“Turkey stands at an inflection point,” writes Ekrem Imamoglu in a guest essay. “To be a responsible regional power,” the imprisoned presidential candidate argues, the country “must restore the integrity of its democratic institutions” https://t.co/o4F0udJUGp ...

Ion Iliescu: Romania's first democratic leader with a divisive legacy https://t.co/esnkKjf9mM ...

I want to bring in California Republican Congressman Kevin Kylie and and and I appreciate you coming on the show and I want to talk very specifically about the whole idea of redistricting in the middle of the 10 years that it normally is. But can I just ask you about what Ryan just reported. And I wonder if you think is it wise. Is it necessary.What message does it send to Texans if you have an escalation like this where you could force people to come back into the house and lock them in. Where are we. >> W ...

People - Former Romanian president Ion Iliescu, who led Romania's transition from communism to democracy, has passed away at the age of 95 [1] Political Context - Ion Iliescu's political past was marked by controversy [1]

Redistricting and Political Influence - The Texas House Democratic Caucus views the redistricting efforts as a power grab influenced by former President Donald Trump, similar to his attempts to overturn election results in Georgia [2][3] - The redistricting process is perceived as prioritizing the desires of a DC politician (Donald Trump) over the needs and concerns of Texas residents, particularly regarding issues like flood relief and education [3][7][13] - The redistricting is seen as an attempt to manipulate representation for political gain, rather than reflecting accurate population data or serving the best interests of constituents [12] Democratic Caucus Actions and Stance - Texas House Democrats left the state to prevent a quorum and obstruct the redistricting process, viewing it as a critical measure to protect democracy and the voting rights of Texans and all Americans [3][4] - The Democratic Caucus believes the redistricting maps are designed to limit the voice of majority populations in Texas, using sophisticated methods like AI [9] - The Democrats are prepared to return to work on pressing issues like flood relief, education (star test), and property tax relief if the Governor calls another special session, indicating their priorities lie elsewhere [6] Republican Actions and Justification - Republican colleagues in the Texas House have taken steps to compel the return of absent Democrats, including considering civil arrest warrants [8] - The House Speaker criticized the Democrats for abandoning their posts and shirking their responsibilities, accusing them of being influenced by out-of-state politicians [10][11]

Redistricting and Political Maneuvering - Texas House issued arrest warrants for absent Democrats to block congressional redistricting, warrants are largely symbolic [1] - Texas House Speaker criticized missing members for abandoning their posts [2] - The redistricting aims to rig the system in favor of Republicans, potentially leading to a tit-for-tat situation with other states [4][5] - The current congressional map was drawn in 2021, with Republicans controlling 25 out of 38 seats [9] - The House proposed new lines to add five more Republican seats [9] Democratic Response and Stance - Texas Democrats refuse to participate in what they consider a "sham" redistricting process [10] - Democrats view the Republican actions as trampling on constitutional rights to preserve political power [13] - Texas Democrats are willing to risk their elected offices to protect constitutional rights [13] - The Texas Democratic Party emphasizes the personal sacrifices being made by legislators, including financial penalties of $500 per day [15] Broader Political and Social Issues - The situation is contrasted with Republicans leaving town to avoid discussing the Epstein files [16][17] - The need for federal nonpartisan redistricting committees is highlighted [18] - Concerns are raised about the potential impact of healthcare cuts on rural communities, where access to care is already limited [23][24][25][26][27]

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 ...