US fertility rates drop to historic low as young adults choose against having children

Survey participants cited not finding the right partner, a desire to ‘focus on other things,’ ‘the environment,’ and ‘financial concerns’ among their reasons for deciding against having children.

A new Pew Research Center study found that the U.S. fertility rate reached a historic low in 2023, and fewer Americans are having children than ever before. According to the study, the number of childless American adults below the age of 50 who say they are unlikely to ever have children is now 47 percent (up 10 percentage points from the same demographic in 2018).

Pew researchers surveyed 3,312 American adults ages 18 and older who are not parents, asking them whether or not they would like to have children and why. Interestingly, the answers from the adults aged 18-49 tended to be similar, while they differed from the responses given by the adults aged 50 and older, which also tended to be similar to each other.

There was an exception to this pattern. Respondents in both age groups pointed to infertility, other medical issues, and a partner opposed to having children as reasons for childlessness.

According to the study report, when the respondents were asked why they haven’t had children, “[t]he top reason cited by those ages 50 and older is that it just never happened,” while “[a]dults ages 18 to 49 are most likely to say they just don’t want to have children. These younger adults are also more likely than those in the older group to point to things like wanting to focus on other things, the state of the world or the environment, and financial concerns as major reasons they’re unlikely to have kids.”

Fifty-seven percent of the childless young adults say they chose not to have children, while 31 percent of the childless adults aged 50 and older gave the same response. More women than men under the age of 50 said that they just don’t want children (64 percent versus 50 percent).

The most common reason for not having children given by adults aged 50 and older was, “It just never happened” (39 percent), followed by, “Didn’t find the right partner” (33 percent), “Didn’t want to” (31 percent), “Wanted to focus on other things” (21 percent), and other reasons.

Of the older adults surveyed, 38 percent say that there was a time when they wanted children, however, a shocking 32 percent said that they never wanted children, and 25 percent said they are unsure about whether or not they ever wanted children.

The most common reason for not having children given by adults aged 49 and younger is “Don’t want to” (57 percent), followed by “Want to focus on other things” (44 percent), “Concerns about the state of the world” (38 percent), “Can’t afford to raise a child” (36 percent), and other reasons.

Both young adults and older adults perceive lifestyle advantages as a product of childlessness; however, fewer older adults perceive benefits, while the majority of young adults perceive benefits. Among these perceived benefits include having time for hobbies and interests, affording things they want, being able to save for the future, being successful in their careers, and having an active social life – all things respondents say are possible because they don’t have children.

The survey results show that childless adults aged 50 and older are concerned about their future welfare. According to the study, the majority of older childless Americans worry about having enough money, having someone to care for them, and being lonely, as they age. The American population is older than ever before, and that will pose significant challenges to society in the near future.

Twenty-six percent (26 percent) of the childless Americans aged 49 and younger surveyed in the study cite “climate change” as the reason they are not having children. However, as Elon Musk pointed out last year when fertility rates in the U.S. reached a historic low, the waning population poses an imminent threat to humanity.

Having children makes sense – for individuals, families, and the world at large. As Lila Rose and Dr. Pia de Solenni discussed in a recent podcast episode, all generations – particularly in the younger generations – must be shown that having children is worth it for them personally as well as for society in general.

Reprinted with permission from Live Action.

Related Topics:#LifeSiteNews ChildlessCouples Children Families IsabellaChilds USFertilityRates

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FBI’s Dan Bongino may resign after dispute about Epstein files with Pam Bondi

Published on July 11, 2025

Todayville

From LifeSiteNews

By Emily Mangiaracina

Both Dan Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi have been taking the heat for what many see as the obstruction of the full Epstein files release.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino took the day off on Friday after an argument with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s case files.

One source close to Bongino told Axios that “he ain’t coming back.” Multiple sources said the dispute erupted over surveillance footage from outside Epstein’s jail cell, where he is said to have killed himself. Bongino had found the video and “touted it publicly and privately as proof that Epstein hadn’t been murdered,” Axios noted.

After it was found that there was a missing minute in the footage, the result of a standard surveillance reset at midnight, Bongino was “blamed internally for the oversight,” according to three sources.

Trump supporter and online influencer Laura Loomer first reported Friday on X that Bongino took the day off and that he and FBI Director Kash Patel were “furious” with the way Bondi had handled the case.

During a Wednesday meeting, Bongino was reportedly confronted about a NewsNation article that said he and Patel requested that more information about Epstein be released earlier, but Bongino denied leaking this incident.

“Pam said her piece. Dan said his piece. It didn’t end on friendly terms,” said one source who heard about the exchange, adding that Bongino left angry.

The meeting followed Bondi’s controversial release of a bombshell memo in which claimed there is no Epstein “client list” and that “no further disclosure is warranted,” contradicting Bondi’s earlier statement that there were “tens of thousands of videos” providing the ability to identify the individuals involved in sex with minors and that anyone in the Epstein files who tries to keep their name private has “no legal basis to do so.”

The memo “is attempting to sweep the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal under the rug,” according to independent investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger in a superb analysis published on X.

“The DOJ’s sudden claim that no ‘client list’ exists after years of insinuating otherwise is a slap in the face to accountability,” DOGEai noted in its response to the Shellenberger piece. “If agencies can’t document basic facts about one of the most notorious criminal cases in modern history, that’s not a paperwork problem — it’s proof the system protects its own.”

Carlson offered the theory that U.S. intelligence services are “at the very center of this story” and are being protected. His guest, Saagar Enjeti, agreed. “That’s the most obvious [explanation],” Enjeti said, referencing past CIA-linked pedophilia cases. He noted the agency had avoided prosecutions for fear suspects would reveal “sources and methods” in court.

Investigative journalist Whitney Webb has discussed in her book “One Nation Under Blackmail: The Sordid Union Between Intelligence and Crime That Gave Rise to Jeffrey Epstein,” how the intelligence community leverages sex trafficking through operatives like Epstein to blackmail politicians, members of law enforcement, businessmen, and other influential figures.

Just one example of evidence of this, according to Webb, is former U.S. Secretary of Labor and U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta’s explanation as to why he agreed to a non-prosecution deal in the lead-up to Epstein’s 2008 conviction of procuring a child for prostitution. Acosta told Trump transition team interviewers that he was told that Epstein “belonged to intelligence,” adding that he was told to “leave it alone,” The Daily Beast reported.

While Epstein himself never stood trial, as he allegedly committed suicide while under “suicide watch” in his jail cell in 2019, many have questioned the suicide and whether the well-connected financier was actually murdered as part of a cover-up.

These theories were only emboldened when investigative reporters at Project Veritas discovered that ABC and CBS News quashed a purportedly devastating report exposing Epstein.

Business

Trump confirms 35% tariff on Canada, warns more could come

Published on July 11, 2025

Todayville

MxM News

Quick Hit:

President Trump on Thursday confirmed a sweeping new 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting August 1, citing Canada’s failure to curb fentanyl trafficking and retaliatory trade actions.

Key Details:

In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the new 35% levy is in response to Canada’s “financial retaliation” and its inability to stop fentanyl from reaching the U.S.
Trump emphasized that Canadian businesses that relocate manufacturing to the U.S. will be exempt and promised expedited approvals for such moves.
The administration has already notified 23 countries of impending tariffs following the expiration of a 90-day negotiation window under Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade policy.

Diving Deeper:

President Trump escalated his tariff strategy on Thursday, formally announcing a 35% duty on all Canadian imports effective August 1. The move follows what Trump described as a breakdown in trade cooperation and a failure by Canada to address its role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis.

“It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship,” Trump wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added that the tariff response comes after Canada “financially retaliated” against the U.S. rather than working to resolve the flow of fentanyl across the northern border.

Trump’s letter made clear the tariff will apply broadly, separate from any existing sector-specific levies, and included a warning that “goods transshipped to evade this higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.” The president also hinted that further retaliation from Canada could push rates even higher.

However, Trump left the door open for possible revisions. “If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,” he said, adding that tariffs “may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship.”

Canadian companies that move operations to the U.S. would be exempt, Trump said, noting his administration “will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks.”

The U.S. traded over $762 billion in goods with Canada in 2024, with a trade deficit of $63.3 billion, a figure Trump called a “major threat” to both the economy and national security.

Speaking with NBC News on Thursday, Trump suggested even broader tariff hikes are coming, floating the idea of a 15% or 20% blanket rate on all imports. “We’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay,” he told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, adding that “the tariffs have been very well-received” and noting that the stock market had hit new highs that day.

The Canadian announcement is part of a broader global tariff rollout. In recent days, Trump has notified at least 23 countries of new levies and revealed a separate 50% tariff on copper imports.

“Not everybody has to get a letter,” Trump said when asked if other leaders would be formally notified. “You know that. We’re just setting our tariffs.”