RT Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger)Hours after the release of the "January 8 Files,” which show illegal activity by Brazil's most powerful Supreme Court Justice, Alexandre de Moraes, he has ordered the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Ostensibly, it's because Bolsonaro violated a Supreme Court censorship order by participating in a protest against the government yesterday. But another motivation of Moraes is to distract attention from his nakedly illegal behavior we exposed today in th ...

Now, former Attorney General Eric Holder, he is the chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and co-author of our unfinished march, the violent past, an imperiled future of the vote, a history, a crisis, a plan. >> General, that that book is aptly titled uh the march continues for sure. And you know, I'm looking at this moment and would love to get your assessment um uh at the ground level because my attitude is right now, to be honest, Democrats, the more the marrier.I'd be breaking out ...

Redistricting and Political Strategy - The Texas State House is expected to reconvene soon, but Democrat lawmakers have relocated to Illinois and intend to remain there until August 19th, the end of the special session, to obstruct the redistricting process [2][3] - Texas Republicans risk diluting their own votes by creating five additional Republican seats through redistricting, a tactic they have employed before [7][8] - Escalation is a risk, as states like New York, California, and Illinois might engage in mid-decade redistricting, potentially causing Republican members to lose seats [9] - The redistricting process is highly political, with state legislators often drawing districts to benefit themselves, contributing to hyper-polarization and partisanship [18][19][20] Democratic Response and Concerns - Democrats view the Republican redistricting plan as unjust and inconsistent with census data and traditional redistricting practices, harming voters and undermining democracy [16][17] - Some argue that Democrats must "fight fire with fire" and take aggressive action, including changing state constitutions, to counter Republican efforts [11][13][14][15][25] - The increasing gerrymandering on both sides has led to fewer moderates in Congress, as politicians prioritize winning primaries over general elections, harming moderate voters [22][23][24] Impact on Texas and Voters - The special session was initially called to address the flooding response, and there is potential anger that the redistricting fight has taken precedence [26][27][28] - The redistricting efforts could lead to blowback for both Republicans and Democrats in Texas [26] - The absence of independent commissions dealing with redistricting is likely a reality, making the process even more political [18]

Democrats certainly do not trust Republicans in the state of Texas. And if you've been with us for the past week, you saw this coming. It was a week ago today.We spoke with James Terico. And I can't remember the last time we heard as much about an interview here on Bloomberg. This is the Democratic lawmaker in the state of Texas who did Joe Rogan and then really blew up when he did BOP here Bloomberg.the pastor, the former teacher, now lawmaker, who many see as a future star, a rising star in the Democratic ...

Voting Rights and Legislation - The discussion revolves around voting rights legislation and the fight against voter suppression, particularly in Texas [3][4][5] - The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act were key legislative efforts [4] - Despite previous efforts that didn't lead to national change, the conversation about voting rights remains crucial [3] - Texas's voter suppression bill, while still problematic, was slightly improved due to the attention brought to it [5] - The fight extends beyond Texas, representing a broader power grab and potential national implications [6] Political Landscape and Polarization - Concerns exist that repeated walkouts by Democrats could be perceived as obstructionist [7] - The Republican party faces internal divisions, with a distinction between traditional Republicans and MAGA supporters [14] - The redistricting fight raises concerns about the country's direction, especially with cultural and political polarization [17][18] - Democracy is portrayed as fragile, with potential negative impacts on international relations [19][20] Key Figures and Events - Jasmine Crockett, a Democratic Congresswoman from Texas, is a prominent voice against GOP redistricting efforts and a veteran of voting rights protests [2][3] - The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, faces legal troubles, including felony indictments and impeachment [15][16] - The discussion references a situation where lawmakers are being threatened for advocating for fair representation in majority-minority districts [17]

Voting Rights and Redistricting - Texas Democratic representatives are protesting against President Trump's assault on democracy and to protect voting rights [2][3] - The redistricting map in Texas is seen as an attack on democracy, diluting the voices of minority voters [7][8][9] - The current map minimizes and dilutes the voices of minority voters, impacting 13 districts [8] - The proposed redistricting attempts to eliminate five seats where minority voters can elect their candidate of choice, violating the Voting Rights Act [8][9] - More than 60% of Texas voters are minorities, yet Anglo voters control 65% of congressional district elections [23] Political and Financial Risks - Lawmakers face a $500 per day fine for breaking quorum [5] - The Attorney General threatened Democrats with arrest for breaking quorum [5][6] Special Session and Priorities - The special session was initially intended to address flooding issues in Texas [12][13] - Republicans have not introduced any solutions for flood relief during the session, focusing instead on redistricting [16] - Governor Abbott is accused of using flood relief as a cover for redistricting efforts [15][17] National Implications - The redistricting issue is not limited to Texas and is expected to spread to other states [11] - There is a need for a national standard to address redistricting and ensure fairness [25]

Nayib Bukele is now able to seek re-election indefinitely. That a leader admired so widely across Latin America has cemented his place as a dictator bodes ill for democracy in the region https://t.co/0cb0zt3cHwPhoto: Getty Images https://t.co/sC7X8bCsA4 ...

Nayib Bukele is now able to seek re-election indefinitely. That a leader admired so widely across Latin America has cemented his place as a dictator bodes ill for democracy in the region https://t.co/wMkfQbYZUq ...

Political Commentary & Justice System - The discussion revolves around the release of the Epstein files and accusations that the current administration is protecting the powerful while harming the "underdog" [1][2] - There are concerns about potential abuse of power and a perceived two-tiered justice system, with different rules for the president and others [3][5] - Concerns are raised about the weaponization of the Justice Department and the potential for politically motivated charges [6][8] - The judiciary is seen as a check on power, with some judges upholding the law despite pressure [11] Political Rhetoric & Distraction - Accusations are made that the president uses racist and discriminatory tactics, including "dog whistles," to distract from his agenda and polarize the public [15] - The president's attacks on figures like Obama, Beyonce, and Oprah are viewed as deliberate distractions and potential incitements [12][13] - The administration is accused of prioritizing its own interests and dismantling protections for ordinary citizens [16] Congressional Dynamics - Democrats in Congress are portrayed as standing up to the administration and trying to reveal information, while Republicans are accused of protecting the president [10][11] - There is frustration with the lack of accountability and the perceived inability to stop the president's actions [7][8]

Joining me now is Texas Congresswoman Julie Johnson, vice ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee. Welcome, Congresswoman. Glad to have you here.And we just heard from your colleague, Congressman BC there. Whose district, like yours, could be on a redistricting target list. What could proposed maps look like for your seat.Well, you know, they're absolutely targeting Dallas County um because we are a very high voting Democrat voting uh area. And so they're trying to really fajit distribut it, howev ...