Abbott threatens to remove 10 Democratic districts from Texas
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove 10 Democratic districts from Texas if California makes good on its threat to remove five Republican districts from its maps, the latest salvo in the deepening fight between the two states over the Lone Star State's redistricting efforts.
"If California tries to gerrymander five more districts; listen, Texas has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our state," the Republican governor told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview Monday.
"We can play that game more than they can, because they have fewer Republican districts in their state."
The threat comes as Texas state Democrats have fled their home state to Democratic strongholds such as Illinois and other states to prevent Republicans from passing controversial redistricting maps that give the GOP five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Critics have accused Abbott and Texas Republicans of conducting a power grab, seeking to redraw districts now as opposed to at the end of the decade, when it is traditionally done, in order to try to give President Donald Trump and the Republican Party an additional five seats in the House ahead of next year's midterms.
Texas Democrats fled the state earlier this month in opposition, denying their Republican colleagues a quorum, meaning the minimum number of lawmakers necessary to pass legislation.
The GOP's redistricting efforts in Texas have angered Democrats throughout the country, with Gov. Gavin Newsom responding that he will redraw California's maps to produce five more Democratic seats in the House to neutralize Abbott's move.
Texas has 25 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the House of Representatives. California has nine GOP legislators and 43 Democrats.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
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Zelensky Returning to White House With Backup After Trump Clash
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European countries, many of which feel their own security is at stake with an agreement for Ukraine, have repeatedly echoed Kyiv's demands for a ceasefire deal that does not gift Russia territory recognized internationally as Ukrainian, and for Kyiv to have firm security guarantees to deter future Russian attacks. Ahead of Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, European leaders made it clear they did not support any change in borders by force. Trump had said in advance of the summit that both sides would need to cede territory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participate in a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on August 17, 2025. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participate in a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on August 17, 2025. 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Kyiv has said it will not reward Russia's invasion with territory, and to cede these areas would go against the country's constitution. Russia has tried to frame European nations as stumbling blocks to the peace agreement the Trump administration has pledged to broker. Following the Anchorage summit, Putin urged European politicians to "not make attempts to disrupt the planned progress through provocations and behind-the-scenes intrigues," or to become "obstacles." Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Sunday that despite the Alaska summit yielding no deal, Ukraine would have "Article 5-like" protections to ward off any future attempt by Russia to attack its neighbor. Article 5 is the provision in NATO's founding treaty that means that an attack on any member country in the alliance is treated as an attack on all. Moscow has insisted Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO, while Kyiv sees joining the alliance as a way to make sure Russia cannot attack the country again. "Now it is really up to President Zelensky to get it done," Trump told Fox News following the Alaska summit. "I would also say the European nations have to get involved a little bit." What People Are Saying Dominique Trinquand, a retired general who previously headed up France's military mission to the United Nations, told The Associated Press: "The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelensky to the hilt." What Happens Next It's not clear how much concrete progress will be made in Monday's meeting, the Russian and Ukrainian demands remaining apparently irreconciliable.
Newsweek
an hour ago
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After pivoting into a Donald Trump-style of social media posting to mock the U.S. president, California Governor Gavin Newsom's team has now introduced a new nickname for Vice President J.D. Vance, "Just Dance Vance." The governor's office was commenting on Vance's recent visit to Indianapolis where Republicans are under pressure from the Trump administration to redraw the state's electoral map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The same move has recently been pushed by Texas Republicans in the Lone Star State, promising to give the GOP five additional seats next year. The controversial strategy is behind the recent fleeing of Texas Democrats from the state and sparked nationwide protests against a "Trump takeover" on Saturday. 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These include using derogatory nicknames for his political opponents, writing in all-caps and overtly and exaggeratedly praising himself for real or imaginary achievements. In Trump's social media world, the California governor is often referred to as "Newscum." In his mocking posts, Newsom has repeatedly referred to Trump as "tiny hands." This mockery has gone side by side with the California governor's fight against nationwide attempts to redistribute congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterms—a strategy that is backed by Trump and his administration. Newsom has threatened to go ahead with his own plan to redraw California's electoral map should Texas and other Republican-led states reconfigure their state's congressional districts in their favor. The governor said that California will not redraw its electoral map if Republican-led states give up on the idea—if not, they can expect a tit-for-tat from the Golden State which would effectively neutralize their efforts. What People Are Saying Newsom's press office wrote on X: "NOT EVEN JD 'JUST DANCE' VANCE CAN SAVE TRUMP FROM THE DISASTROUS MAPS 'WAR' HE HAS STARTED. NOT EVEN HIS EYELINER LINES LOOK AS PRETTY AS CALIFORNIA 'MAP' LINES. HE WILL FAIL, AS HE ALWAYS DOES (SAD!) "AND I, THE PEACETIME GOVERNOR—OUR NATION'S FAVORITE—WILL SAVE AMERICA ONCE AGAIN. MANY ARE NOW CALLING ME GAVIN CHRISTOPHER 'COLUMBUS' NEWSOM (BECAUSE OF THE MAPS!). THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER." Questioned by a reporter about his trolling of the president in his recent social media posts, Newsom said on Thursday: "I'm just following his example. If you have issues with what I'm putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he's putting out as president." Reporter: What's going on with those posts on X that are clearly trolling the president? Newsom: I hope it's a wake up call for the president. I'm just following his example. If you have issues with what I'm putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he's… — Acyn (@Acyn) August 14, 2025 White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Newscum's obsession is getting a little creepy at this point. Gavin will never be ready for primetime!" What Happens Next It is unclear how long Newsom and his team will continue to mock the president and his social media posting style, but the bitterness between the two is unlikely to dissipate. Newsom's time in office ends next year, and he is rumored to be contemplating a run for president.
