LEARN WITH US
Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click on the episode below.
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