Latest news with #FighttheTrumpTakeover
Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Highland protestors gather to protest Trump's gerrymandering efforts
By Rose Bombagetti's estimation, the cars honking as they whiz by the protests for which she's come out have been feeling more supportive as the weeks drag on. There are still those who aren't, of course — one man in his 20s yelled, 'Trump! Wooooooo!' as he drove past Highland's Highway of Flags Monument during the 'Fight the Trump Takeover' National Day of Action Saturday afternoon; earlier, another yelled, 'Heil Hitler!' and gave the Nazi salute, Bombagetti said. But overall, people seem to finally comprehend that the protests aren't just to annoy people. Highland Democrats Chairwoman Kelly Bridges has been feeling the change too, and was thrilled to see the small-but-dedicated crowd of 50 who convened on the corner with them. It's why her group put out the call. 'More and more, people are waking up to the necessity to fight against Trump and his destruction to our country,' Bridges said. 'These people that came out today and stood in the heat in solidarity are just one example of what it means to stand up for your rights. This is about saving our country. It's about saving our friends. It's about saving our neighbors, and we won't stop fighting.' Bombagetti, who calls Cedar Lake 'home' but snowbirds to Florida in the winter, said she's been feeling the shift down there as well. When she moved into her community, the like-minded sort of met in secret as to not provoke MAGA jeers from their neighbors. 'It was a secret 'Liberal Club,' but now, we're starting to open it up to discuss with everyone what's happening,' she said. 'Prior to coming back, I went to five protests in Florida, and I was shocked in my solid-red district, there were thousands of people out there protesting with me. And it gets bigger every time.' There are so many things that appall her about President Donald Trump's second term that bring her out to protest, she said, but no one should be surprised at any of them since he said what he was going to do if he got reelected. 'He said he would be a dictator on Day 1,' she said, referring to Trump's comment during a Fox News town hall where when he was asked if he would abuse his power as retribution against anyone and responded, 'Except for Day 1,' before clarifying he wanted to 'close the border' and 'Drill, drill drill.' 'He's destroying the Constitution, and he's killed our health care. I can't understand why Republicans are accepting of (this administration) literally choosing who can live or die. Are they really paying attention? 'I wear my 'Resist' shirts everywhere I go, and I come to protests so I can know that the whole world hasn't closed its eyes to morality. I even bring chalk with me so I can protest slogans; they're graffiti, but not the permanent, damaging kind.' Nick Egnatz, the de facto protest leader at the Highway of the Flags — first for 14 ½ years prior to the pandemic, then now — was a born-and-raised Republican. The first ballot he ever cast, in fact, was an absentee ballot from Vietnam for Richard Nixon, he said. He plans to continue. 'We have a 250-year-old democracy. It's flawed, but that's why we come together and work them out. Trump has torched that,' Egnatz said. 'We're watching what he told us he would do – he attacks truth, and science is out-the-window – and it's unacceptable.'
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump, tech and Texas: What's next for the US?
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The weight of a new era is pressing in. The Trump presidency is unfolding against the backdrop of technological disruption, escalating political tensions and shifting demographics. Can the US adapt quickly enough? ST's US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar reports as America counts down to its 250th birthday in 2026. Protesters raise signs at the State Capitol in Austin on Aug 16 during the Fight the Trump Takeover. – Friends in Washington warned me that I was going to Texas at exactly the wrong time and season – that Austin was going to be uncomfortably hot and sticky. Being a transplant from Singapore, that scared me not at all. But they were right. Texas is hot all right. It is smack-dab in the middle of a political fight, instrumental in either keeping US President Donald Trump's hold on power or weakening it midway into his term in the 2026 congressional elections. The Lone Star state's economy also runs hot; it is the fire underneath the bubbling pot of the national economy. Record numbers of businesses flock here every year, contributing to its gross domestic product of more than US$2.6 trillion (S$3.3 trillion), making it a larger economy than Canada, South Korea or Australia. For 13 straight years, Texas has led the nation in job-creating projects. But while the numbers are impressive, they do not tell the whole story. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025: New govt-funded traineeship scheme for ITE, poly, university graduates Singapore NDR 2025: CDCs to spearhead new effort to match job seekers to roles nearer to home, says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: More avenues for S'poreans to be heard, get involved will be opened up, says PM Wong World European leaders to join Zelensky for Ukraine talks with Trump Sport Third time's the charm as Aaron Liang dethrones Samuel Kang en route to national squash title Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Asia 'Rats from the sky': Urban India finds itself divided on pigeons To grasp Texas, skip the stats and simply look around Austin. The state capital has an unsettled air, like the city itself is on the move, hurrying into a future hastily imagined. More than US$20 billion in new projects is reshaping its skyline, reinventing neighbourhoods, workspaces, shopping areas and parks. On the somewhat unkempt roads, it feels as though the future, too, is hurrying to find a foothold amid the ruins of the past. At a traffic junction, I saw a motorist honk at a Waymo robotaxi when it waited a beat too long after the traffic light turned green. The sight is a little unsettling: There is no one behind the wheel of the medium-sized car. The traffic is heavy. The driverless car moves forward in a smooth motion, with no jerks or starts, almost like a tracking shot in a movie. A head is visible from behind, a lone passenger in the back seat. More than 100 driverless taxis operate in Austin, thanks to a partnership between Google's Waymo and Uber in March 2025. Tesla's robotaxi service launched a pilot programme in June 2025, using Model Y cars. ST PHOTO: BHAGYASHREE GAREKAR It would not be the first time that a frontier spirit is shaping the next chapter of the American story. Redistricting the red wall Texas is Trump country, maybe even more than a Republican one. The state has voted red in every presidential election since 1980. But Mr Trump's 2024 victory was still special as it set the record for the most votes ever – more than six million – received by a presidential candidate in Texas. And now, as he exerts the power of his office to recast the US in his own image, Mr Trump is counting on a Texas 'wall' that will prevent the Democrats from stymieing his agenda. 'We're entitled to five more seats,' Mr Trump declared in early August, calling on Texan Republicans to redraw congressional district boundaries to build on the party's advantage in the US House of Representatives. The Republicans currently hold a slim majority of five seats in the House. A redistricting exercise can potentially add five more by improving the chances of flipping Democrat-held seats. Redistricting is done every decade to keep up with population shifts. Texas last refreshed district boundaries in 2021 and no law prevents a do-over. There is no mystery about the political urgency behind the push. It is designed to ensure that Mr Trump can spend his final two years in office with Congress at his back instead of in his way. The Democrats, who would then need a much larger national vote shift to win the House, are putting up quite a fight. The week after I arrived in Austin, state Democratic legislators fled to other states to deny the Texas government a quorum to hold the session to effect redistricting. Governor Greg Abbott asked them to 'come back and fight like Texans' and threatened to arrest or remove them from office if they did not return to the legislature. They are still away. The seriousness of the effort serves to underscore Mr Trump's sway in the state. But redistricting is by no means a foolproof endeavour. The infamous 'midterm effect' may just be too strong to be stopped by a few lines redrawn on the electoral map. It is almost a law in US politics that the party holding the presidency loses seats in midterm elections. The Democrats, however, are not well placed to take advantage of an anti-incumbency wave. The party is in disarray, leaderless and dispirited by the sweeping changes being pushed through by the White House. Still, the prospect of gains in the midterms may push them to campaign harder, knock on more doors and pump more flesh. It is also possible that the moment of crisis throws up a leader who can seize it. There is some hope, in progressive corners of the party, about a new Democratic star rising in the east. Mr Zohran Mamdani, a young politician with an easy manner and the ability to 'connect' with people, is the runaway favourite to win the New York City mayoral election set for Nov 4 and become its first Muslim mayor. The 33-year-old is being celebrated with the same fervour I saw in 2008 for the young Barack Obama in his presidential campaign. But Mr Mamdani will have to prove himself as mayor, and it would be unusual if a New York liberal emerged as the voice of Middle America. If nothing changes before 2026, the outcome of the midterms could come down to redistricting. Indeed, the Texas effort has set off a national scramble. California and at least six other states have said they will also look at redrawing congressional maps in a fight for the 'future of the republic'. In sum, Texas is at the heart of what is becoming a soul-searching on the national scale: How much is power worth, and what will you do to keep it? Mr Trump's answer seems to be: everything, and anything. For him, all roads to 2026 run through Texas. Testing ground It is easy to spot the poster child of the Texan economy from afar. The distinctive long, flat roof of Tesla chief executive Elon Musk's Gigafactory, its solar panels glinting in the sun, is unmissable from the window of a plane landing at Austin airport. It is what many Austinites point at, with pride, as a symbol of the state's tech cred and future-oriented economy. The factory reportedly employs around 20,000 – with the average annual wage standing at US$74,000 – and boosts local skill sets, start-ups and suppliers. Seen as a prime example of government and private industry partnership, it is a calling card for the successful Texas mix of the low-tax, low-regulation climate. Above all, it is proof that the US still makes things – that it still has a future in manufacturing. 'You've got to see it,' said my hairdresser, although she said it had made traffic worse in her area and added pointedly that she could not afford a Tesla even if she took on a second job. At the very least, the Texas experience suggests that tech might not remain a West Coast thing. California might still host tech's brain trust, but Texas is its muscle – building big and furious. The explosion of data centres makes that point. The state now ranks second, only behind Virginia, in erecting the physical infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI). The mother of them all is Stargate, a US$500 billion project backed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. Coming up in Abilene, a three-hour drive from Austin, it is a strategic bet on US leadership in AI. It is also Texas claiming ownership of the 21st century's great tech frontier. More in your face – or at least in your lane – are the driverless taxis in Austin. With its permissive regulatory environment, the city is quickly becoming a testing ground for tomorrow's mobility. The pioneer Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle (AV) arm, operates more than 100 self-driving vehicles which can be ordered on the Uber app. Tesla's pilot robotaxi project, with a smaller fleet of Model Y cars, is about to go commercial in September. Amazon's Zoox and Volkswagen's van-like AVs also have a presence. While AI and AVs speak of the state's embrace of the future, oil still holds sway, funding politics, culture and the very sense of the state's self-reliance. The state has a reputation for friendliness towards people seeking a fresh start – nearly one in five residents is an immigrant. But there is also some wariness of outsiders who do not share the state's narratives. A leader in Mr Mamdani's mould will elicit a limited welcome here. Except perhaps in Austin, the famously liberal capital of a conservative state that proudly embraces its 'weirdness' and wants to remain the last holdout against the advancing tide of sameness. Texans cherish their distinct identity – think cowboy hats, boots and guitars, Tex-Mex spices and, yes, guns. They also sport a chip on their shoulder: When they joined the union in 1845, they were already the Republic of Texas. They feel more than equal, it is often said, unwilling to be overshadowed. For now, Mr Trump sees the state as the lock on the door to keep his agenda safe. For the rest of the country, it's a reminder that scale, pragmatism and the will to act are still the forces shaping the US story. And like with every good Texas story, there is a sense that the real ending has not been written yet.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Over 300 protests held across US against Trump's Texas redistricting push
A protester raises a sign during one of the Fight the Trump Takeover nationwide rallies against Texas' Republicans efforts to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, US August 16, REUTERS Pro-democracy activists and labor groups held hundreds of rallies and other events across the United States on Saturday protesting the Trump administration's push for Texas to redraw its congressional map in favor of Republicans. Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke was among those who spoke on Saturday in Texas, from which dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled to deny Republicans the quorum needed to vote on a redistricting plan that President Donald Trump had demanded. "They do this because they are afraid," O'Rourke told an audience on Saturday, speaking of those attempting redistricting. "They fear this power they see here today." Read More: Trump-Putin summit Drucilla Tigner, executive director of pro-democracy coalition Texas For All, told Reuters pro-democracy and labor groups held over 300 events attended by tens of thousands of people in 44 states and Washington, DC. Many of the more than 50 Texas Democrats who fled the state have been staying in Illinois, also the site of protests on Saturday. The Texas lawmakers in Illinois are out of reach of civil arrest warrants that could be acted on within Texas. The Texas Democrats kept the map from coming to a vote during a special session Governor Greg Abbott called that ended Friday. Abbott immediately called a second special session. Abbott said that redistricting plans, legislation to increase flash flood safety in the wake of deadly July flooding, and other legislative work remains undone because Democrats are absent. Also Read: Ukraine peace at stake as Trump hosts Putin California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday unveiled a redistricting plan in his state that he says would give Democrats there five more Congressional seats, possibly offsetting any Republican gains in Texas. The Texas House Democrats said in a written statement on Thursday that they will only return to Texas if their state's special legislation is ended and once California's redistricting maps were introduced.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Photos, Videos Show 'Fight the Trump Takeover' Protests Across the Country
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. Unhappiness with the Trump administration is simmering across the country, as thousands took to the streets on Saturday to join nationwide "Fight the Trump Takeover" protests. According to an official website, over 200 events were held across 34 states yesterday to protest Texas Republicans' efforts to redraw the state's electoral maps in their favor—a strategy that has been picked up by Republican leaders in other states as well ahead of next year's midterms. While the main rally took place in Austin, Texas, in no other U.S. city were protesters as riled up as in Washington, D.C., where demonstrators also gathered to protest against President Donald Trump's attempted takeover of the city's police department and deployment of National Guard units. 'Free D.C.': Residents Fight Trump's Takeover Hundreds gathered in Washington's northwest neighborhood of Dupont Circle for a peaceful protest that ended with a march to the White House. Happening Now: Protest against Trump military takeover at Dupont Circle in Washington DC. — BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) August 16, 2025 Protesters, chanting and holding signs saying "Shame" and "Trump must go now," called for an end to the "crime emergency" that Trump declared in the District of Columbia on Monday and which he said justified the deployment of National Guard units, as well as the takeover of the city's police force. The president said violent crime in the capital is "out of control" and the military's presence would help make the city "one of the safest" in the world, "not the most dangerous." City officials have rebuked the president saying data he presented is misleading and claims that crime is rampant are widely exaggerated. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said crime has been falling after a peak in 2023. It is the second time in only a couple of months that Trump has deployed National Guard troops to a traditionally liberal part of the country after sending units to Los Angeles earlier this summer. In June, the president deployed 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA despite objections from state Governor Gavin Newsom, saying that local authorities were not handling anti-ICE protests appropriately. Newsom responded with a lawsuit asking for an injunction restricting the military's role in Los Angeles. A ruling on the case is expected soon. Washington, D.C., is also fighting back a takeover of its police force by the federal government. Earlier this week, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit in federal court against the appointment of Drug Enforcement Administration administrator Terry Cole as an "emergency police commissioner" to take over control over D.C. police. Washington, D.C., Protests: Photo Gallery Thousands marched through Washington, D.C., to protest Donald Trump's use of federal agents and National Guardsmen to conduct policing actions throughout the city, on August 16, 2025. Thousands marched through Washington, D.C., to protest Donald Trump's use of federal agents and National Guardsmen to conduct policing actions throughout the city, on August 16, 2025. DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Dionte Carter raises his fist during a protest of President Donald Trump's federal takeover of policing of the District of Columbia, in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025. Dionte Carter raises his fist during a protest of President Donald Trump's federal takeover of policing of the District of Columbia, in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon A protester holds a sign saying "Free D.C." in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025. A protester holds a sign saying "Free D.C." in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025. DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Protesters in Washington, D.C., hold anti-Trump signs on August 16, 2025. Protesters in Washington, D.C., hold anti-Trump signs on August 16, 2025. DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Protesters rally at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., before marching to the White House on August 16, 2025. Protesters rally at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., before marching to the White House on August 16, are seen at Dupont Circle before marching to the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025. Demonstrators are seen at Dupont Circle before marching to the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025.A demonstrator holds a baguette during a protest in Washington, D.C., in reference to an incident where a man threw a sandwich at a federal agent on August 16, 2025. A demonstrator holds a baguette during a protest in Washington, D.C., in reference to an incident where a man threw a sandwich at a federal agent on August 16, at Dupont Circle are seen before marching to the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 2025. Protesters at Dupont Circle are seen before marching to the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 16, Democrats Take To Streets Texas Republicans' plan to draw a new congressional map that would give the GOP five more seats in the 2026 midterm elections, backed by Trump, has triggered a recent flight of the state's Democratic lawmakers. With their absence, Texas lawmakers could not technically vote on the redistribution of the state's 38 congressional districts, as they did not have the necessary quorum to do so. Texas Dems left on August 3 and found shelter in states including Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. On Thursday, they signaled that they were ready to return to the state, after the protest appeared to reinvigorate their party's spirit across the country. Gene Wu, chair of the Texas Democratic caucus, said in a statement on Thursday that their return was dependent on California introducing its own new congressional map offsetting the gains Republicans plan to make in Texas. "I am proud of what we accomplished," Ann Johnson of Houston, one of the lawmakers who had left the state, said in a statement reported by the Guardian. "We ended a session that had nothing to do with helping Texans and everything to do with silencing them. And we exposed the truth behind the governor's political agenda: to hijack the maps, erase opposition and decide the next election before a single vote is cast. Now, with that session behind us, I'm returning to Texas to continue the fight—from the floor of the house." Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a second special session to address redistricting on Friday. "Special Session #2 begins immediately," Abbott said in a post on X. "There is critical work that is left undone. Texas will not back down from this fight. That's why I am calling them back today to finish the job." On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of Austin to protest the attempted Republican takeover. 🚨 HAPPENING NOW: Thousands of protesters gather in Austin, Texas for the Fight the Trump Takeover rally chanting "SHAME ON ABBOTT" — Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) August 16, 2025 "Trump is terrified of the American people," said the Texas for All coalition in a news release. "He knows he can't win on his ideas, so he's trying to take Congress by hook or by crook—and he's doing it by silencing the voices of communities of color. We're not going to let that happen." The demonstration in Austin saw former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke take the stage and address the gathered crowd, together with United Farm Workers labor union co-founder Dolores Huerta, Democratic Representative Greg Casar and Texas state Representative Lloyd Doggett. Texas state representatives Wu and Vikki Goodwin joined an anti-takeover protest in Chicago as they have not yet returned to the Lone Star State. "Today I'm proud to stand with thousands across the country who refuse to let extremists rig our democracy," Wu said in a post on X. "This fight started in Texas, but it doesn't end here. We're united with Americans in 34 states saying NO to rigged maps and YES to fair representation." Goodwin shared a video from the Illinois rally on X, writing: "Chicagoans came out to rally with us against the rigged redistricting in Texas. They had lots of questions and lots of thanks. The next steps include fighting any new gerrymandered maps that pass in court. We'll also be watching other states' responses." Chicagoans came out to rally with us against the rigged redistricting in Texas. They had lots of questions and lots of thanks. The next steps include fighting any new gerrymandered maps that pass in court. We'll also be watching others states' responses. — Rep. Vikki Goodwin (@VikkiGoodwinTX) August 16, 2025 The Protests In Texas: A Photo Gallery Protesters hold up signs during the Fight The Trump Takeover rally at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 16, 2025. Protesters hold up signs during the Fight The Trump Takeover rally at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 16, 2025. AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez Protesters gather on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol for Fight the Trump Takeover rally in Austin, Texas, on August 17, 2025. Protesters gather on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol for Fight the Trump Takeover rally in Austin, Texas, on August 17, 2025. Mario Cantu/Cal Sport Media via AP Images Nancy Sandoval is seen during the Stop the Trump Takeover demonstration outside of the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 16, 2025. Nancy Sandoval is seen during the Stop the Trump Takeover demonstration outside of the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 16, U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke speaks during the Fight The Trump Takeover rally held at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 16, 2025. Former U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke speaks during the Fight The Trump Takeover rally held at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on August 16, 2025. AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Over 300 protests held Saturday against Trump redistricting push
A protester raises a sign during one of the Fight the Trump Takeover nationwide rallies against Texas' Republicans efforts to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Saturday. By Matt Tracy By Matt Tracy (Reuters) -Pro-democracy activists and labor groups held hundreds of rallies and other events across the United States on Saturday protesting the Trump administration's push for Texas to redraw its congressional map in favor of Republicans. Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke was among those who spoke on Saturday in Texas, from which dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled to deny Republicans the quorum needed to vote on a redistricting plan that President Donald Trump had demanded. "They do this because they are afraid," O'Rourke told an audience on Saturday, speaking of those attempting redistricting. "They fear this power they see here today." Drucilla Tigner, executive director of pro-democracy coalition Texas For All, told Reuters pro-democracy and labor groups held over 300 events attended by tens of thousands of people in 44 states and Washington, D.C. Many of the more than 50 Texas Democrats who fled the state have been staying in Illinois, also the site of protests on Saturday. The Texas lawmakers in Illinois are out of reach of civil arrest warrants that could be acted on within Texas. The Texas Democrats kept the map from coming to a vote during a special session Governor Greg Abbott called that ended Friday. Abbott immediately called a second special session. Abbott said that redistricting plans, legislation to increase flash flood safety in the wake of deadly July flooding, and other legislative work remains undone because Democrats are absent. California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday unveiled a redistricting plan in his state that he says would give Democrats there five more Congressional seats, possibly offsetting any Republican gains in Texas. The Texas House Democrats said in a written statement on Thursday that they will only return to Texas if their state's special legislation is ended and once California's redistricting maps were introduced. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
