From @WSJopinion: Escalating redistricting games are widely unpopular with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and appalling to most Americans. We need to find common ground on the basic parameters for our politics, writes Kevin Kiley. https://t.co/t7ydj8UkL2 ...

And joining us now is Texas State Representative Maha Pa. She is the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus and one of the members who had fled the state. Uh, Representative, thanks for being here.You and your fellow Democrats have laid out some conditions for returning home, including ending that special session and allowing time for California to introduce its own maps. So, those two things happen, but at the end of the day, the governor is calling another special session. The redistricting plans movin ...

Politics & Governance - Gavin Newsom and California are challenging Donald Trump's attempts to rig congressional districts, advocating for democratic processes against perceived Republican gerrymandering [4][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][22][23][24][25][28][30] - The report highlights the contrast between Democratic and Republican approaches to governance, particularly regarding transparency and accountability, referencing the Epstein files [7][8][9] - California's redistricting process is presented as a transparent and public alternative to alleged backroom deals in other states [23] Economics & Policy - Donald Trump's economic policies, including tariffs, are criticized for leading to higher prices and inflation, impacting consumers and seniors [52][53][57][58][60][61][64][65] - The report discusses the potential conflict of interest involving Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant and his soybean farmland in North Dakota, raising concerns about trade negotiations with China [78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89] - Social Security is highlighted as a crucial anti-poverty program, with concerns raised about potential Republican efforts to cut Medicaid by 900 billion, Medicare by 500 billion, and the Affordable Care Act by 300 billion [38][39][40][41][44][46][47][48][49][50][51] International Relations - Donald Trump's approach to the war in Ukraine is criticized, with claims that he has failed to solve the conflict and is aligning with Vladimir Putin's position [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76] - Vladimir Putin is seen as gaining from meetings with Donald Trump, potentially normalizing relations and changing the subject away from Ukraine [73][74][75][76] Social Issues - The report emphasizes the importance of protecting vulnerable communities and addressing issues such as healthcare and deportation [34][36] - The legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Social Security Act is celebrated, highlighting the importance of economic security and social safety nets [38][39][40][41][44][45]

Governor Gavin Newsome is appealing straight to Donald Trump to stop the Republican plan to rig Texas's congressional map. Today, Newsome sent a letter telling Trump he'd prefer to let independent bodies draw congressional districts, not partisan legislatures. But he wrote, "Cal cannot stand idly by as this power grab unfolds." Not sure if that message will land with a president who says the quiet part out loud.I think we get five and there could be some other states. We're going to get another three or fou ...

Redistricting Concerns & Proposed Solutions - The industry observes growing concerns over mid-decade redistricting efforts by both parties, viewing it as disruptive and unpopular [1][4][5][10][11] - A proposed bill aims to void new maps adopted after November 2024, maintaining current maps to address mid-decade redistricting standoffs [1] - The industry highlights the need for a truce in the redistricting war, advocating for a return to traditional, once-a-decade redistricting after the census [12][14] Political Implications & Party Stances - The report suggests that redistricting efforts could empower political figures and potentially dismantle independent commissions designed for fair elections [5][7][8] - The analysis points out that while both parties have engaged in gerrymandering, the current mid-decade fight is primarily driven by one party [10][15] - The industry notes an increasing number of individuals from both sides are supporting the proposed bill, indicating a desire to focus on more pressing issues [12] Impact on Representative Government & Democracy - The report emphasizes that unscheduled redistricting can arbitrarily remove communities from their representatives, negatively impacting representative government [4] - The industry expresses concern that attempts to bend the rules of the game contribute to disillusionment and distrust in the political process [19] - The analysis underscores the importance of finding common ground in setting the basic parameters of politics to maintain a healthy democracy [17][18]

Redistricting and Voting Rights - Texas Democrats broke quorum to protest against a redistricting effort perceived as racist, potentially sacrificing Black and Brown congressional seats [4] - The redistricting issue is not just about Texas, but about the United States of America [19] - The discussion references the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, drawing parallels to past struggles and emphasizing the need to fight for democracy [21][22] Legal and Political Actions - Texas Attorney General called on the state supreme court to vacate the seats of 13 Texas Democrats who fled the state [2] - There were discussions about the potential involvement of the FBI in tracking down the Texas Democrats who left the state [6][7] - Some Democratic governors are considering redistricting their states to counter actions in Texas [17] Concerns about Democracy - Concerns were raised about the erosion of American democracy and the potential need for external oversight of US elections [15] - The actions of Texas Republicans and the Trump administration are perceived as threats to democracy [8][13][14] - There is an expectation of a backlash against the Republican party in the next election cycle from independents and moderate Republicans [16] Potential Census Changes - The president mentioned ordering the commerce department to start work on a new census that would exclude people without legal status [11] - A Republican bill in the House proposes excluding non-citizens from the census and congressional redistricting before the midterms [12] Safety and Security - There have been bomb threats at the location of the Texas Democrats [20]

Political Commentary & Legal Analysis - The discussion revolves around the controversy of gerrymandering, with the interviewee arguing that Democrats might need to engage in it temporarily to counter authoritarian moves, particularly those seen in states like Texas [1][2][3][4] - Concerns are raised about whether using similar tactics as Republicans could undermine public trust in the electoral system [5] - The interviewee distinguishes between the actions of Democrats and Republicans, suggesting that the former's actions are responsive and temporary, unlike the alleged actions of the previous administration [5][6][7][8] - The legality of the FBI's potential intervention in locating Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas is questioned, with the interviewee suggesting there is no federal jurisdiction [9][10] - The interviewee addresses a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee related to the Jeffrey Epstein matter, stating that they are in the process of discussing the matter with the committee [11][12][13][14][15] - The interviewee criticizes the alleged weaponization of the Justice Department by the previous administration, arguing that investigations lacked a factual basis [16][17][18][19][20] - The interviewee emphasizes the importance of citizen participation in the democratic process and the need to reimagine the executive branch to prevent future crises [20][21][22]

And joining us now, Texas State Representative Anna Maria Rodriguez uh Ramos. She's the chair of the Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus. Uh thank you so much for joining us, Representative.How long can you hold out here. >> You know, we're going to hold out as long as we need to to continue to push back against this extreme Trump agenda because that's what this is about. It is not only about stealing and cheating and taking these seats from Texans.It's really about a nationwide impact. and what Trump's ex ...

Treasure map: Trump finds gold in redistricting https://t.co/qHaqGfpmg3 ...

And joining us now is Texas Democratic State Representative Diego Bernal. He is one of the dozens of Democrats who fled to Illinois. Representative Bernal, you're watching this from Chicago.What are you expecting when they gave in in just a few hours. Uh I'm expecting them not to have enough members to do business. They're not going to have quorum and they're going to have to end the day.You heard Governor Abbott. He's calling you and your colleagues quitters. He says he's just going to keep calling special ...