U.S. debt tops $40 trillion. And, new census report Trump is touting raises concerns

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The U.S. government's debt surpassed $40 trillion yesterday , and there are no signs that it will decrease. So far this year, Washington has added more than $2 trillion to the deficit .

The federal government's accumulated debt has reached a record $40 trillion, according to a daily update from the Treasury Department. Government spending is expected to exceed tax revenues by more than $2 trillion this year. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images North America hide caption

U.S. oil companies have signed deals with Venezuela this week , the first such deals between the two countries in nearly two decades. Hunt Oil Company signed a contract to expand oil and gas production, while SLB signed an agreement for oil exploration. The deals come about eight months after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

President Trump reupped claims of widespread illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens with the help of an unusual Census Bureau report that appears to have ties to a think tank aligned with him, NPR has learned. Trump said that the bureau's initial analysis of more than 128 million voter records shows that over 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in the 2020 presidential election. The seven-page unauthored report says it utilizes information from a 2020 commercial voter file and various federal administrative records. Data and election experts say the report's conclusions are questionable. A Census Bureau employee, who NPR has agreed not to name due to fears of workplace retaliation, says that the team behind the report included people affiliated with the America First Policy Institute , established by officials from Trump's first administration.

Feeling stuck, bored or restless in life? You might be ready to start a side quest. In video games, it's a mission that deviates from the main storyline, helping to build the world's lore . In the real life, it's an activity that doesn't serve any other purpose than bringing more whimsy into your day to day. Westend61/Getty Images/Westend61/Westend61 hide caption

Are you feeling restless in life? Try a side quest – an activity outside your usual routine that can spark your creativity. Life Kit shares tips for finding one :

For additional advice on finding your perfect side quest, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit . Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.