Democracy is on the ballot November 4th. Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. With Prop 50, you can stop Republicans in their tracks. Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, preserves independent redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide. Return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50. >> We're back with David and Mark. So Mark, that was President Obama's message to California as I played you ...

Government Shutdown & Healthcare Crisis - Democrats are ready to negotiate with Republicans to reopen the government and enact a bipartisan spending agreement [1] - Democrats believe Republicans are unwilling to address the healthcare crisis, leading to the government shutdown [3] - The Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits extension is a key point of contention, with Republicans' refusal potentially leading to increased premiums for millions [11] - Democrats accuse Republicans of creating a healthcare crisis impacting various communities across America [7] Political Strategy & Polling - Battleground states leaned slightly towards Donald Trump in the last election by 3 to 4 points on average [5] - Public polling indicates that a majority of voters hold Republicans responsible for the government shutdown [5] - Democrats are focusing on issues like the high cost of living, including rising grocery, housing, and electricity costs [10][11] - Republicans are expected to advance "gotcha votes," but Democrats aim to remain unified and strong [12] Redistricting & Voting Rights - Democrats are taking action to counter Republican gerrymandering efforts, including legal challenges and referendums [18][19][20][21] - The Voting Rights Act is considered crucial, and Democrats express confidence that efforts to undermine it will be unsuccessful [16][17] - Democrats are actively involved in redistricting efforts in states like California, Ohio, and Missouri to prevent Republicans from rigging elections [19][20][21]

In so many ways, this is the most important story in the country right now. Republicans are trying to essentially steal enough congressional seats to keep their majority in Congress after next year's midterm elections. And Democrats are desperately trying to keep pace and fight back.Today, Republicans in North Carolina voted to gerrymander their state's congressional map to give Republicans yet another House seat. And don't just take my word for it. That was the explicit intention of his This Noon map. Here ...

North Carolina, already gerrymandered to the brink, is set to eliminate its last competitive district — and take a big step back toward the Jim Crow era, writes @MaryEllenKlas (via @opinion) https://t.co/dw3nSyOl1K ...

Voting Rights Act Overview - The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to end Jim Crow era policies and ensure states could not disenfranchise black voters [2] - The Act was reshaped and expanded to protect a broader range of Americans, including Spanish speakers, Native Americans, disabled people, and minority voters [3] - Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act outlaws election practices that deny or limit voting rights based on race [8] Supreme Court Decisions & Challenges - In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4B of the Voting Rights Act, weakening Section 5, which established preclearance for states with histories of discriminatory policies [5][6] - The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Louisiana versus Cala, a case challenging a congressional map with two majority-black districts [9][10] - Conservative justices signaled willingness to strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, potentially legalizing gerrymandering by race [11] Implications of Dismantling the Voting Rights Act - Opponents of the Voting Rights Act, including Chief Justice John Roberts, have worked to dismantle it piece by piece [12][14] - Dismantling the Voting Rights Act could lead to over-representation of white voters and under-representation of black voters [23] - Without Section 2, it would be more difficult to challenge discriminatory election practices based on their outcome, requiring proof of intent [30][31] Representation & Gerrymandering - A group of white voters in Louisiana is challenging a congressional map that has created two majority black districts out of six, representing one-third of Louisiana's population [10][11] - Striking down Section 2 could allow Republicans to pick up an estimated 19 congressional seats through gerrymandering [11] - White people only make up 56% of the population in Louisiana, but are seeking more representation than they deserve [23]

I don't remember how old I was, but I was a teenager and I used to listen to his music on the radio. First I saw his dad and then I saw him and he's here with you guys tonight. This will be the last time you see him perform, but you're not going to see the last of him because now he's going to be doing things to help our country and to help the state of Texas. Ladies and gentlemen, Grammy Award winner, Migo Bobby Pledo. >> You're Republican. Would you vote for Bobby? >> I would vote for Bobby. >> Do you thi ...

Voting Rights Act & Supreme Court - The Supreme Court is considering a case that could significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act, potentially leading to altered voting maps, particularly in the South [1] - A court ruling could result in Republicans gaining up to 19 House seats [2] - The Supreme Court may allow states to gerrymander black communities, potentially eliminating Democratic seats protected by the Voting Rights Act [3] - A Supreme Court decision is expected next summer, potentially impacting voting maps in the 2026 and 2028 elections [4][5] Political Implications - Gutting the Voting Rights Act combined with partisan gerrymandering could lead to a more polarized country [14] - The current situation is described as a partisan power grab influenced by Donald Trump [10] - Some argue the Supreme Court's stance sends a message that white supremacy can persist in a toned-down form [8] - The Supreme Court's stance is inconsistent, as it allows race to be considered in some contexts (e g, ICE arrests) but not in ensuring fair voting representation [18][19] Potential Solutions & Challenges - Redistricting reform is needed, but blue states are passing reforms while red states are taking a maximalist approach [22] - A constitutional amendment may be necessary to address structural problems related to Citizens United and redistricting [24] - Achieving a constitutional amendment is challenging, even on issues with broad bipartisan support [25][27]

Voting Rights Act & Supreme Court - The Supreme Court appears inclined to limit civil rights groups' ability to challenge state maps under the Voting Rights Act [1] - Justice Kavanaugh suggests restrictions on race-based remedies for redistricting violations, advocating for an endpoint to such measures [2] - The Supreme Court unusually reheard a Louisiana redistricting case, signaling a broader review of Voting Rights Act compliance and potential constitutional conflicts [8][9] - Key justices, including Kavanaugh and Roberts, may be reconsidering their previous support for the Voting Rights Act, influenced by skepticism towards race-based remedies [11][12] Redistricting & Political Impact - A redistricting "arms race" is underway, with multiple states considering new maps, potentially influenced by presidential urging to create more Republican-leaning seats [2][3] - Overturning Section Two could lead to as many as 27 seats being drawn as safe Republican seats, potentially reshaping legislatures and congressional representation [15] - Aggressive gerrymandering could backfire, leading to competitive districts and voter backlash against perceived political manipulation [17] - Louisiana has requested a ruling by January to potentially redraw maps for the 2026 midterm elections, potentially prompting other states to follow suit [19]

So yesterday, the New York Times was first to report that Trump's Justice Department has instructed US attorneys across the country to go after yet another of Trump's perceived enemies. This time, it's liberal mega donor George Soros. >> We're going to look into Soros because I think it's a RICO case against him.>> I've been speaking to the attorney general about bringing RICO against some of the people that you've been reading about that have been putting up millions and millions of dollars for agitation. ...

Donald Trump's deeply unpopular agenda means that Republicans run the risk of losing control of Congress in the midterms next year. So, he's decided that the road to victory will be paved with gerrymandering. We've watched the first round of this battle take place in Texas, where Republicans successfully redrrew congressional maps to allow them to pick up five additional seats.Now, with the help of Republicans in Missouri, Donald Trump is pushing this plan a step further. On Friday, in a 21-11 vote, the Mis ...