♦️ A federal judge stops Donald Trump from sacking Lisa Cook.♦️ The Supreme Court allows the administration to temporarily freeze $4bn in foreign aid.♦️ Missouri Republicans copy Texas’s gerrymandering scheme.Keep up with US politics https://t.co/KsjIbRGIZH ...

Economic Impact of Trade and Tariff Policies - Trade wars and random tariff policies are impacting jobs and prices, affecting everyday consumers and businesses [2][3][4] - Tariff policies are increasing unpredictability and raising prices for American consumers [4] Public Safety and Federal Support - The Governor accepts federal support for law enforcement but notes cuts to FBI, ATF, and violence prevention programs in the President's proposed budget [5][6] - Baltimore's assaults with deadly weapons decreased by 10%, while DC's increased by 8% during a similar period, without mobilizing the National Guard [7] - The National Guard's activities in DC included spreading 744 cubic yards of mulch, collecting 886 bags of trash, and painting 270 feet of fence [11] Vaccine Policy - Maryland will maintain its vaccine policies from December 31st of last year, ensuring vaccine availability and safety, and not giving in to conspiracy theories [14] Redistricting - All options are on the table regarding redistricting in Maryland [17] - Less than 10% of all congressional districts are competitive [19]

Core Argument - The core issue is the disconnect between citizens and their government, stemming from the fixed size of the House of Representatives [1][2][3] - The proposal is to uncap the House of Representatives and return to a system where its size expands with the population, aiming for a ratio of one representative per 400,000 people [16][17] Historical Context & Problem Definition - The House of Representatives was originally designed to be the "people's house," providing access to power for the average citizen [5][6] - For 120 years, the House expanded with the population, but a hard cap of 435 members was established in 1930 [7][9] - In 1930, one member of Congress represented just under 300,000 people; now, it's one member for every 800,000 citizens [9] - This increase in constituency size leads to representatives focusing on factions and special interests rather than the broader community [12][13][14] - Large congressional districts contribute to voter disengagement and a shift of power to the executive branch [14][15] Proposed Solution & Expected Outcomes - Uncapping the House would lead to approximately 881 members of Congress, based on a ratio of 400,000 people per representative [19] - A smaller playing field would foster more diverse membership in Congress, including third-party representation and diversity of political thought [20][21] - Expanding the House would mitigate the electoral college dilemma, reducing the disparity in voting power between states like Wyoming and California from 6:1 to 25:1 [22][23][24][25][26] - With 881 pieces, gerrymandering would become more difficult to execute, promoting fairer representation [27][28][29]

Gerrymandering is only one of the threats to the 2026 midterms, writes @RonBrownstein. The real danger is more ominous (via @opinion) https://t.co/bqOCVdVNgD ...

Political Landscape & Gerrymandering - Indiana Republicans met with Donald Trump at the White House regarding gerrymandering efforts to maintain Republican control of the House [1] - The focus of gerrymandering is likely to target one seat in northwestern Indiana currently held by Democratic Congressman Frank Murvan [1] - Locals protested these gerrymandering efforts at the state house in Indianapolis [2] Economic Impact & Bipartisan Efforts - The American Rescue Plan brought hundreds of millions to billions of dollars to Indiana, which were used for economic development [4] - Congressman Murvan worked with Senator Young on the Chips and Science Act, leading to a semiconductor manufacturer (SK Heinik) at Purdue West Lafayette [5] - This semiconductor manufacturer will help the auto industry and STEM education [5][6] - Congressman Murvan highlights his bipartisan work on projects like a commuter rail system, creating jobs for Teamsters and electricians [7] Potential Consequences of a Monolithic Government - The state could lose benefits from bipartisan efforts if it becomes 100% Republican [4] - The current administration is putting financial pressure on state lawmakers and threatening them with primaries to achieve its goals [3] - It is short-term thinking to believe a straight red state in Congress will remain in the majority forever [7]

Fresh off a pressure campaign against Texas Republicans who complied and redrrew their maps today. Donald Trump hosted Republican lawmakers from Indiana, Indiana appears to be the next target in the Trump administration's very transparent but shameless power grab to shield Republicans from being accountable to the will of voters in the 2026 midterm elections. But there's some new polling from Indiana that has a bit of a warning light for state Republicans there. Politico reports this quote, "52% of register ...

Political Competition & Gerrymandering - Gerrymandering reduces political competition [1] - The practice of gerrymandering is worsening over time [1] - Incumbents desire safer seats, hindering congressional action to limit gerrymandering [1] - Voter rebellion is necessary to stop gerrymandering [1]

Redistricting Strategies & Impact - Texas Republicans aim to gain five more seats in Congress by redrawing districts, specifically targeting cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and two seats in South Texas [1][4] - Democrats in California plan to neutralize Texas's efforts through redistricting, potentially targeting districts like the 1st District by connecting rural areas with the liberal coast [2][14] - Republicans are banking on gains made with Latino voters in 2024, particularly in South Texas, but these gains are not guaranteed [6] Key States & Districts - In Texas, the proposed map splits up the Fort Worth District and packs Democrats into two districts in Dallas, creating a solidly Republican district [7][8] - The proposed map in Austin packs many Democratic voters into one seat, making it a heavily Democratic district [10] - Republicans are looking to take seats from Democrats in Missouri, Indiana (two seats), Florida (around three seats), and Ohio (between two and three seats) [16][17] Potential Outcomes & Challenges - The next Congress is likely to be fairly polarized due to mid-decade redistricting, a trend not seen before [19] - Republicans may face legal challenges to the proposed maps in California, potentially leading to court rulings [15] - It's uncertain whether Democrats in New York have enough time to implement a new map for the midterm elections [17]

Redistricting and Political Power - Texas Republicans aim to gain five additional seats in the 2026 midterm elections through redrawing congressional districts [2] - The Texas legislature's new congressional map includes fewer minority opportunity districts than the current map, which is already under legal challenge [5] - California is moving to redraw its congressional districts to counter Trump's power play in Texas [5] - Republicans are eyeing states like Indiana and Missouri for redistricting to pick up more congressional seats [5] - The national fight to redraw congressional maps is a method to dilute minority representation on Capitol Hill [5] Voting Rights and Minority Representation - Civil rights groups and Democratic nonprofits have filed lawsuits over the Trump Texas maps [4] - The Texas Tribune reports that Trump's Republican map in Texas could disproportionately impact communities of color by breaking up districts that primarily represented cities and suburbs [5][6] - Congresswoman Gwen Moore calls for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore key provisions of the Voting Rights Act [7] - Redistricting plans in states like Ohio, Missouri, and Indiana could negatively impact African-American representation in Congress [9] - The Supreme Court's stance on partisan gerrymandering makes it difficult to challenge redistricting efforts based on racial discrimination [10] Economic and Social Impact - A Congressional Budget Office report indicates that the bottom 10% of the poorest Americans would lose approximately $1,200 annually, while the top 10% would add about $13,000 annually to their income [13] - Medicaid cuts in President Trump's tax and spending law will disproportionately harm black women and children, worsening health outcomes among black Americans [14] - Americans are paying more for tariff-sensitive staples like coffee, sugar, and bananas [14] Trump's Actions and Authoritarianism - Donald Trump is deploying National Guard troops to Washington DC, which is seen as an effort to seize authority and paint urban cities as chaotic [19] - The State Department is reviewing over 55 million people with valid US visas for violations that could lead to deportation [20] - Trump is conducting a review of the Smithsonian museums with the goal of making them "less woke" [22] - Trump's actions, such as embracing dictators and attempting to rewrite history, are seen as anti-democratic and authoritarian [25][26]

Welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Peter Alexander here in Washington as the president tries to rewrite the rules to help Republicans to keep control of the levers of power here in Washington. Starting in Texas, where the state's Republican controlled House answered his call to pass new gerrymandered congressional maps that could give Republicans five more seats in Congress in the 2026 midterms.Those maps are expected to sail through the Texas Senate. Could happen as early as later today. They could land on ...