But we're gonna start with Texas State Representative Anna Maria Rodriguez Ramos, who has yet to return to the state capital even as Republicans push to redistrict nears its final stages. Thank you for joining us. >> Thank you for having me.>> So, why have you not yet returned to Texas. Oh, I while I respect my my colleagues and and this was a personal decision for me, I couldn't on principle return back to the Texas House floor knowing that this was not a fair process and it was going to silence the voices ...

Republicans currently in control 25 of the 38 congressional districts in the state of Texas. Under the new map, President Trump would have carried 30 of 38 seats, all by more than 10 points. Texas State Senate likely will pass the map this evening and then Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign it into law by tomorrow. People always ask, hey, why why are things so divided in Congress? Say it goes it goes back to gerrymandering. I mean, it's that simple. I I wish we could I wish the court could could revis ...

Redistricting Plans and Political Strategies - Texas Senate Redistricting Committee approved House Bill 4, expected to pass in the full Senate and head to the governor for signature [1] - Texas Republicans openly admit the redistricting goal is to improve Republican political performance, permissible by the US Supreme Court [1] - California Democrats are countering Texas's plan with their redistricting plan, potentially adding five more Democrats to the US House [1] - Former President Barack Obama supports California's retaliatory redistricting plan as a responsible approach [1] Legal and Procedural Challenges - California's Supreme Court rejected a petition by Republican legislators to halt Governor Gavin Newsome's redistricting plan [1] - California Democrats need a two-thirds majority in the legislature to pass the map, followed by a special election for voter approval [1] - Republicans in California, including former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, are expected to fight the redistricting plan [1] Concerns and Criticisms - Texas's redistricting plan faces criticism for cutting school districts in half and drawing downtown Austin into a rural district 3 and 1/2 hours away [1] - Concerns exist about the potential elimination of minority seats during redistricting in both Texas and California [3][4] - The process is described as "rotten politics" and "raw power," with both parties engaging in tit-for-tat tactics [3]

Now, let's turn to another big story breaking overnight. The Texas House yesterday passed a new congressional map that could give Republicans five more seats after next year's midterm elections. The vote passed along party lines after more than eight hours of debate. A Texas House Republican who co-sponsored the new congressional map made it clear what this effort is all about. You want transparency? Here's the US Supreme Court legal transparency. The underlying goal of this plan is straightforward. Improve ...

Let's go back to the breaking news out of Texas. House Republicans just passed their severely gerrymandered congressional map. The request of Donald Trump.The vote was 88 to 52. All 88 yes votes came from Republicans. All 52 no votes from Democrats.The map creates five new GOP leaning districts before next year's crucial midterm elections. Let's be clear, this is a ploy to retain power, nothing more, as Americans sour on Trump's MAGA agenda. I'm sorry.Democrats just need to find themselves 37 seats in the s ...

Political Context & Redistricting - Texas Republicans are accused of manipulating congressional maps to steal five seats, silencing American voices [7] - The redistricting plan aims to improve Republican political performance, potentially leading to Republican wins in newly drawn districts [23] - Critics argue the redistricting is racial gerrymandering, diluting racial growth and population in the state [26][27] - Polling indicates approximately 70% oppose gerrymandering [12] Democratic Response & Legal Challenges - Texas Democrats are fighting back against the "racist rigged maps" and will challenge them in court [7][19] - Democrats are poised to make up for the five seats potentially stolen in Texas with gains nationwide [16][17] - California is stepping up to support the fight against the redistricting [21][22] Concerns over Democratic Processes - Concerns are raised about the erosion of checks and balances in Texas, with a governor able to shut down an entire party [10] - Republican legislators are accused of gross behavior and stealing an election [3] - Texas State Representatives are being detained by police, restricting their ability to perform their duties [5][9]

Political Landscape - Texas House Republicans passed a gerrymandered congressional map at Donald Trump's request with a vote of 88 to 52 [1] - The vote split along party lines, with all 88 yes votes from Republicans and all 52 no votes from Democrats [1] - The map creates five new GOP-leaning districts before the next midterm elections [1] Strategic Implications - The action is characterized as a ploy to retain power [1]

Texas House Passes New Gerrymandered Map—Likely Giving Republicans 5 More Congressional Seatshttps://t.co/MS9vUgJBec https://t.co/SyUSn2cTu1 ...

Redistricting and Political Maneuvering - The report highlights the Republican Party's efforts to redraw district maps in Texas to gain more seats in Congress, a move described as partisan gerrymandering [1][17] - Texas Democrats' actions, such as leaving the state to prevent a quorum, are portrayed as a fight to save democracy and raise national awareness [2][4][24] - California Democrats are responding to the Texas redistricting plan with their own redistricting plan, putting it on the ballot for voters [11] Threats to Democracy and Electoral Integrity - The report suggests that threats to democracy are real and happening across the country, with pro-democracy forces resisting [10] - Concerns are raised about potential actions by Donald Trump to influence future elections, including redistricting, limiting mail-in voting, or militarizing blue states [24][25] - The report emphasizes the asymmetry in political warfare, with Republicans changing the rules while Democrats largely adhere to norms [19] Legal and Ethical Concerns - A state representative in Texas was allegedly told she was committing a felony for being on a call with Democratic leaders [6][7] - The report references a Supreme Court ruling from 2019 that allows for partisan gerrymandering [16] - The report suggests that the balance of power between states and the federal government is being corrupted [22][23]

All right, joining us now from Austin, NBC News correspondent Ryan Chandler and politics reporter for the Texas Tribune, Kayla Guo. Also with us is Fair Vote senior fellow and author of Anti-Democratic: Inside the Farright's 50-year plot to control American elections, David Daly, and University of Virginia professor and director of the Center for Politics, Larry Sabido. He is the co-author of the new book Campaign of Chaos: Trump, Biden, Harris, and the 2024 American Election. All right, Ryan, first off to ...