Elections & Voting - Trump claimed Republican party would make major gains if mail-in ballots were eliminated, viewing it as more impactful than reapportionment [1] - Trump alleges that elections are "extremely corrupt" due to mail-in ballots, claiming Democrats can only win through this method and Republicans could gain 100 seats with "real elections" [1][2] - The report indicates that Trump's efforts against mail-in ballots may inadvertently help Democrats by discouraging Republican participation in mail-in voting [4] Redistricting & Political Impact - Redistricting aims to carve up safe Democratic districts into multiple Republican districts, potentially reducing the Republican advantage in previously safe districts from +20 to +5-10 [5] - The report suggests redistricting could lead to more moderate candidates as they need to appeal beyond their base to win primaries [7] - The ramifications of redistricting are uncertain, with some districts potentially becoming more competitive while others become safer for the party in power [8]

California Democrats proving they're not afraid to mess with Texas's Republicans. The state legislature spent the day racing against the clock to approve the plan. Ultimately, California voters will have to have the final say on the proposed map in a special election set for November.If they approve the amendment, the new map will be used in congressional elections through 2030. The state's independent redistricting rules would then kick back in. And while Texas Democrats are in the minority, California Dem ...

most democratic way submit to the people of our state the ability to determine their own maps. That simply has not been done. But I want to first just briefly back up and pick up a little bit on what the speaker and the prom said uh and just remind everybody what they reminded you that need to be reminded all of us again of how we got here.We got here because the president of the United States is struggling. We got here because the president of the United States is one of the most unpopular presidents in US ...

Election Security and Integrity - The report addresses President Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud and inaccurate voting machines, which election experts and officials refute, emphasizing the security of mail-in voting [2][3][7] - The report highlights the multiple layers of security in mail-in voting, including barcode assignments, signature verification, and bipartisan handling subject to audits and litigation [7][8] - The report mentions that defamation suits have been successfully filed against news outlets like Fox and Newsmax regarding false claims about tabulation companies [6] Constitutional and Legal Aspects - The report emphasizes that the Constitution grants states the power to control elections, not the president, and only Congress can alter such regulations [4][10] - The report notes that President Trump's executive order on election administration is currently being litigated [11] - The report suggests that any attempt by President Trump to pass an executive order related to voting would face immediate legal challenges [14] Political Implications - The report suggests that President Trump's continued undermining of confidence in the election system could lead to a significant portion of the population believing the election was stolen [15][16] - The report indicates that disagreeing with Donald Trump on election issues is currently politically unfavorable for Republicans [17] - The report expresses concern that the narrative against mail-in voting could be used to challenge the seating of US House members from states with all-mail-in voting [15]

Redistricting and Political Maneuvering - The report highlights the Republican Party's efforts to redraw district maps in Texas to gain more seats in Congress, a move described as partisan gerrymandering [1][17] - Texas Democrats' actions, such as leaving the state to prevent a quorum, are portrayed as a fight to save democracy and raise national awareness [2][4][24] - California Democrats are responding to the Texas redistricting plan with their own redistricting plan, putting it on the ballot for voters [11] Threats to Democracy and Electoral Integrity - The report suggests that threats to democracy are real and happening across the country, with pro-democracy forces resisting [10] - Concerns are raised about potential actions by Donald Trump to influence future elections, including redistricting, limiting mail-in voting, or militarizing blue states [24][25] - The report emphasizes the asymmetry in political warfare, with Republicans changing the rules while Democrats largely adhere to norms [19] Legal and Ethical Concerns - A state representative in Texas was allegedly told she was committing a felony for being on a call with Democratic leaders [6][7] - The report references a Supreme Court ruling from 2019 that allows for partisan gerrymandering [16] - The report suggests that the balance of power between states and the federal government is being corrupted [22][23]

Speaking of mailin ballots that you brought up earlier, Donald Trump announced today that he would sign an executive order to abolish mail-in ballots and voting machines before the 2026 midterms. Um, it's an unprecedented federal overreach. It flouts state authority and it's following the advice of Vladimir Putin.Per Donald Trump's words. Per Donald Trump's words. So if democracy is built on secure and accessible voting, where do you stand.So elections are run by the states. So So I ask you where you think ...

Joining us now is Colorado's Democratic Secretary of State, Jenna Griswald. She's running to be the state's attorney general in 2026 and has called this a quote direct attack on democracy. So, Secretary Griswald, your state's actually a great fact check on the president when he says mail ballots only elect Democrats.That's one of the complaints he's leveled. But Colorado has elected Republicans like Senator Corey Gardner as recently as 2014. So talk about what you're seeing in the president's renewed push h ...

Political Landscape & Power Dynamics - The discussion revolves around the perceived overreach and intimidation tactics of the Trump administration, particularly concerning federal law enforcement presence and redistricting efforts [2][3][5] - California's response is framed as a necessary pushback against perceived authoritarian tendencies and attempts to rig the system, emphasizing accountability and balancing the scales [6] - The debate highlights the contrasting approaches to redistricting between Texas, where the Republican legislature is accused of partisan gerrymandering, and California, which claims to take its proposal to the voters [11] Redistricting & Voter Impact - The core issue is the redistricting fight, with concerns that both Republicans and Democrats engaging in such practices could negatively impact voters, especially moderate voters [8] - The action of redistricting mid-cycle is considered unprecedented and driven by the unpopularity of certain policies, suggesting an attempt to secure electoral advantage [8] - The potential impact of redistricting on specific districts is acknowledged, with a commitment to balancing Trump's actions around the country [9][10] Democratic Response & Strategy - The Democratic response involves a shift towards a more assertive stance, meeting "fire with fire" and refusing to back down from perceived intimidation [4][3] - The strategy includes using available power to push back against perceived abuses of power and hold those in power accountable [6] - The importance of standing up for democracy and the American public is emphasized as the driving force behind California's actions [3][9][11]

And we'll be asking for the people on November 4th, a special election coinciding with a lot of local municipal elections, to provide a temporary pathway for congressional maps. We will affirm our commitment to the state independent redistricting after the 2030 census, but we're asking the voters for their consent to do midterm redistricting in 2026, 2028, and 2030 for the congressional maps. In California, you have the power to stand up to Trump. You have the power to declare that you support a system that ...

An Illinois judge just rejected a request by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to help arrest Democrats who fled there over a fight on redistricting. Texas Republicans are expected to end their first special legislative session tomorrow after Democrats denied them a quorum, but they will immediately begin a new one, leaving out of state Democrats hammering out a plan for when they should return home. Joining me now, Democratic strategist and author of the Salty Politics Newsletter on Substack, Julie Reggink ...