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Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
California's gerrymander: a game two can play
California voters have made a couple things clear over the last couple of decades: they don't like partisan manipulation of political maps. And they don't like President Trump. Those two imperatives have collided in recent days, as it appears to Gov. Gavin Newsom and others that one of the only ways to counter a Trump-supported partisan power grab in Texas is with a partisan power grab in California. Newsom and California Democrats essentially are saying they're not going to bring a high-minded civics lecture to a partisan knife fight. The governor and his allies are rushing to assemble a plan that could make it easier to elect as many as five more Democrats from California to the House of Representatives. Newsom clarified on Monday that the party would only pursue the rare mid-decade redistricting plan if Texas and its Republican governor, Greg Abbott, move ahead with their own plan to gerrymander that state's political map to create five additional House districts favorable to Republicans. The bending of political lines to favor one party is almost as old as the Republic. The new trick conjured up by Texas is to complete a remapping mid-decade, rather than waiting for the decennial redrawing of boundaries that occurs after every census. That shift could be critical in deciding which party controls the House (and rides herd on the Trump White House) after the 2026 election. Texans have an easier road to such a power play because the rules in their state allow it. That differs from California, where voters in 2010 dictated that an independent commission draw the boundaries for the U.S. House seats. That's why Newsom and Democrats would need to get voter approval in November to launch California's redistricting sleight of hand in response to the partisan hocus-pocus proposed in Texas. With 43 of California's 52 House seats already in Democratic hands, it's not easy to bend boundaries to make another five districts friendlier to the party. But that's the intention. The still-emerging plan would seek to put more liberal voters in districts currently held by Republican Reps. Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, Darrell Issa, Doug LaMalfa and Ken Calvert, CNN reported. The redraw would also seek to strengthen the hold Democrat Reps. Dave Min, Mike Levin and Derek Tran have on their seats, according to the Associated Press. The Times' political team reported that, to be ready in time for a November election, Democrats in the Legislature have less than a month to draw a new map, hold hearings and negotiate the language of a special election bill. Among those who will fight the move: former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Republican action star campaigned for the ballot measure that created the independent redistricting commission. And he's made non-partisanship a focus of his political institute at USC. 'His take on all of this is [that] everyone learned in preschool or kindergarten that two wrongs don't make a right,' said Daniel Ketchell, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger. 'It takes power from the people and gives it to politicians. He thinks it's evil, no matter where they do it.' Democrats need to remember that, when it comes to redistricting power in the rest of the U.S., Republicans have a distinct advantage. They hold a 'trifecta' — controlling both legislative bodies and the governor's office – in 23 states. Democrats have such single-party control in 15 states. So if the game of tit-for-tat spreads across the country, the balance of power in the House could shift even more in favor of the GOP. Other must reads Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Today's great photo is from Times contributor Annie Noelker, who captured 23-year-old actor Tavis Kordell. Kordell, who is nonbinary, flips the script as Jerry and Daphne in 'Some Like it Hot' at the Pantages. Jim Rainey, staff writerDiamy Wang, homepage internIzzy Nunes, audience internKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
A big Trump bill, but ‘beautiful' it is not
Waban Senator Tillis ought to stand his ground — and seek reelection While I generally admire Renée Graham's perspective, I cannot agree with her accolades for Senator Thom Tillis in declining to run for reelection next year ( Advertisement After all, haven't we seen many Trump-supported candidates go down in flames even with his backing? Is Tillis's ego so large he would rather flee than stand to risk a primary loss? That's not backbone. It is just another voice of reason lost to the sideline, out of the way of our authoritarian president. It is enabling, not admirable. Paul Siegenthaler Needham Stop using Trump's absurd name for this wretched bill I would like the media to stop using the phrase 'Big Beautiful Bill' for Donald Trump's legislation dismantling programs that actually help people. It may be big but it is not beautiful. All the press is doing in using that phrase is promoting Trump's propaganda regarding what is in the bill. Please stop. A better description would be 'bloated and bankrupt.' Advertisement Dan Fennelly Scituate
The Hill
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump, Massie feud reaches fever pitch
President Trump's feud with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is showing no signs of abating as the president seeks to oust the GOP congressman for his history of regularly breaking with the administration. Massie recently opposed the administration by denouncing its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and refusing to support the president's legislative agenda, leading Trump's political operation to launch a targeted campaign against Massie. On Friday, a Trump-aligned super PAC, led by the president's co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, rolled out its first ad as part of a $1 million ad buy targeting Massie. The 30-second ad — titled 'What happened to Thomas Massie?' — hit the GOP congressman over his opposition to Trump-supported legislation to fund border security and cut taxes. It also ties him to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). But Massie isn't backing down. He hit back in a post on the social platform X, appearing to refer to measures in Trump's legislative agenda that the Senate parliamentarian opposed, including blocking Medicaid funds to be used for gender-affirming care. 'The BBB now allows funding sex changes for minors!' Massie said, referring to what Trump calls the 'big, beautiful bill.' 'This ad slams me for voting against the BBB, but the Senate just stripped the 'ban on sex changes for minors' from the BBB. By the ads' twisted logic, those who support the Senate's edits now support sex changes for minors.' Earlier in the week, Massie invoked former Vice President Mike Pence being targeted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol after Vice President Vance questioned if his successors saw as much 'excitement' as he has while in office. The ad campaign is the first major sign the president's political operation is flexing its muscles, and Massie's recent digs against Trump foreshadow a fight that is likely only to heat up. 'There's a large feeling that the chickens have finally come home to roost for Massie,' said T.J. Litafik, a Kentucky-based Republican strategist. Massie's break with Trump over his legislative agenda and U.S. military intervention in Iran are only the most recent developments in the feud between the two. In 2020, Massie faced Trump's wrath when he tried to force a roll call vote on the CARES Act coronavirus stimulus bill, forcing lawmakers to rush back to Washington to avoid a delay in passing the legislation. Massie let three calls from Trump go to voicemail before he finally took the president's call in the Speaker's Lobby. Trump then publicly called for Massie to be thrown out of the GOP. Three years later, Massie famously backed Trump rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in what became a deeply personal presidential primary battle. And earlier this year, Massie was the only Republican lawmaker who did not back Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) despite Trump's appeal to House Republicans. 'Massie has chosen to be a tremendous antagonist toward Trump at just about every turn,' Litafik said. The feud has put Johnson in an awkward position as he seeks to navigate a narrow Republican majority in the House. Johnson stopped short of endorsing Massie on Tuesday when asked if he would defend Massie against a primary challenger. 'That's the hardest question I had this morning, and I'm being totally honest with you,' Johnson said. 'Look, the Speaker's job, my role with my party cap on is I'm leader of my party here, and the Speaker leads the incumbent protection program, right, that's what we call it. I got to make sure everybody gets reelected. I travel the country nonstop, relentlessly, raising money to ensure that that happens.' 'But I certainly understand the president's frustration about the colleague you named, and he and I talk about that quite a bit,' he continued. 'Can't quite understand what the rationale is, but if you're here and you're wearing one team's jersey and every single time you vote with the other team, people begin to question what your motive is and what your philosophy is and why you're so consistently opposed to the platform, the agenda of your party.' When asked about Johnson's remarks by reporters on Capitol Hill earlier this week, Massie said that whether the Speaker is 'for me or against me, the result is the same.' 'If they would just quit hitting me, I might get bored and give up,' Massie said, referring to Trump's efforts to oust him. 'But I am not going to lose. I do not lose.' Republicans hold an eight-seat majority in the House, a narrow enough margin where Johnson needs the conference to be united on measures like passing Trump's agenda. 'It needs to be done with these tight margins in the House because essentially, if you can't get the 'yes' on anything, you're just a placeholder and a hindrance to the Trump agenda,' said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist. Other Republicans question why Trump and his allies are so deeply invested in kicking Massie off Capitol Hill. 'It does strike me as odd that this is the fight you'd really want to pick at a time when we should be more worried about keeping the House majority than taking out Republicans from it,' said another national Republican strategist. Massie's district is considered safely Republican. Kentucky's 4th Congressional District is situated in the northern part of the state, stretching from Louisville's eastern suburbs to the Cincinnati area along Kentucky's border with Ohio. Massie has trounced his past primary challengers, none of whom have been particularly strong or backed by Trump. 'It is tougher when you're going against someone who is pretty loose and free, and isn't going to cave and doesn't cave into the pressure. I think that's what his district appreciates about him. It's what that district and other parts of the state appreciate about Rand Paul,' the national Republican strategist said. Kentucky GOP strategist Shane Noem noted the state's Republicans come in 'many stripes.' 'The modern Libertarian wing of the party started here when Sen. Paul was elected in 2010. There's room for all varieties of Republicans in the party; it's up to the voters what level of loyalty they expect to the president's agenda,' Noem said. Paul has also broken with Trump in the past, most recently on Trump's legislative agenda and the sweeping global tariffs Trump imposed. Paul earlier this year claimed that he was 'uninvited' from the annual White House picnic, in what he said was retribution for his opposition to parts of the president's agenda. Trump later said that 'of course' Paul was invited to the gathering. Paul also criticized Trump's recent strikes on Iran, arguing that Congress, not the president, 'holds the war power.' But Republicans note Massie's disagreements with Trump have proven to be more intense. 'Rand Paul has had his moments of opposing Trump,' Litafik said. 'Massie has been much more aggressive and much more numerous in his approach.' While Trump's allies are launching the effort with a massive war chest, all eyes will be on a potential Trump-backed primary opponent. 'The one essential ingredient that as of yet has not developed is an opponent,' Litafik said. 'I think that there will be a very viable opponent that emerges.' 'This is a race unlike any that he would have faced before,' he said. Mychael Schnell contributed.
The Hill
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Pro-Trump PAC targets Massie in first ad
The pro-Trump PAC MAGA Kentucky rolled out its first ad targeting Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on Friday, marking the first spot in a $1 million ad buy as the lawmaker feuds with President Trump. The 30-second ad, titled 'What happened to Thomas Massie?' hits the GOP congressman over his opposition to Trump-supported legislation to fund border security and cut taxes, as well as his opposition to the president's recent military intervention in Iran. 'After Trump obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons program, Massie sided with Democrats and the Ayatollah,' the ad's narrator says, as an image of Massie flashes on screen with other images of Ayatollah Khomeini, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Massie quickly responded to the ad in a post on X, appearing to to refer to measures in Trump's legislative agenda that the Senate parliamentarian opposed, including blocking Medicaid funds to be used for gender-affirming care. 'The BBB now allows funding sex changes for minors!' Massie said, referring to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill. 'This ad slams me for voting against the BBB, but the Senate just stripped the 'ban on sex changes for minors' from the BBB. By the ads' twisted logic, those who support the Senate's edits now support sex changes for minors.' The ad is one of the first major steps Trump's political operation has taken in its effort to oust Massie from Congress. Earlier this week, Trump's co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita launched MAGA Kentucky PAC amid Trump's growing feud with Massie. 'MAGA KY was formed for the specific purpose of firing Thomas Massie – His constituents will soon learn that he prefers the politics and policy of AOC and the radical left – over President Trump,' LaCivita told NewsNation, The Hill's sister cable network.
Axios
17-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Senate picks fight with House GOP on the "big, beautiful bill"
Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has picked a big intra-GOP fight on SALT, Medicaid and clean energy — all but ignoring some of the House's most delicate budget compromises. 🥊 Why it matters: Neither the House nor the Senate wants to go to a formal conference, but the Senate text released Monday afternoon showed just how extensive, and contentious, the conference-like negotiations will be. "That would be a big mistake," Majority Leader John Thune told Axios about an actual conference between the House and Senate. "That would drag this thing out." Zoom in: Members of the House SALT caucus were outraged that the limit was reduced from $40,000 to $10,000 in the Senate text. "Everyone knows this 10K number will have to go up. And it will," Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said on X. 💰 To help pay for his priorities, Crapo cut deeper on Medicaid and reopened the debate on the provider tax. The House wanted to cap the provider tax threshold at 6% for Medicaid expansion states, but the Senate version plans to gradually lower the threshold to 3.5% in 2031. Crapo also put limits on how much can be deducted for President Trump's key priorities — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on seniors. On energy tax credits, Crapo wants to allow more projects to claim them before the credits sunset. Crapo also reduced the child tax credit from the House-passed $2,500 to $2,200. 🏈 Even the House's Trump-supported provision to strip sports team owners of a lucrative tax break was ignored. And on the so-called "revenge tax" on foreign subsidiaries, the Senate watered down the House language and delayed its implementation until 2027. The first test will be getting 51 senators on board, and just a few hours after the text came out, it was already on shaky ground in the Senate. "We're further away than we were before," one GOP senator told us after leaving a meeting tonight with the rest of the conference to discuss the bill. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said he's a "no." Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) blasted the changes to Medicaid. Other Republicans were eerily quiet or said they needed time for review. Between the lines: For Democrats, the deeper cuts to Medicaid and scaled-back child tax credit are ready-made to blast the GOP.
