Two Million People Fled Big, Blue Cities from 2020 to 2022

Also: Bud Might Not Be So Wise

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Two Million People Fled Big, Blue Cities from 2020 to 2022
Recent data found that two million people have left America's largest cities between 2020 and 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic was cited as a primary reason for this migration, as remote work has become more widespread and people have sought larger homes and open spaces. The article doesn’t mention it, but I don’t think extended lockdowns by blue cities and counties did themselves any favors.

The Hill also attributed the exodus to “social unrest” in some cities, as well as rising crime rates. Many of those leaving have moved to smaller cities or suburbs, often in nearby states. The migration has had a significant impact on urban real estate markets, with some cities experiencing a decline in rental prices and a rise in vacancy rates. According to office space management company Kastle Systems, in the 10 largest cities, half of all office spaces remain empty. The pandemic maybe be over, but our love for remote work is not.

According to the The Hill, “Only a fresh influx of immigrants saved big cities from dramatic population declines.”

In 2022, I fled a blue county in a newly red state (Virginia) for a red county in a red state (Texas). Austin is just an hour south and Dallas is two hours north. It’s all about the county, even in red states.

Fox News to Host First GOP Primary Debate
The Hill reported that Fox News has secured the rights to host the first debate of the 2024 Republican presidential primary. The announcement was made by Ronna McDaniel, chairman of the RNC. McDaniel said, “We’re also going to partner with some pretty exciting partners. For the first time ever, we’re going to live stream on Rumble. We’re getting away from Big Tech, YouTube’s owned by Google. We’re going to have an RNC channel on Rumble.”

The date for the first debate hasn’t been announced and the primary schedule hasn’t been set. We also don’t know who will be on the stage by then. More from The Hill:

So far, only a handful of candidates have jumped into the 2024 Republican presidential contest, including former President Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. 

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) launched an exploratory committee for a 2024 bid on Wednesday.

Others are expected to enter the race in the coming months, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.