Tonight, the Texasized political battle with leaders calling for lawmakers who have left the state to be arrested to bring them back to vote. As Republican leaders look to gerrymander congressional maps, Democratic lawmakers flee the state to delay the vote. Why some leaders are calling for Democrats who are out of state to be hunted down and arrested as some Democratic governors vow to do what Republicans are doing in Texas.Wildfire season blazing out west in California, Colorado, and Canada. Thousands of ...

Good evening. Welcome to the beat. I'm Ari Mel. We have a lot to cover tonight. There is that showdown in Texas where Republicans say they will try to arrest Democrats who left the state to protest what they call a kind of MAGA power grab that distorts democracy at that state level. Also tonight, Andrew Weissman coming up on something that is deeply disturbing. It's what Donald Trump admitted he wanted to do, what many prosecutors and investigators would refuse to do, which is apparently investigate the for ...

I remember when Trump called Georgia. He called the Secretary of State. He told them, "I need to just fine 11,780 votes." What did Georgia say.No. Well, Donald Trump called our governor and he said, "I just need a small change. I just need you to send me five congressional members." What did our governor say. Sure.Give me a minute. Coming right up. While Texas are waiting for relief, Republican leaders are redrawing maps to silence voters, hijack our democracy.Hi again, everybody. It's now 5:00 in the East. ...

And joining us now, Democratic State Representative James Telerico, who represents District 50, which includes much of Austin. He joins us now from Illinois. Why do you think uh that your fellow Democrats think that this is the best way to push through, push back against Republicans that are trying to redistrict.Well, usually state legislators adjust district boundaries at the beginning of a decade to account for population changes after a new census. Texas Republicans did that in 2021, four years ago, and ...

Joining us now, investigative reporter for the Austin American Statesman, Tony Pleetsky, and former Republican congressman and executive director of the Aspen Institute's congressional program, Charlie Dent, and Democratic strategist and author of the Salty Politics Newsletter on Substack, Julie Regginsky. Uh, Julie aptly named Tony, we'll start with you. You're now in Illinois right now where those Texas lawmakers have decamped.Gain this out for us. The Texas State House is going to be back in session in t ...

A Republican congressman in California announced today he will introduce new legislation to try to pro prohibit mid decade redistricting like this all across the country. NBC Sahil Kapoor is following that for us. Tell us more about this new bill and the chances of it moving forward.>> So, first off, Chris, there's no bill just yet. This is an announcement by secondterm Republican Kevin Kylie, who represents a competitive district near Sacramento, about a bill he says he will introduce tomorrow. Second, it' ...

Mhm. >> We turn now to the situation in Texas where that state's governor, Greg Abbott, is threatening to remove from office Democratic lawmakers who have fled the state to block redistricting efforts. More than 50 Democrats left the state yesterday afternoon, a move that will prevent the Texas House from having enough members needed to consider and pass legislation.They say they plan to stay out of Texas until August 19th when the special session called by the governor comes to an end. Abbott added redistr ...

Here in New York, we will not stand on the sidelines with the timid souls on the sidelines who don't care, will not invest their their heart and soul into this battle. This is a war. We are at war.And that's why the gloves are off and I say bring it on. That is New York Governor Kathy Hokll earlier this hour welcoming Texas Democratic lawmakers to her state after dozens of them fled the Lonear State to block a vote on new congressional maps. The redistricting plan backed by President Trump could help Republ ...

I'm wondering this special se session is supposed to be about the flooding. Do people in Texas understand are they getting the message that this was a special session that was supposed to be about flooding that has turned into Donald Trump's request to gerrymander the state. I mean, do you when when you talk to people in Texas, are they angry.How do they feel about this. I think people in Texas, Democrats and Republicans alike, understand exactly what is going on. This is a power grab under the pretense in ...

talk now about what you just brought up, the midterms, uh, congressional maps obviously in focus. They are usually redrawn every decade, but in Texas, as you referenced, Republicans there rolled out a new map that could actually add up to five GOP seats. You now have Governor Gavin Newsome promising that California would respond with a new map that would boost Democratic seats in that state.Let me ask you, Senator, do you believe it's hypocritical for Democrats to deploy the same strategy that they're criti ...