'Trump, Abbott, Texas GOP Heading Towards A LOSS:' Gov. Pritzker On Redistricting Fight
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Boston Globe
27 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Several states consider redrawing congressional maps after Texas kicks off fight
Here are the states now considering early redistricting. Texas kicked it off, but Democrats fled the state Dozens of Democrats left Texas in a Hail Mary to halt a vote on redistricting, leaving the legislature without enough lawmakers present — called a quorum — to proceed. Advertisement Democrats, who didn't show up for a second day Tuesday, wouldn't have the votes to stop the bill otherwise. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In response, Gov. Gregg Abbott and fellow Republicans are threatening the Democrats who left with arrests, fines and removal from office. The state Attorney General Ken Paxton warned he could ask the courts to vacate their seats if they don't show up when the House convenes on Friday. Trump and Texas Sen. John Cornyn have also asked the FBI to get involved. Still, past efforts by Democrats to abscond and deny Republicans a quorum only delayed the passage of bills, but didn't quash them. Through it all, Abbott has been adamant that redrawing districts with political bias is legal. California Democrats propose retaliation In response to events in Texas, Democrats in California are considering a draft proposal to reshape their own district maps and cut away five Republican seats while securing more precarious seats already held by Democrats. Advertisement Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has been outspoken about wanting partisan redistricting if Texas moves ahead with its plans. Unlike Texas, however, California has an independent commission that handles redistricting after the census every decade, which is typically when districts are reshaped to account for population shifts. Any changes would first need the approval of state lawmakers and voters. Newsom said he'd call a special election in November for California residents to do just that. Missouri's governor under pressure from Trump The Trump administration wants Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session for congressional redistricting in favor of Republicans. Kehoe has expressed interest in doing so, discussing it with Republican legislative leaders, but has not made a decision. Republicans now hold six of the state's eight U.S. House seats, and the GOP could pick up another by reshaping a Kansas City area district held by a Democrat. New York Democrats try to change state law New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that redistricts only after the census. Last week, state Democrats introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said if Texas proceeds, 'we must do the same.' The proposal, however, would require an amendment to the state constitution, a change that would have to pass the legislature twice and be approved by voters. That means the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the 2028 elections. Wisconsin Democrats try a different tact While Republicans control the legislature in the battleground state, Democrats turned to the courts to try to force a redrawing of congressional district boundary lines before the 2026 midterms. Advertisement A pair of lawsuits were filed in July after the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court previously declined to hear challenges directly, without saying why. Maryland Democrats promise a response to Texas The House Majority leader, David Moon, a Democrat, says he will sponsor legislation to trigger redistricting in Maryland if Texas or any other state holds redistricting ahead of the census. Florida's governor hints at support for redistricting Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he was considering early redistricting and 'working through what that would look like.' Ohio must redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms That's because a law in the Republican-led state requires it before the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP holds 10 of its 15 House seats already, and could try to expand that edge. Indiana's governor will speak with the Vice President J.D. Vance Republican Gov. Mike Braun told reporters Tuesday that Vance will visit Indiana to discuss several matters, including redistricting in the solidly GOP state. Braun, who would have to call a special session to draw new maps, said he expects a 'broad conversation' with legislative leaders on the constitutionality of such a move and said no commitments have yet been made. 'It looks like it's going to happen across many Republican states,' Braun said in a video by WRTV in Indianapolis. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan, and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.
Associated Press
28 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Several states consider redrawing congressional maps after Texas kicks off fight
Texas Republicans' push to redraw congressional maps to secure five more GOP seats in the U.S. House has kicked off a no-holds-barred battle between blue and red states, each threatening to redraw their own House seats. The process of changing congressional maps to ensure one party's victory over another — called gerrymandering — has typically been done more furtively, with parties fearing a backlash from voters wary of a rigged system. But President Donald Trump's call on Texas to blatantly redraw the maps to better ensure that Republicans retain control of the House in the 2026 elections has blown the lid off of the practice. Here are the states now considering early redistricting. Texas kicked it off, but Democrats fled the state Dozens of Democrats left Texas in a Hail Mary to halt a vote on redistricting, leaving the legislature without enough lawmakers present — called a quorum — to proceed. Democrats, who didn't show up for a second day Tuesday, wouldn't have the votes to stop the bill otherwise. In response, Gov. Gregg Abbott and fellow Republicans are threatening the Democrats who left with arrests, fines and removal from office. The state Attorney General Ken Paxton warned he could ask the courts to vacate their seats if they don't show up when the House convenes on Friday. Trump and Texas Sen. John Cornyn have also asked the FBI to get involved. Still, past efforts by Democrats to abscond and deny Republicans a quorum only delayed the passage of bills, but didn't quash them. Through it all, Abbott has been adamant that redrawing districts with political bias is legal. California Democrats propose retaliation In response to events in Texas, Democrats in California are considering a draft proposal to reshape their own district maps and cut away five Republican seats while securing more precarious seats already held by Democrats. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has been outspoken about wanting partisan redistricting if Texas moves ahead with its plans. Unlike Texas, however, California has an independent commission that handles redistricting after the census every decade, which is typically when districts are reshaped to account for population shifts. Any changes would first need the approval of state lawmakers and voters. Newsom said he'd call a special election in November for California residents to do just that. Missouri's governor under pressure from Trump The Trump administration wants Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session for congressional redistricting in favor of Republicans. Kehoe has expressed interest in doing so, discussing it with Republican legislative leaders, but has not made a decision. Republicans now hold six of the state's eight U.S. House seats, and the GOP could pick up another by reshaping a Kansas City area district held by a Democrat. New York Democrats try to change state law New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that redistricts only after the census. Last week, state Democrats introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said if Texas proceeds, 'we must do the same.' The proposal, however, would require an amendment to the state constitution, a change that would have to pass the legislature twice and be approved by voters. That means the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the 2028 elections. Wisconsin Democrats try a different tact While Republicans control the legislature in the battleground state, Democrats turned to the courts to try to force a redrawing of congressional district boundary lines before the 2026 midterms. A pair of lawsuits were filed in July after the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court previously declined to hear challenges directly, without saying why. Maryland Democrats promise a response to Texas The House Majority leader, David Moon, a Democrat, says he will sponsor legislation to trigger redistricting in Maryland if Texas or any other state holds redistricting ahead of the census. Florida's governor hints at support for redistrictingRepublican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he was considering early redistricting and 'working through what that would look like.' Ohio must redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms That's because a law in the Republican-led state requires it before the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP holds 10 of its 15 House seats already, and could try to expand that edge. Indiana's governor will speak with the Vice President J.D. Vance Republican Gov. Mike Braun told reporters Tuesday that Vance will visit Indiana to discuss several matters, including redistricting in the solidly GOP state. Braun, who would have to call a special session to draw new maps, said he expects a 'broad conversation' with legislative leaders on the constitutionality of such a move and said no commitments have yet been made. 'It looks like it's going to happen across many Republican states,' Braun said in a video by WRTV in Indianapolis. ____ Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan, and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Rages About Windmills and Whales, Claims He Sent Aid to Gaza But No One Said ‘Thank You'
Donald Trump turned a press availability in Scotland that was supposed to be focused on a trade deal with the European Union into a long list of his personal grudges against windmills, the Jeffrey Epstein case, Democrats, and Gaza. Appearing alongside E.U. President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said the U.S. and E.U. have a 'good chance' of reaching a trade deal. But he also addressed a wide range of topics, ranting so much that one reporter asked 'why' he was in a 'bad mood.' 'Can I ask why you're in a bad mood? Was it a bad morning of golf?' the reporter asked. 'No,' Trump said. 'The golf was beautiful.' But while playing his round of golf at his Turnberry course (during which it appears he may have cheated), Trump caught sight of windmills he has long hated, having fought and lost a battle against their installation in the waters off his Scotland course. That could explain why he went on an extended anti-windmill rant today. 'Today, I'm playing the best course I think in the world, Turnberry,' he said. 'Even though I own it, it's probably the best course in the world. And I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills at the end of the 18th [hole]. I say, isn't that a shame?' Trump also resurfaced one of his false claims: that windmills cause whales to go crazy and die. 'You have a certain place in the Massachusetts area that over the last 20 years had one or two whales wash ashore,' Trump said. 'And over the last short period of time they had 18. OK? Because it's driving them loco. No, windmills will not happen in the United States. 'The other thing I say to Europe: We will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States. They are killing us,' he said. In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy dispelled that misinformation. 'As of now, there is no evidence to support speculation that noise resulting from wind development-related site characterization surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales, and no specific links between recent large whale mortalities and currently ongoing surveys,' the agency wrote. Trump, who launched his political career on the unfounded conspiracy theory that former president Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., also accused the Democrats of promoting 'conspiracy theories and nonsense.' 'One year ago, our country was dead … because of an incompetent president and incompetent Democrats,' he said. 'All they know how to do is talk and think about conspiracy theories and nonsense. If they'd waste their time talking about America being great again, it would be so much nicer, so much easier — be very successful.' Trump at first tried to avoid the topic of Gaza. When asked 'What do the images of starving kids in Gaza make you feel?' he responded, 'Well, it's terrible. People are stealing the food. I think Iran is acting up. Venezuela is acting up in a different way. They continue to send people that we rebuff to our border.' Asked again about food for Gaza and whether Israel should allow more food across the border, Trump whined that the U.S. has not been thanked for sending aid. 'You really want to at least have somebody say 'Thank you!'' Trump said. 'We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food to Gaza. And nobody acknowledged it. Nobody talks about it. And it makes you feel a little bad when you do that … Nobody gave but us, and nobody said, 'Gee, thank you very much.' It'd be nice to at least have a thank you.' Israel has recently begun allowing food parcels to be air dropped into Gaza, but a recent drop injured at least 11 Palestinians when those aid pallets fell on top of tents where displaced people are living. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned last week that 'conditions on the ground in Gaza are already catastrophic and deteriorating fast — with death, displacement, and destruction continuing to be reported as a result of ongoing Israeli military operations. The starvation crisis is deepening across the Strip. Hunger and malnutrition increase the risk of illnesses that weaken the immune system, especially among women, children, older people, and those with disabilities or chronic diseases. The consequences can turn deadly fast.' But Trump appeared more worried about who hasn't thanked him for millions in food aid than starving Gazans. Trump claimed the U.S. sent $60 million in food aid a couple of weeks ago, although the details are not clear. According to The Guardian, the U.S. sent a $30 million grant to the controversial U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has been associated with food distribution sites where the Israeli military has shot and killed hundreds of people seeking aid. 'It was pushed through over the technical and ethical objections of career staff,' a source told the publication. Sources told The Guardian that GHF may be receiving $30 million per month from the U.S. to fund its operations in Gaza. When asked about the topic he is in Europe to address — tariffs — he said he would not budge on the proposed rate of 15 percent. 'Can you do better than a 15 percent tariff rate for the EU?' a reporter asked. 'Better meaning lower? No,' the president responded. More from Rolling Stone Why a 'Confused' Trump Lashed Out at a MAGA Senator Senators Could Vote Imminently to Remove Their Homes, Travel Info From Internet Trump's Sloppy Effort to Distract From Epstein Mess Creates a 'Ticking Time Bomb' Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence Solve the daily Crossword
