New Data Still Shows Most Job Growth Going to Immigrants; 88% since 2020, 72% in last year

 

The January 2025 household survey, released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is the first to be weighted by the government to better reflect the huge surge in illegal immigration in the past four years.1 The new data shows that since January 2020, right before Covid, 88 percent of all employment growth has gone to immigrants (legal and illegal), also referred to as the foreign-born. All this at a time when a near-record share of working-age U.S.-born men remain out of the labor force. As the Center for Immigration Studies has pointed out in the past, the failure to fully account for the surge in illegal immigration in prior surveys caused the total U.S. population to be underestimated. This had the counter-intuitive effect of reducing the reported employment of the U.S.-born, as well as the foreign born, in the data.

Key findings:Between January 2020, before Covid or the immigration surge, to January 2025, 88 percent (4.7 million) of the total increase in employment went to immigrants. (Table A-7, Employment Situation reports)
Employment of the U.S.-born is up just 645,000 since January 2020. (Table A-7)
Based on our prior analysis, illegal immigrants account for roughly 60 percent of the growth in overall immigrant employment.
Focusing on just the last year shows immigrant employment grew by 1.9 million, which was 72 percent of total employment growth. However, there is some undercount of employment in the January 2024 data. (Table A-7)
Not all the data has been released, but our preliminary analysis suggests that the share of working-age (16 to 64) U.S.-born men not in the labor force — neither working nor looking for work — is likely 22.1 percent in January 2025 and remains near a historic high for an economic expansion.2
The long-term increase in men not in the labor force is linked to profound social problems, such as crime and overdose deaths. Addressing this deterioration is challenging, but bringing in so many legal and illegal immigrants reduces job prospects for American men. Equally important, relying on immigration to fill jobs allows employers and policymakers to ignore this enormous problem.3

1 The Census Bureau, which collects the data for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has struggled to estimate migration for years, even issuing a revision to estimated net migration for an entire decade in 2022. It also dramatically revised its estimates of migration for 2023 when it released its 2024 estimates, which showed unprecedented net migration of 2.29 in 2023 and 2.79 million for 2024. Estimating net migration accurately is critically important because the population estimates are the basis for the weights used in the household survey, which is technically known as the Current Population Survey.


2 Table A-6 is the only table in the Employment Situation report released today that shows labor force participation for the working-age (16 to 64), though the primary focus of the table is disability. Unfortunately, Table A-6 reports information about the total U.S. population, not immigrants and the U.S.-born separately. (Table A-7 breaks out the two groups separately but does not show labor force participation for the working-age.) The public-use data file for the household survey, technically known as the Current Population Survey (CPS), is typically released to the public about 10 days after the Employment Situation Report is released. The raw data allows researchers to analyze nearly every variable.

Analysis of the raw data in prior years shows the share of working-age U.S.-born men not in the labor force relative to the overall share of the male population not in the labor force each January has held roughly constant — 1.075 to 1. Table A-6 shows that 20.5 percent of all working-age men are not in the labor force in January 2025, which translates into 22.1 percent for U.S.-born men. The rate is likely now just slightly better than it was in January 2020 (22.4 percent), right before Covid. But as we have shown in prior publications, the share of U.S.-born men in the labor force pre-Covid represented a decades-long deterioration. In January 2007, before the Great Recession, 18.8 percent of U.S.-born men were not in the labor force, and it was 16.6 percent in January 2000. Back in 1960 it was about 11 percent.




3 When the Bureau of Labor Statistics refers to “labor force participation” it typically includes those 65 and older, which is not very helpful when looking at those who are working-age. Also, all figures in the household survey exclude those in jails and prisons.

https://cis.org/Camarota/New-January-Data-Still-Shows-Most-Job-Growth-Going-Immigrants-88-2020-72-last-year

Coming Soon: Energy Dominance

 by John Hinderaker

Other Trump initiatives have gotten most of the headlines, but his moves to unleash American energy should prove, long term, to be among his most significant. I wrote about the executive orders that Trump signed on day one here. Now, Energy Secretary Chris Wright has followed up with a Secretarial Order that implements some of the President’s key initiatives. The order is titled, “Unleashing the Golden Era of American Energy Dominance.”

It has nine elements. I will highlight some of them:

1. Advance Energy Addition, Not Subtraction:

Great attention has been paid to the pursuing of a net-zero carbon future. Net-zero policies raise energy costs for American families and businesses, threaten the reliability of our energy system, and undermine our energy and national security. They have also achieved precious little in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The fact is that energy matters, and we need more of it, not less. Going forward, the Department’s goal will be to unleash the great abundance of American energy required to power modern life and to achieve a durable state of American energy dominance.

The outright rejection of net zero fantasies is huge. For more on why net zero is a delusion, see this report.

We will resume exports of liquified natural gas to our allies:

3. Return to Regular Order on LNG Exports:

America is blessed with abundant energy resources – we are the world’s top oil and gas producer and a net energy exporter for the first time in decades. Our energy abundance is an asset, not a liability. On January 20, the Department resumed consideration of pending applications to export American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. in accordance with the Natural Gas Act. Proper consideration of LNG export applications is required by law and shall proceed accordingly.

The quality of home appliances has declined sharply as a result of government regulations. Most recently, liberals have tried to ban gas appliances. Thus:

4. Promote Affordability and Consumer Choice in Home Appliances:

A top priority of the Trump Administration is to ensure that American families can choose from a range of affordable home appliances and products. Therefore, the Department will initiate a comprehensive review of the DOE Appliance Standards Program. Any standards should include a cost-benefit analysis considering the upfront cost of purchasing new products and reflecting actual cost savings for American families. The Department will pursue a commonsense approach that does not regulate products that consumers value out of the market; instead, affordability and consumer choice will be our guiding light.

Watch for appliance prices to start dropping before long. Wright’s order also contains provisions that promote nuclear power and refill the strategic petroleum reserve, currently at its lowest level in 40 years. In the nick of time, the Trump administration will restore the reliability of our electrical grid:

8. Strengthen Grid Reliability and Security:

Fortifying America’s electric grid is critical to the reliable and secure delivery of electricity. Under President Trump’s Executive Order, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” the Department will identify and exercise all lawful authorities to strengthen the nation’s grid, including the backbone of the grid, our transmission system. This is an imperative as we consider current and anticipated load growth on our nation’s electric utilities. Moreover, after two decades of very slow demand growth, electricity demand is forecast to soar in the coming years. The Department will bring a renewed focus to growing baseload and dispatchable generation to reliably meet growing demand.

“Dispatchable” means reliable. Dispatchable energy sources are those that can be turned on and off at will. In energy lingo, natural gas, coal and nuclear are dispatchable. Wind and solar are not.

And finally, the Department of Energy intends to address the fact that for decades, it has been virtually impossible to get anything built in America:

9. Streamline Permitting and Identify Undue Burdens on American Energy:

A burdensome federal permitting process undermines America’s competitiveness and national security. Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Orders, the Department will prioritize more efficient permitting to enable private sector investments and build the energy infrastructure needed to make energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. To that end, the Department will identify and exercise its legal authorities to expedite the approval and construction of reliable energy infrastructure.

Terrible energy policies have wasted countless billions of dollars, destroyed immense amounts of wealth, and threatened America’s prosperity and competitiveness. We have a long way to go to turn this situation around, but the Trump administration is moving rapidly in the right direction.

As a bonus, here is Secretary Wright explaining, in two minutes, the futility of the Left’s war on fossil fuels:

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/02/coming-soon-energy-dominance.php

'Now We Know Who was Running the Country for Joe Biden'

 Have you noticed how leftists are losing their minds over Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to expose rampant waste and corruption? As Musk uncovers shocking levels of mismanagement and even actions aiding America’s enemies, critics have launched coordinated attacks on him, implying that he’s the one who is actually running the White House.

“No one voted for Elon Musk!” they say.

Time Magazine’s latest issue has joined the fray, featuring Musk seated confidently at the Resolute Desk—a symbolic jab suggesting he's really the one in charge. The outrage is ironic, considering the same voices now wailing about Musk’s alleged control were silent while Joe Biden spent four years clearly not running the White House. 

Why does this matter? Well, we now have fresh allegations from Lindy Li, a former Democratic National Committee (DNC) insider, about who was running the White House for Joe Biden.

And it’s quite terrifying.

Once a proud fundraiser for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Li has turned into an insider spilling the Democratic Party's most closely held secrets—and, boy, does she have stories. 

Her revelations pull back the curtain on what has been described as a chaotic and delusional 2024 campaign for the Democrats, which spectacularly collapsed under the weight of its own hubris. Li has revealed intriguing insider details about how Joe Biden was ultimately ousted, and what Pelosi and Obama really think of Kamala. Back in December, she revealed new dirt on Joe Biden’s mental decline. “The president has not been cognitively fit to assume the duties of the Oval Office for a number of years now,” she told Fox News. "And it breaks my heart because I know President Biden and I love the man, but he is in no shape or form able to carry out the duties that the Commander in Chief requires, and it's just devastating.”

But it’s her revelations about what happened in the White House in the aftermath of Biden’s devastating performance in his June debate on CNN with Trump that are truly jaw-dropping. 

According to Li, Joe Biden, already staggering from public scrutiny, effectively lost control of the White House after that fateful debate. The event reportedly prompted an audacious power shuffle at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—one spearheaded by none other than Hunter Biden.  

Li alleges that, following Biden’s disastrous debate drubbing, Hunter essentially took over White House operations. Speaking with podcaster Shawn Ryan, she painted a picture of dysfunction at the highest levels of government: “After the [CNN] debate, Hunter basically commandeered the White House. He sat in on all of the White House top-level meetings. We had a former cocaine addict sitting in on the most sensitive meetings of the most consequential and most important government in world history. Does that sit right with you?"  

Ryan’s immediate reaction—“No”—reflected what many are surely thinking.

“Without security clearance mind you,” Li added. 

The idea that Hunter Biden, with no security clearance, was allegedly dictating the flow of information to his father is a much bigger deal than Elon Musk going after government waste, don’t you think?

“That's who was basically running the show. So Hunter basically battened down the hatches after the debate to make sure his father would only receive intel he pre-approved.”

The media's and the Democrats’ hypocrisy is glaring. They attack Elon Musk for exposing waste, accusing him of having too much power without having been elected, while their lack of scrutiny during the Biden presidency allowed for an unelected crack addict to run the country.

Matt Margolis is the author of Airborne: How The Liberal Media Weaponized The Coronavirus Against Donald Trump, the bestselling book The Worst President in History: The Legacy of Barack Obama, and The Scandalous Presidency of Barack Obama.

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/02/08/now-we-know-who-was-running-the-country-for-joe-biden-n4936803

“WE ARE AT WAR!”: Democrats Ramp Up Rage Rhetoric as Tensions Mount

 Democratic leaders continued to ramp up their “rage rhetoric” following the inauguration. We have already seen violent protests and planned assassinations directed against Trump Administration figures. Despite the growing tensions, Democrats are ratcheting up claims of a “coup” and calling for Democrats to “fight in the streets.”  After failing to win the election with claims that Democracy would die if Trump is elected, Democrats are doubling down on rage politics to try to win over the public. The difference is that they are now focusing on Elon Musk rather than Donald Trump.

Many of those fueling the anger are familiar names.  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D, Mass.) declared “Elon Musk is seizing the power that belongs to the American people.” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D, Md.) claimed on MSNBC’s “The ReidOut” that Musk and Trump were conducting a “rapidly expanding and accelerating coup.”

Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) appeared to be working off the same talking point and declared that a “coup” was being carried out.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) warned that Musk was “taking away everything we have.”

Despite voting to impeach Trump for calling for his supporters to “fight” against his opponents (while adding to do so “peacefully”), many used the same rhetoric to spur the left to action.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Cal.) said “We are here to fight back.” Sen. Cory Booker (D., NJ) called on citizens to “fight” and declared “We will rise up.”

Not to be outdone in the rage fest, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D., TX) yelled, “We are gonna be in your face, we are gonna be on your a–es, and we are going to make sure you understand what democracy looks like, and this ain’t it.”

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D., N.J.) added: “God d—it shut down the Senate!” Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., said. “WE ARE AT WAR!”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called for Democrats to fight  “in the streets.”

In my recent book, I discuss the role of rage rhetoric in our politics extending back to the very beginning of the Republic:

“Just as a desire for free expression is quintessentially human, so is rage. As shown throughout our history, rage is addictive. It bestows a certain license to shed the confining expectations of reason and civility. … At times, our politics seem like a collective primal scream session where only the loudest prevail. Yet, for some, the license to rage goes beyond the amplification of their own views and becomes a demand for the silencing of others.”

Worse yet, it can inspire unhinged citizens who actually believe that this is a war against a coup. That relieves some of any qualms about taking violent action. It is the type of rhetoric that can prompt anti-Republican Nicholas John Roske to try to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh or Sanders supporter James T. Hodgkinson to try to massacre Republican members playing softball.

I still oppose those calling for investigations into such rage rhetoric despite my strong disagreement with these figures. The solution to bad speech is still better speech. The hypocrisy of these leaders is hardly surprising in an age of rage. However, “the rage is not what defines us. It is free speech that defines us.”

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”

https://jonathanturley.org/2025/02/08/we-are-at-war-democrats-ramp-up-rage-rhetoric-as-tensions-mount-across-the-country/#more-228509

'UAE's AI firm G42 and Microsoft launch Middle East's first Responsible AI Foundation'

 G42 and Microsoft have officially launched a Responsible AI Foundation, the first centre of its kind in the Middle East.

Along with the support of research partner Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the Responsible AI Foundation aims to promote responsible AI standards and best practices in the Middle East and Global South.

Inception, a G42 company, will serve as the institution’s Programme Lead to help advance its mission. In collaboration with G42, Microsoft also announced the expansion of its AI for Good Lab to Abu Dhabi.

The Responsible AI Foundation is launching with two focus areas:

Responsible AI Research: Advancing both technical and ethical elements of Responsible AI through cutting-edge research. This includes developing AI safety methodologies, bias mitigation techniques, and explainability tools, while fostering collaboration with global and regional research institutions to set new standards for AI fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Responsible AI Implementation & Governance: Developing frameworks to ensure ethical development and deployment of AI systems, accounting for cultural diversity. This will involve designing risk assessment models, external ethics boards, technical audit tools, and adaptable governance guidelines that account for regional needs, ensuring AI adoption is both responsible and inclusive.

The AI for Good Lab in Abu Dhabi, a regional hub of Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, will work with NGOs and governmental organizations to leverage AI to address societal challenges, with a focus on projects in the Middle East and Global South. The first researchers at the Abu Dhabi hub will begin work in March of this year.

With the establishment of the Responsible AI Foundation, and a Microsoft AI for Good Lab outpost, G42 and the United Arab Emirates are cementing themselves as a global hub for responsible AI development.

https://www.msn.com/en-ae/lifestyle/shopping/g42-microsoft-launch-responsible-ai-foundation/ar-AA1yH5kT

Trump says Musk's DOGE to find billions in Pentagon waste

 U.S. President Donald Trump says he expects Elon Musk to find billions of dollars of fraud and abuse at the Pentagon during an audit that the billionaire will lead.

"I'm going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education. ... Then I'm going to go, go to the military. Let's check the military," Trump said in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News' Brett Baier, an excerpt of which was aired on Sunday morning.

"We're going to find billions, hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud and abuse," Trump said of the largest federal department.

The Pentagon's budget is approaching $1 trillion per year. In December, then-President Joe Biden signed a bill authorizing $895 billion in defense spending for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

Musk, who the White House says is a special government employee, has been tasked by Trump to lead an effort to slash the size of the U.S. federal workforce. As part of that initiative, Musk aides have sought access to confidential information in computer systems at various government agencies.

Critics say the efforts are likely illegal, risk exposing classified information and in practice are gutting entire agencies without congressional approval.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz suggested in a separate interview on Sunday that the Pentagon's shipbuilding processes could be an area of particular interest for the Department of Government Efficiency.

"There is plenty to look into in shipbuilding, which is an absolute mess," Waltz said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

https://www.aol.com/news/trump-says-musks-doge-billions-155005510.html

US homeland secretary working with Musk to improve efficiency, she says on CNN

 U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is working with Elon Musk to improve the department's efficiency, as the billionaire and his team of aides conduct efforts to overhaul the U.S. government.

"We're working with them at the president's direction to find what we can do to make our department much more efficient. So this is essentially an audit of the federal government, which is which is very powerful," she said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" program.

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2025-02-09/us-homeland-secretary-working-with-musk-to-improve-efficiency-she-says-on-cnn