Check out California in Numbers from @USAFacts while you’re at it! usafacts.org/ca/

Finally, after ten years at @USAFacts, I’m more convinced than ever: data can be a unifying language. For years, we have seen that when groups of individuals with differing political beliefs are presented with data around an issue, even if they disagree on next steps, they have a common starting point for reasonable measured debate — the kind of debates about our future that Americans deserve. Prior to last week, I had wondered: in this current climate, was this kind of conversation still possible? The answer was yes, it is. In our dozens of meetings with individuals on both sides of the aisle, it was clear that, no matter their political leanings, people continue to want data to make good, fact-driven decisions. We have seen this happen year over year with members of Congress, Senators, their staff, and everyday Americans, and I continue to see it today. In this way, data is a type of language — one that can unite, unlike our words which in our current state of deep polarization seem more likely to divide, sometimes even unintentionally. This is why at USAFacts, we're in the business of teaching American this language and providing them with the tools to use data to form their opinions. We still have so much more to do, but I am incredibly proud of our mission, our team, and the impact we make every day.

Last week, the @USAFacts team was in DC for our annual fly-in — a time to connect, listen, and reaffirm our mission: helping Americans get the data they deserve. After spending the week on the hill and with partners, three things stood out. ⬇️