3 d. ago Joni Ernst’s rumored decision not to run upends the 2026 midterms and may create a whole new Senate map for Democrats

Democrats may have a clear path to winning a 50-50 Senate and could even win a majority -- if a wave of momentum is on their side, writes John Bowden

Politics

1 week ago California supreme court rejects Republican effort to stop redistricting as legislature seeks vote on plan – live

California Democrats’ aim is to offset the Republican-drawn gerrymandered Texas map that nets five new US House seats for the GOP in 2026Texas Republicans pass gerrymandered congressional mapThe government lost its bid to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex-trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein.Richard Berman, a federal judge in New York, said the transcripts pale in comparison to the documents the government already has on Epstein and that disclosing them could harm victims.It’s kind of bizarre that we have a bunch of old, primarily white people who are out there protesting the policies that keep people safe when they’ve never felt danger in their entire lives. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Texas Republicans pass gerrymandered congressional map requested by Trump

Redrawn map fiercely opposed by Democrats next goes to the state senate where it is expected to passUS politics – live updatesThe Republican-controlled Texas house on Wednesday approved a redrawn congressional map requested by Donald Trump and fiercely opposed by Democrats who led a weeks-long protest to stall the effort that kicked off a redistricting arms race between red and blue states.With the house’s approval, the measure next goes to the state senate where it is expected to pass, possibly as soon as Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Texas Democrats say they are prepared to return to state after two

Chair of state’s house Democratic caucus said they will return once California submits new congressional map to offset losses in TexasUS politics live – latest updatesTexas Democrats said on Thursday they are prepared to return to the state under certain conditions, ending a nearly two-week-long effort to block Republicans from passing a new congressional map that would add five GOP seats.The lawmakers said they would return as long as the legislature ends its first special session on Friday, which Republicans have said they plan to do. Texas’s governor, Greg Abbott, has said he will immediately call another special session. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Democrats condemn Texas senator over alleged FBI role in locating lawmakers

John Cornyn claims FBI agreed to help return Democrats to state, sparking backlash amid GOP map pushUS politics live – latest updatesDemocrats harshly criticized Donald Trump and Republicans on Thursday after a US senator said the FBI had agreed to assist in locating Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block Republicans from enacting a gerrymandered congressional map that would likely add five more Republican seats before next year’s midterm elections.Senator John Cornyn’s claim that the FBI would assist Republicans’ effort could not be independently confirmed. The FBI declined to comment. An administration official told NBC News this week the government did not plan on using federal agents to arrest Texas lawmakers and a federal law enforcement official told the outlet that as of Thursday morning, the agency had not assisted with trying to locate the lawmakers. None of the lawmakers have been charged with a crime. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Democrats slam Texas senator Cornyn over alleged FBI role in locating fleeing lawmakers

Cornyn claims the FBI agreed to help return Texas Democrats, sparking legal and political backlash amid GOP map pushUS politics live – latest updatesDemocrats harshly criticized Donald Trump and fellow Republicans on Thursday after a US senator said the FBI had agreed to assist in returning Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to stop a Republican effort to redistrict.US senator John Cornyn’s claim that the FBI will assist Republicans’ effort could not be independently confirmed. The FBI declined to comment. An administration official told NBC News this week the government did not plan on using federal agents to arrest Texas lawmakers and a federal law enforcement official told the outlet that as of Thursday morning, the agency had not assisted with trying to locate the lawmakers. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Democrats slam Texas senator over alleged FBI role in locating lawmakers

John Cornyn claims FBI agreed to help return Democrats to state, sparking backlash amid GOP map pushUS politics live – latest updatesDemocrats harshly criticized Donald Trump and fellow Republicans on Thursday after a US senator said the FBI had agreed to assist in returning Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to stop a Republican effort to redistrict.Senator John Cornyn’s claim that the FBI would assist Republicans’ effort could not be independently confirmed. The FBI declined to comment. An administration official told NBC News this week the government did not plan on using federal agents to arrest Texas lawmakers and a federal law enforcement official told the outlet that as of Thursday morning, the agency had not assisted with trying to locate the lawmakers. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Texas Democrats receive bomb threat in escalating standoff over redistricting

Lawmakers had been sheltering in Illinois after denying Texas Republicans quorum for gerrymandering schemeTexas Democrats who left the state say they experienced a bomb threat at their Illinois hotel on Wednesday morning amid an ongoing clash with Republicans over their effort to block a new congressional map from going into place.John Bucy III, a Democrat who represents Austin in the state legislature, confirmed the threat on X on Wednesday and said the lawmakers were evacuated. “This is what happens when Republican state leaders publicly call for us to be ‘hunted down’. Texas Democrats won’t be intimidated,” he said. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago What does Texas redrawing its voting maps mean and why have Democrats left the state? Explained

At the behest of Donald Trump, the state is pushing to restructure congressional maps to add as many as five seats for RepublicansAt the insistence of Donald Trump, Republicans in Texas are pushing ahead with an effort to redraw their congressional map to pick up as many as five additional Republican seats.The decision has set off a cascading legal battle. State lawmakers have fled Texas as part of an effort to stop Republicans from passing the map. Democrats in other states have said they will retaliate, setting the stage for a nasty and prolonged redistricting tit-for-tat that could last for years. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump attacks blue states for accepting Texas Democrats while endorsing gerrymandered state map – live updates

President says ‘we are entitled to five more seats’ in Texas as state House battles over Republican-drawn congressional mapsFull report – Trump weighs in on Texas redistricting fightIt’s a quiet August Tuesday on the president’s schedule today. The only listed item on his agenda is an executive order signing at 4pm EDT. We don’t know the details of that just yet.Trump is also speaking on CNBC now, and we’ll bring you the latest from that interview. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago ‘We are at war’: Democrats reach breaking point over Republican threats in political map arms race

Democrats have long warned that partisan gerrymandering threatens American democracy — but now they’re ready to fight fire with fire, Alex Woodward reports

Politics

4 w. ago Texas Democrats flee state to block GOP plan to redraw electoral map

Opposition lawmakers stage exodus to thwart Republican bid to redraw electoral map by denying them a quorum, inspiring incensed conservatives to call for their arrest

Politics

4 w. ago Texas Democrats flee state to prevent vote on redrawing congressional map

About 30 lawmakers are headed to Illinois for a week to hinder Republicans’ redistricting plan pushed by TrumpTexas Democrats are fleeing the state to prevent a vote on Monday that could see five new Republican-leaning seats created in the House of Representatives.About 30 Democrats said they planned to flee to Illinois, where they plan to stay for a week, to thwart Republican efforts by denying them a quorum, or the minimum number of members to validate the vote’s proceedings. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Texas Democrats leave state to prevent vote on redrawing congressional map

About 30 lawmakers are headed to Illinois for a week to hinder Republicans’ redistricting plan pushed by TrumpTexas Democrats are leaving the state to prevent a vote on Monday that could see five new Republican-leaning seats created in the House of Representatives.About 30 Democrats said they planned to decamp to Illinois, where they plan to stay for a week, to thwart Republican efforts by denying them a quorum, or the minimum number of members to validate the vote’s proceedings. Continue reading...

Politics