But we're gonna start with Texas State Representative Anna Maria Rodriguez Ramos, who has yet to return to the state capital even as Republicans push to redistrict nears its final stages. Thank you for joining us. >> Thank you for having me.>> So, why have you not yet returned to Texas. Oh, I while I respect my my colleagues and and this was a personal decision for me, I couldn't on principle return back to the Texas House floor knowing that this was not a fair process and it was going to silence the voices ...

Political Landscape & Strategy - Texas Democrats are employing various tactics, including leveraging rules, organizing, and potentially denying quorum, to combat Republican-led gerrymandering efforts aimed at securing five additional congressional seats [21][22][23] - The representative highlights the influence of billionaires, specifically mentioning two in Texas, who allegedly use their wealth to intentionally divide the population and undermine democracy [26] - The representative emphasizes the importance of faith-based principles, particularly "love thy neighbor" and welcoming immigrants, as guiding principles in governance and opposition to policies perceived as human rights abuses [4][8][11] Immigration Policy & Impact - The discussion addresses concerns about immigration policies, including deportations of families with American citizen children, and criticizes the actions of ICE as terrorizing communities [9][10][11] - The representative advocates for comprehensive immigration reform that balances border security with the commandment to welcome the stranger, emphasizing the nation's immigrant heritage [9][11] Christian Nationalism & Political Weaponization of Faith - The representative criticizes the rise of Christian nationalism, viewing it as a perversion of faith and a betrayal of Jesus' teachings, where religion is weaponized to protect power and dominate others [13][14][15] - The representative calls upon believers to speak out against the misuse of faith for political gain and to reclaim faith as a foundation for politics rooted in something deeper than partisanship [6][15] Election Integrity & Political Manipulation - The representative alleges that Donald Trump and his allies are attempting to rig the next election by influencing the redrawing of political maps in Texas to favor Republicans [18][20] - The representative frames the gerrymandering efforts as politicians choosing their voters instead of voters picking their politicians, characterizing it as a conflict of interest [20]