Texas-sized political drama comes to Boston
Why it matters: Boston is hosting the annual National Conference of State Legislatures summit, where the Texas lawmakers are getting national spotlight in their battle with the GOP and White House over redrawing political districts.
Catch up quick: By leaving Texas, House Democrats are denying the state's Republican majority the two-thirds quorum needed to advance a redistricting bill that would likely result in more GOP seats in Congress at the expense of Democrats.
Driving the news: Gov. Maura Healey hosted a private meeting with several Texas Democrats Tuesday afternoon in her office.
After, the eight Texas Senators and two House members joined Healey and Secretary of State Bill Galvin to rail against Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's redistricting strategy.
What they're saying:"This is, to be really clear about it, a partisan, craven, political power grab attempt by the president of the United States, Governor Greg Abbott and AG Paxton," Healey said.
Zoom in: Healey framed the dispute as fundamental to American democratic principles and warned that unfair election systems "hurt all Americans."
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Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"America, You Are In Grave Danger": The Internet Is VERY Worried About Donald Trump's Disturbing Latest Move
The American public has grown increasingly concerned about President Donald Trump's moves toward authoritarianism and autocracy as he positions himself as being above the law and frequently mentions not leaving office at the end of his Constitutionally-granted second and final term. During a press conference on Monday morning, Trump announced a sweeping plan by his administration to increase its control over law enforcement in the United States capital city of Washington, DC. Washington, DC, is the capital city and the federal district of the US, but is not an incorporated state or part of one. Jurisdiction over DC belongs to Congress. He started the press conference with a comment on how crowded the room is, saying they need a ballroom instead. Attorney General Pam Bondi grinned along. Trump launches into the topic of the press conference. "And we're here for a very serious purpose. Very serious purpose. Something is out of control, but we're gonna put it in control very quickly, like we did on the southern border," he said. "I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor. And worse." Related: "This is Liberation Day in DC, and we're gonna take our capital back," Trump said. "We're taking it back." He announced his plan: "Under the authorities vested in me as the president of the United States, I'm officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act — you know what that is — and placing the DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control." "In addition, I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order, and public safety in Washington, DC and they're gonna be allowed to do their job properly," Trump continued. He then directly addressed the journalists in the room about the supposed crime hotbed of DC, saying, "You people are victims of it, too." President Trump then said that "The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogota, Colombia, Mexico City, some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on Earth," as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth nodded along. "The number of car thefts has doubled over the past five years, and the number of carjackings has more than tripled," Trump said. "Murders in 2023 reached the highest rate probably ever." "Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people. And we're not gonna let it happen anymore. We're not gonna take it," Trump told the crowd. He then repeated that the problem would be treated like the southern border, which he said "nobody comes to" anymore. For clarity, the Justice Department reported early this year that violent crime in Washington, DC, is down 35% from 2023. According to the DC Metropolitan Police Department, the very agency that Trump is seeking to federalize, violent crime is currently down 26% year-over-year. "We are not experiencing a spike in crime," DC mayor Muriel Bowser told MSNBC on Sunday. "In fact, we're watching our crime numbers go down." Related: Richard Stengel, author and former government official under President Barack Obama, said that, "Throughout history, autocrats use a false pretext to impose government control over local law enforcement as a prelude to a more national takeover." People quickly hopped on Reddit's r/politics to discuss the CNBC article about Trump's announcement (you can watch the full press conference here). This is what some of the over 3,000 commenters had to say: 1."Federalizing the DC Police under fake numbers... Literally watching fascism unfold before our eyes, people. It's past time to get pissed." —thedrizztman 2."I thought he said he couldn't deploy the National Guard on January 6? So now we know he could have, but didn't because it was his people." —swiftfoot_hiker 3."This is the big red flashing sign of fascism for anyone still wondering." —ImperatorUniversum1 Related: 4."Every word out of this MF'er's mouth is a LIE. EVERY WORD. Taking over DC is to keep protestors out because this administration's next actions will be brutal." —mhouse2001 5."Martial law in motion. MF didn't even bother to stage a Reichstag fire." —alloutofchewingum 6."Here we fucking go. And sweet Jesus, it's only August of year one..." —KingMario05 7."This is the death of the republic we're watching. Temporary takeovers have a very long history of becoming permanent. We're so fucked." —Violent_Mud_Butt 8."So, he could have done this to put down the insurrection at the Capitol?" —aeppelcyning 9."This is a pretext for something. His excuse is the homeless — what I really think he's preparing for are protests or maybe even riots. Maybe connected to the upcoming 'peace talks' with Russia, or the Epstein scandal." —rainghost 10."So that's it. No more freedom or rule of law in the US. And all the flag-waving Trump supporters don't care. Not a peep from them." —Large-Phase9732 11."So I assume DC residents won't be able to vote ever again." —V_T_H Related: 12."Full fucking stop. Yes, this is a distraction attempt from Epstein, among other things, but this is a pilot program for doing this in other major cities around America. This is the next step in a full fascist takeover of this country. But hey, eggs are... I mean, gas is... I mean, Kamala's laugh." —spqr2001 13."We are going to find out if the military is going to uphold their oath to defend us from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Trump is the biggest domestic terrorist I've seen in this country in my lifetime." —Ol_Turd_Fergy 14."That's it folks. Democracy in the US is now over. What a shameful country." —boringfantasy 15."Authoritarianism it is then, I guess." —Jonny_Segment 16."Correct me if I'm wrong, but I could have sworn that Trump had no authority to do this. I mean, that's what he said for January 6. He said that the Speaker of the House needs to make this call. Could he have been lying?" —dydski 17."Is this about homeless people? What is this about? Those National Guard are gonna be real sad when they realize a ton of the homeless individuals they are arresting are vets." —Resident_Standard437 finally, "America, you are in grave danger. An authoritarian is seizing power over the police, based on a made-up emergency. This is a precursor to stealing the elections. It's the only thing left between them and ruling forever. They are stealing our democracy and do not plan to give it back. And all of you are silent. The republic is dying, rapidly and right before our eyes, and nothing is being done to stop it." —kevendo So, what do you think? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Los Angeles Times
20 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Texas Republicans plan another special session to deliver Trump more GOP congressional seats
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republican leaders said Tuesday that they were prepared to end their stalemated special session and immediately begin another standoff with Democrats in the GOP's efforts to redraw congressional maps as directed by President Donald Trump. It's the latest indication that Trump's push to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections will become an extended standoff that promises to reach multiple statehouses controlled by both major parties. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows confirmed the plans during a brief session Tuesday morning that marked another failure to meet the required attendance standards to conduct official business because dozens of Democrats have left the state to stymie the GOP's partisan gerrymandering attempts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Burrows said from the House floor that lawmakers will not attempt to reconvene again until Friday. If Democrats are still absent — and they have given no indication that they plan to return — the speaker said Republicans will end the current session and Gov. Greg Abbott will immediately call another. The governor, a Trump ally, confirmed his intentions in a statement. 'The Special Session #2 agenda will have the exact same agenda, with the potential to add more items critical to Texans,' Abbott wrote. 'There will be no reprieve for the derelict Democrats who fled the state and abandoned their duty to the people who elected them. I will continue to call special session after special session until we get this Texas first agenda passed.' Abbott called the current session with an extensive agenda that included disaster relief for floods that killed more than 130 people. Democrats balked when Abbott added Trump's redistricting idea to the agenda. Burrows on Tuesday did not mention redistricting but chided Democrats for not showing up for debate on the flood response package. The redistricting legislation would reshape the state's congressional districts in a design aimed at sending five more Republicans to Washington. The scheme is part of Trump's push to shore up Republicans' narrow House majority and avoid a repeat of his first presidency, when the 2018 midterms restored Democrats to a House majority that blocked his agenda and twice impeached him. Current maps nationally put Democrats within three seats of retaking the House majority — with only several dozen competitive districts across 435 total seats. Texas Republicans have issued civil warrants for the absent Democrats. Because they are out of state, those lawmakers are beyond the reach of Texas authorities. Burrows said Tuesday that absent Democrats would have to pay for all state government costs for law enforcement officials attempting to track them down. Burrows has said state troopers and others have run up 'six figures in overtime costs' trying to corral Democratic legislators. Barrow and Lathan write for the Associated Press. Barrow reported from Atlanta.
The Hill
20 minutes ago
- The Hill
Paxton seeks Beto O'Rourke's arrest over financial support of Texas Democrats
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is seeking former Rep. Beto O'Rourke's (D-Texas) arrest, alleging in a motion filed on Tuesday that the Texas Democrat was violating a temporary restraining order over offering financial support for lawmakers who fled the state. The filing alleges that O'Rourke and his Powered By People group continued to fundraise money to cover the expenses of Texas Democrats who fled the state even after a judge temporarily blocked the group from soliciting money. The filing called for a $500 fine 'for each act of contempt' and for O'Rourke to be jailed 'until he demonstrates a willingness to abide by the Court's orders pending the outcome of this lawsuit.' 'Beto is about to find out that running your mouth and ignoring the rule of law has consequences in Texas. It's time to lock him up,' Paxton wrote in a post on the social media platform X. The Hill has reached out to O'Rourke's spokesperson for comment. Texas Republicans are trying to put maximum pressure on Democrats to return to the state as the GOP looks to pass an even friendlier House map ahead of 2026. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said he'll call a second special session if Democrats fail to show up on Friday. Democrats incur a daily $500 fee for everyday they remain out of state during the special session, while Republicans have issued warrants for their arrest. Democrats like O'Rourke have sought to financially help Texas lawmakers shoulder the financial costs of fleeing the state, though Paxton's move underscores how Republicans are placing maximum pressure on the lawmakers to return to the state. Texas Republicans have also said the FBI is involved in trying to find the Democrats who fled the state, though the bureau has declined to comment on the matter. It's also not clear what jurisdiction the FBI could have in the matter. Texas GOP leaders have also moved to vacate the seats of a group of lawmakers. It's unclear how long Democrats will remain out of the state.
