Latest news with #PodSaveAmerica
a day ago
- Politics
Texas Republicans might redraw congressional maps. Democrats plan to strike back
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's recent decision to consider redrawing his state's congressional districts mid-decade, which could eke out more seats for the Republican Party, has prompted Democrats to issue new threats to draw Republicans out of seats in blue states. Redistricting plans are expected during an upcoming special session, which will begin on July 21, interspersed into an agenda focused on flood preparation and relief after major flooding in central Texas. The special session can only last a maximum of 30 days. The Republican-controlled state legislature drew the current map in 2021, which was set to remain in effect until 2031. President Donald Trump's political operation floated the prospect last month, in efforts to shore up the GOP's fragile House majority, to tepid responses from the state's Congressional delegation. Yet, just this week, Trump rubber-stamped the effort, and wants his party to pick up five seats if Texas redraws its Congressional maps. He suggested that there "could be" other states that follow suit. He did not specify which states. State Republicans have some prior precedent of shifting things around— in 2003, Texas Republicans attempted to tweak their districts mid-cycle. In trying to thwart the effort, around 50 Democrats at the time fled to neighboring Oklahoma, denying the session a quorum, and paralyzing the legislative session. Even still, the Democrats were only able to delay talks and Republicans eventually successfully redistricted that session. Democrats are pushing back. On Monday, state lawmakers held a call with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, and former Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the special session. They did not directly encourage members to stage a walkout, a source who was on that call told ABC News. Still, the source added the state House members are continuing to keep all their options open. California's Gov. Gavin Newsom is being more explicit – telling the Pod Save America podcast that he has spoken to state lawmakers about calling a special session to begin making changes to state law in order to redraw their districts in response to Abbott. "If we're gonna play fair in a world that is wholly unfair, we may have the higher moral ground, but the ground is shifting from underneath us. And I think we have to wake up to that reality," Newsom said. California has an independent redistricting commission intended to prevent gerrymandering, but Paul Mitchell, an elections and redistricting expert, said Newsom could go around the commission either by getting voters' approval on a ballot measure in a special election or by arguing in court. A potential ballot measure could halt the commission's authority to draw congressional districts until other states began using similar commissions, and "could all be done in time for the next election" without legal issues. The biggest uncertainty in this scenario would be whether or not voters would support it. Alternatively, Newsom could argue the commission only has authority over decade-end redistricting, but the legislature can still redistrict mid-decade. Mitchell said it was a coin toss whether the California Supreme Court would uphold this argument. Jeffries huddled with California's congressional delegation to discuss the prospect Wednesday, a source familiar said. Experts suggested to ABC that other Democratic-held states could follow California's lead, such as New York, Maryland or Illinois, but it's unclear if there would be a significant strategic advantage. Marina Jenkins, the executive director Holder's National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement that Republicans are trying to "suppress votes" and believes an "an immediate avalanche of lawsuits" will come if the maps are redrawn. "This moment requires all hands on deck to stop them," said Jenkins. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, and Rep. Pete Aguilar, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, stated in a joint announcement that Texas' "egregious" redistricting attempts "cannot go unanswered." A spokesperson for Abbott, asked about such accusations, wrote, "While partisan activists focus solely on political issues, Governor Abbott is dedicated to delivering results on issues important to Texans," including flood relief. Chad Wilbanks, a Republican strategist and former Texas GOP executive director, told ABC News, "The Republicans I talk to are very supportive of a mid-decade redistricting." He thinks that the GOP could gain at least three seats thanks to population changes in the state. Wilbanks dismissed Democrats' claim that the redistricting gambit is politically motivated as "standard politics." Democrats are going on offense regardless. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats, made a verbal commitment to Texas Congressional Democrats to invest six figures to support digital ads and other actions to pressure Republicans over redistricting attempts, a source close to the committee told ABC News. Martin traveled to Texas on Friday at the invitation of state Democrats to strategize on next steps. "If Texas Republicans want a showdown, we will give them a showdown," Martin said in a statement.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Beat ‘em or buy ‘em. Fox News and others chase online audiences with podcaster deals
As legacy news brands turn to podcasters to court online audiences, another digital media upstart has been invited to sit at the grown-ups table. Fox News Media this week signed a licensing deal with the makers of 'Ruthless,' a popular conservative podcast, a move aimed at expanding the network's digital reach. The five-year-old podcast is co-hosted by public affairs and digital advocacy consulting firm Cavalry LLC's founding partners Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook, as well as Shashank Tripathi, a commentator known by the pseudonym 'Comfortably Smug.' It will operate under the Fox News Digital division led by Porter Berry. The co-hosts will also get exposure on the Fox News Channel. The move is another sign of traditional media outlets looking for ways to appeal to audiences who are no longer in the pay-TV universe. Faced with a slow but steady decline in audience levels due to competition from streaming, upstart digital operations are seen as a route to reach those consumers. Podcasts — particularly those hosted by comedians such as Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz — proved influential in the 2024 presidential election as more traditional news outlets felt their relevance waning. 'Ruthless' has gained a large following among men aged 18 to 45, a group that is spending less time with traditional TV, where Fox News is the most-watched cable channel and often tops broadcast networks in prime time. The podcast is regarded as the conservative answer to 'Pod Save America,' the popular digital program led by four former Obama aides, which is produced by Los Angeles-based Crooked Media. Recent 'Ruthless' episodes covered anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles and Elon Musk's proposal for a new political party. Fox News Media has a stable of podcasts hosted by the network's on-air talent such as Will Cain. But 'Ruthless' is the first outside entity to join its digital platforms, and similar deals could follow. Fox News has a multiyear deal with 'Ruthless,' which will share in the revenue the podcast generates across the network's various platforms. The 'Ruthless' partners will retain editorial control over the podcast, although their right-leaning worldview is in keeping with other commentators on Fox News. They will also serve as Fox News contributors appearing on the TV network's programs. Others media giants have gotten into the more freewheeling online sphere by working with podcasters and YouTubers. ESPN reached into the digital media space when it picked up sports commentator Pat McAfee's program — a hit on YouTube — for its TV networks. McAfee retains control of the program, which is licensed by the Walt Disney Co. unit. Earlier this year, Fox News parent Fox Corp. acquired Red Seat Ventures, which provides ad sales, marketing and production support for digital content creators, many of them aimed at politically conservative audiences. There may be more such deals ahead. The Fox News announcement follows reports that David Ellison, whose company Skydance Media has a merger agreement with Paramount Global, has engaged in talks about acquiring The Free Press, a popular digital news site launched by former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss. The entity, which produces Weiss' current affairs podcast 'Honestly' and uses the independent newsletter publishing platform Substack, would operate separately from Paramount Global's CBS News division, according to one person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to comment publicly.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
To counter Texas, Newsom suggests special election to gerrymander California
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said he's thinking about calling a special election to gerrymander California's congressional districts to counter similar efforts in Texas. Newsom's comments come after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans for the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature to draw new congressional maps in a special legislative session. Texas, like other states, redrew its maps after the 2020 census. New map-drawing normally wouldn't happen until the next census in 2030 absent a successful lawsuit forcing a state to redo them. But the New York Times has reported Trump's political advisers are pushing for Texas to redraw its maps ahead of the midterms to be more favorable to Republicans. Texas, the second-most populous state, could theoretically tip the balance of power in favor of Republicans if it can find a way to redraw its maps to give its party a further advantage in the state. Republicans hold 25 of the 38 congressional districts in Texas. California, the most populous state, is the only state with more congressional seats. Democrats hold 43 of California's 52 seats. It's currently much easier for Republicans who control the Texas Legislature to redraw their districts to favor their party than a similar move would be for Newsom. That's because California voters in 2010 gave the power to draw congressional districts to an independent redistricting commission. Though Democrats dominate California government, they do not dominate the redistricting commission. By law, the commission comprises five Democrats, five Republicans and four commissioners not affiliated with either party. Changing the state law creating the independent redistricting commission would require voter approval, which Newsom said he's considering. He said he's talked to state lawmakers about putting a measure on the ballot and calling a special election asking voters to approve it. 'I think we will win that,' Newsom said on the liberal podcast Pod Save America. 'I think people understand what's at stake in California.' A statewide special election would be costly — the last one in 2021 cost $200 million in public money. And the 2010 law giving the independent commission power to draw congressional districts was popular. More than 60% of voters supported the law. Newsom also suggested another possible avenue, which would involve interpreting state law as allowing the Legislature to create its own maps in between the post-census redistricting that the independent commission does every 10 years. It's not clear whether such a move would hold up in court. Currently, Republicans hold 220 seats in the House compared with Democrats' 212, a number that shrunk in recent months after three Democrats died in office, leaving vacancies. But that majority will be tough for the GOP to hold in the midterms, when a president's party typically has trouble retaining seats. Newsom said he thinks that redistricting should be done by independent commissions across the country. But he argued that Republicans are not playing fair by trying to redraw the maps. 'These guys are playing by a different set of rules,' he said. 'From my perspective, if we're gonna play fair in a world that is wholly unfair, we may have the higher moral ground, but the ground is shifting from underneath us.'
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
‘Two can play that game': Newsom hits Trump push to gain House seats
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) warned on Tuesday that 'two can play that game' after President Trump said he's vying to pick up five House seats in Texas during a mid-cycle redistricting. 'Trump said he's going to steal 5 Congressional seats in Texas and gerrymander his way into a 2026 win. Well, two can play that game,' he wrote in a post on X, linking to a clip of his experience on 'Pod Save America' in which he weighed several options on potential redistricting in his state. 'Special sessions. Special elections. Ballot initiatives. New laws. It's all on the table when democracy is on the line,' he added. Trump said on Tuesday that he thinks the Lone Star State can nab five seats for Republicans after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called for a special session later this month, which includes redistricting, among other priorities. 'And there could be some other states we're going to get another three, or four or five in addition. Texas would be the biggest one,' Trump said. The president suggested he was fine with allowing Democratic states to redraw their own lines, opening the door to other blue states conducting mid-cycle redistricting. The push comes as Republicans are bracing for an unfavorable midterm environment, in which the president's party typically faces headwinds. California has an independent commission, which creates the state's maps. The independent commission was borne out of a 2008 ballot measure that voters passed, later updated in 2010. Whatever solution Newsom chooses to pursue, he would have to contend with working round the independent commission or getting rid of it altogether. 'I'm talking to members of my legislature, whatever our alternatives, we could do a special session. I could call for one today, if I chose to, we could then put something on the ballot, and I could call a special election,' Newsom said on the 'Pod Save America' podcast. 'We can change the constitution with the consent of the voters, and I think we would win that. I think people understand what's at stake in California.' He also suggested they're looking into the legal question of whether or not the independent commission has to be involved during mid-cycle redistricting.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Obama's dire wake-up call to cowardly Democrats: ‘Toughen up!'
At a private fundraiser in New Jersey, former President Barack Obama issued what should be taken as a wake-up call to his own party. He challenged Democrats who are frustrated with the state of the country under Trump to do something about it — not tomorrow, not in the next election cycle, but right now. As Obama put it: 'It's going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And it's going to require Democrats to just toughen up.' He didn't stop there. He called out the same progressives who proudly stood behind him during his presidency, wondering where that energy disappeared to. 'What I have been surprised by is the degree to which I've seen people who, when I was president, or progressives, liberals, stood for all kinds of stuff, who seem like they're kind of cowed and intimidated and shrinking away from just asserting what they believe, or at least what they said they believe,' he said. Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban echoed this frustration on Pod Save America — though from a different angle. Cuban thinks Democrats have a message, but it's the wrong one. 'We pick the wrong pressure points,' he said. 'It's just, 'Trump sucks.' That's the underlying thought of everything the Democrats do, Trump sucks. Trump says the sky is blue … Trump sucks … That's not the way to win, because it's not about Trump, it's about the people of the United States of America and what's good for them and how to get them to a place where they're in a better position.' Whoopi Goldberg disagrees. She recently pushed back on 'The View' this week. 'With much due respect to you both, I believe you are pointing the finger at the wrong person when you say Democrats.' I love Whoopi. I spent time with her during my stint co-hosting 'The View.' But this time, I think she's missing the point. Obama is not criticizing the average voter or rank-and-file Democrat. He's calling out the silence of Democratic leaders— the ones who spent billions warning voters that Trump was an existential threat to democracy, only to follow it up with … nothing. No unified strategy, no economic plan. Just more reminders that 'Trump sucks.' To Cuban's point, Democrats have reduced their platform to little more than that — and the data proves it. According to a New York Times study, before the last election, Republicans were making steady gains in working-class counties. Democrats? They were growing almost exclusively in wealthier, college-educated areas. Even Bernie Sanders saw it coming. He warned Kamala Harris directly before the election, telling her the party was ignoring 'pocketbook issues' and focusing too much on converting Republicans instead of reconnecting with working Americans. After the defeat, Bernie didn't mince words, writing on X, 'It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.' And that's the heart of the problem. Trump's 2024 win wasn't a fluke — it was the result of years of Democratic neglect in working-class America. Back in 2016, Democrats had Russia to blame, but not anymore. This loss is on them. Throwing money at the problem won't fix it. Nor will endlessly searching for a 'Joe Rogan-type' to magically speak for the party. What voters are asking for isn't complicated: authenticity, fresh thinking, and real solutions. Look at Zohran Mamdani, the socialist who just won New York's Democratic mayoral primary. Why did he win? Because he talked about what actually matters: jobs, housing, healthcare. He spoke to economic discontent — the same force that fueled Trump's rise. Mamdani understood what the establishment refuses to admit: The economy isn't working for average Americans, and they're desperate for someone who gets it. Here's the kicker: Democrats actually have an opening. Trump's approval is slipping. Inflation is on the rise. His economic policies and tariffs are backfiring. Americans don't like the way he is going about immigration reform. Americans are uneasy. They're ready for an alternative. But Democrats can't fill that role if they're stuck in what Obama called 'fetal positions.' This is a call for courage, a call for realignment, a call for unified action over ideology. It's time for Democrats to stop whining, stop chasing Republicans, and start fighting for the people they claim to represent. Otherwise, get ready for more red maps — and more heartbreak.
