Alex Ossola

population growth.

New estimates from the Census Bureau found that the population grew by 1.8 million people, or half a percent, in the 12 months through June.

That's the slowest pace since COVID-19 caused a surge in deaths and curbed border crossings.

On yesterday's show, we talked about how a lot of people are probably getting bigger tax refunds this year.

Having that drop into Americans' bank accounts during an election year is far from a coincidence.

It's engineered to improve Republicans' chances with voters ahead of the midterms.

But there's no guarantee that strategy will work.

For more, I'm joined now by WSJ tax policy reporter Richard Rubin.

So, Rich, it seems like a pretty simple strategy to me, put money in voters' wallets, get rewarded at the polls.

How has this kind of thing worked in the past?

I'm interested in what you were saying about making sure the IRS does this efficiently.

I'm remembering to last year when the IRS saw pretty big staff cuts when the Trump administration came into office.

Yeah.

Does that mean the agency is going to have a harder time getting these refunds out in a timely fashion?

That was WSJ reporter Richard Rubin.

Thanks, Richard.

The families of two men from Trinidad killed in a boat strike off the coast of Venezuela are suing the U.S.

It's the first challenge in a U.S.

court over the Trump administration's campaign targeting boats that they say are used in drug trafficking.

The suit says the strike amounted to murder.