Wisconsin Republicans ask liberal Supreme Court Justice to step aside in union case
If Justice Janet Protasiewicz agrees not to hear the case, the court would be deadlocked 3-3 between liberals and conservatives. The lawsuit has massive implications for union rights in the battleground state, the court would be deadlocked 3-3 between liberals and conservatives.
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Newsweek
24 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Texas Democrat Reacts As Abbott Asks State Supreme Court To Remove Him
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Gene Wu, the chair of the Democratic Caucus in Texas' House of Representatives, didn't mince words when he reacted Tuesday to Governor Greg Abbott's request that he be removed from his position. "This is just purely insanity," Wu told CNN's John King. Hours earlier, Abbott filed a lawsuit asking the Texas state Supreme Court to oust Wu. Wu's comments on Tuesday came as Democrats and Republicans in the Lone Star State are in an escalating battle over the GOP's efforts to redraw Texas' congressional map to gain five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. "I made clear in a formal statement on Sunday, August 3, that if the Texas House Democrats were not in attendance when the House reconvened at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, then action would be taken to seek their removal," the governor said in a press release. "First of all, this is not my seat and it's sure as hell not Governor Abbott's seat," Wu told CNN. "This seat belongs to the people of the state of Texas, and I've taken multiple oaths to defend them and to protect them at any cost." "What we are looking at is a governor who is conspiring with a disgraced president to use unconstitutional, illegal racial gerrymandering to destroy our communities," he added. "I have a duty to respond to that. I have an obligation to do everything I can to stop that, using every legal means necessary." Newsweek reached out to Abbott's office for comment via email on Tuesday. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu can be seen along with other members of the Texas House and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map... Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu can be seen along with other members of the Texas House and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map office during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, IL on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. More Mark Black/AP This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Court orders UC system to rethink policy against hiring undocumented students
The University of California is discriminating against students who are undocumented immigrants by refusing to hire most of them for campus jobs unless they have work authorization from the federal government, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday. UC offers employment to the small number of immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and have legal status under the program known as Deferred Access to Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. But the university has a longstanding policy of denying jobs to other undocumented migrants who lack federal work permits, saying it is unwilling to risk potentially costly legal actions by U.S. officials. A suit by undocumented students, supported by labor organizations, was dismissed by the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco last October but reinstated by the state Supreme Court, which told the appellate court to reconsider the case. On Tuesday, the court said UC's policy 'discriminates based on immigration status' and may violate California's employment law. 'The university abused its discretion by relying on an improper justification for continued application of its facially discriminatory policy,' Justice Jeremy Goldman wrote in the 3-0 ruling. The court did not require UC to change its policies immediately, however, ordering it only to rethink its current ban and comply with state law. California law bars employment discrimination based on immigration status. Legislation that explicitly would have prohibited policies like those at UC and other state universities, AB2586 by Assembly Member David Alvarez, D-San Diego, was approved by state lawmakers last year but vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said it could lead to 'criminal and civil liability for state employees.' A 1986 federal law, the Immigration Reform and Control Act or IRCA, prohibits employers from knowingly hiring unauthorized immigrants, but does not refer to state employers or specify whether they are covered by the ban. While UC has cited the possibility of federal enforcement to justify its unwillingness to hire undocumented students, the court said Tuesday that the university has refused to specify whether it believes it is covered by IRCA. The students and their supporters argued that the federal law does not apply to the university or other state institutions. 'The policy is unlawful under FEHA (California's Fair Employment and Housing Act) unless federal law requires it, and neither the University nor anyone else has argued to us that it does,' Goldman said. 'Without more, there is no basis for us to hold that the risk of federal prosecution alone justifies continuing it.' Lawyers for the university and the students were not immediately available for comment.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
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 for 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. 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 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. ____
