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Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Speaker Johnson vows to stop California's redistricting push — but ignores Texas doing the same
House Speaker Mike Johnson says he plans to derail California's proposed congressional map after Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a proposal to redraw the state's electoral boundaries. Newsom and California Democrats proposed new congressional lines on Friday in an attempt to eliminate potential gains in Texas, where Republicans backed by Donald Trump launched a nationwide redistricting battle with nakedly partisan ambitions ahead of midterm elections in 2026. Johnson accused Democrats of an 'illegal power grab.' 'Gavin Newsom should spend less time trampling his state's laws for a blatant power grab, and more time working to change the disastrous, far-left policies that are destroying California,' Johnson wrote Monday. 'Newsom obviously wants to launch a presidential campaign on the backs of disenfranchised California voters, but it will not work.' But unlike California, Texas lawmakers in the state legislature only need to vote on the maps before they are signed into law by Governor Gregg Abbott. Newsom, meanwhile, must hold a special election this fall so voters can decide whether to suspend the state's independent redistricting commission until the end of the decade to advance the new map. Johnson's statement followed the return of a group of Texas Democrats who left the state to break quorum in the state House, leaving Republicans without enough members present to vote on legislation during a special 30-day legislative session that was requested by Abbott. Dozens of Texas Democrats declared victory on Monday after staying out of the state for more than two weeks, blocking Republicans' Trump-led gerrymandering campaign. But redistricting is on the agenda for a second special session. Texas Republicans are expected to quickly take up — and pass — a new congressional map that would create five more districts likely to elect Republican candidates, which would give the GOP 30 of the state's 38 seats in Congress. In a statement on Monday, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said that members returned 'to launch the next phase' in the redistricting battle. Democrats' return to the state will allow them to create the 'legal record necessary to defeat this racist map in court, take our message to communities across the state and country, and inspire legislators across the country how to fight these undemocratic redistricting schemes in their own statehouses,' Texas House of Representatives Minority Leader Gene Wu said in a statement. GOP lawmakers were explicit that the new map was designed to improve 'political performance,' an act of political or partisan gerrymandering — in which a controlling party carves out maps to 'pack' likely opponents into a few districts, or 'cracks' them across multiple districts, thereby diluting their voting power. Critics accused Republicans of gerrymandering a map on racial lines, effectively letting Republicans choose their voters rather than the other way around. While out of the state, Abbott and state Attorney General Ken Paxton and GOP members of Congress put pressure on law enforcement to haul absent lawmakers back to the state capital in Austin. 'We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,' Wu said. California and Texas, the nation's two most populous states, remain at the forefront of the brewing redistricting war, as Trump pushes Republicans to redraw electoral lines for control of the House of Representatives to avoid a repeat of 2018 midterm elections — when Democrats regained control of Congress and impeached him twice. Democrats — who accused Republicans of illegally diluting the voting strength of Black and Latino voters — are planning to retaliate, triggering a race to reshape the electoral map by the time Americans cast their ballots in 2026. Newsom has stressed that bypassing the state's redistricting commission would be temporary, and that the state would only redraw its congressional boundaries if Texas shot first. At a rally in Los Angeles last week, Newsom said Trump is 'trying to rig the system' and, 'as a consequence, we need to disabuse ourselves of the way things have been done.' 'We have got to recognize the cards that have been dealt,' Newsom said. 'And we have got to meet fire with fire.' Johnson called Newsom's plans a 'slap in the face to Californians who overwhelmingly support' the state's redistricting commission. 'Unlike other states, California must shred its own Constitution to succeed in its desperate gambit to 'end the Trump presidency.' Voters in California and across the nation see through this partisan stunt,' he said. Johnson said his office and the National Republican Congressional Committee will 'use every measure and resource possible' to take on California. The Republicans' congressional campaign arm criticized Newsom's move, accusing the governor of 'shredding California's Constitution and disenfranchising voters to prop up his Presidential ambitions.' 'The NRCC is prepared to fight this illegal power grab in the courts and at the ballot box to stop Newsom in his tracks,' chairman Richard Hudson said last week.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift releases new 'The Life of a Showgirl' album cover after teasing fans with cryptic purple countdown on her website
The new album is set for release on Oct. 3. What was Taylor Swift counting down to on her website today? It appears to be...a vinyl drop. She announced the first and only pressing of the "Shiny Bug" collection, which features a "wintergreen & onyx marbled" vinyl as well as a "violet shimmer marbled vinyl" option. Each features the same new photo of Swift in a black bejeweled leotard, black sparkly gloves and fishnets. The new vinyls are only available until Aug. 20, or until supplies last. This article was originally published at 12:43 p.m. on Aug. 18. Oh, Taylor Swift, what are you up to now?! The pop star is teasing fans yet again with a countdown on her website — but instead of the orange-and-green color scheme she's currently using to promote her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, Swift's latest countdown is purple. The countdown appeared on Aug. 18 and is slated to end at 2 p.m. ET the same day. The website features a ticking clock with a glittery purple background, and the whole rest of the website is currently shut down — meaning there's no way to purchase merch right now. Swift's website isn't the only place purple is being used to promote whatever this upcoming announcement is. If you type 'Taylor Swift' into Google, purple confetti rains down on the screen. A red fiery heart emoji also appears, with a purple text block that reads 'And, baby, that's show business for you.' This is the same thing that happened with Google ahead of Swift's Life of a Showgirl album announcement; however, now the orange is swapped out for purple. And, if you go on Swift's Apple Music page, the image also features glittery purple. Obviously, fans online are freaking out about what all this purple could mean. Some are certain that it's a merch drop for The Life of a Showgirl, since merch sales are currently disabled. Some are hopeful that this purple moment could signal the release of Swift's first single off the album. Others, however, have bigger aspirations: Some believe that this countdown could end with the reveal that The Life of a Showgirl is actually a double album, with the second album featuring a purple color scheme. As TikToker Britton Rae said in a video about the countdown, Swift's latest antics are making her feel 'a little delulu,' aka 'delusional,' and convinced that another album is coming — especially given the fact that Swift officially announced Showgirl at exactly 12:12 a.m. on Aug. 12. 'She was very adamant that this album only had 12 tracks on it,' the TikToker said, pointing to Swift's New Heights podcast interview with boyfriend Travis Kelce. 'What if there's another album that also has 12 tracks on it, and that's why we've done the 12:12?' Others, however, are convinced this countdown could lead to an Eras tour documentary. One TikToker pointed out in a video that this purple glitter 'could maybe lead to the behind-the-scenes of the Eras tour, since The Life of a Showgirl is 'behind the curtain.'' The TikToker also noted that Swift recorded unseen footage from her final three shows of the Eras tour in Vancouver, British Columbia. Whatever happens, Swift certainly has plenty of surprises in store for fans. Stay tuned! Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Wells Fargo Advisors Employee Alleges Discrimination in New Lawsuit
You can find original article here Wealthmanagement. Subscribe to our free daily Wealthmanagement newsletter. A former Wells Fargo Advisors employee is suing the firm and questioning whether her ethnicity and gender played a role in her termination. Lisa Krugler originally filed suit against Wells Fargo Advisors in July in Kentucky state court, but the case was transferred to federal jurisdiction last week. According to the complaint, Krugler joined WFA as a client services associate around May 2021, where she was tasked with helping advisors generate documents, run office responsibilities and process estates. According to the suit, she was adopted from South Korea and grew up in the United States. According to LinkedIn, Krugler worked for Cullinan Associates for eight years before moving to Wells Fargo. The suit noted that she was the only non-white Wells Fargo team member in her location and had consistently met performance review expectations. Krugler said she served as 'primary support' for three advisors, backed up other associates working with eight advisors, and helped handle office tasks. Krugler argued she had the highest workload of anyone in the office. Krugler purportedly asked for a raise in January of this year, and while she was assigned more work, she didn't get a pay bump. According to the complaint, Krugler's supervisor, Chris Bohnert, 'was observed to treat the women in the office differently' than the men, frequently ignoring female coworkers altogether. Krugler found it challenging to take time off, as she often had to do the work of multiple associates. However, according to the suit, she traveled to Disney World in June to celebrate her son's birthday. On the trip's third day, Krugler got a call from Bohnert, which surprised her because WFA prohibits work during paid time off. 'Believing it must be important, Mrs. Krugler answered the phone,' the complaint read. 'Mr. Bohnert began the call by stating, 'I'm glad you're at the happiest place on Earth, because I have to let you go.'' According to the suit, Krugler was 'shocked by the callousness and lack of professionalism' on the call, and asked Bohnert to call back with a third-party witness to the conversation; Bohnert allegedly said he would, but Krugler never received that call. According to Krugler, she was never given a 'satisfactory answer' for her firing. 'When she asked if her status as a Korean woman was the reason she was terminated, Mr. Bohnert responded, 'I don't know. It's nothing personal,'' the complaint read. In the complaint, Krugler argued she was treated 'less favorably than similarly situated White men in the office,' with the person taking over her role having less experience on the team and in the industry altogether. According to a Wells Fargo spokesperson, the firm denied the allegations and "intend to defend the company's position through the litigation process." Krugler asked for damages for 'the humiliation, embarrassment, personal indignity, apprehension about past, current and future well-being, emotional distress, and mental anguish' allegedly caused by the firing, as well as additional relief, 'including reinstatement.'
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The way Olivia Culpo's mom cared for her postpartum is what every new mom deserves
Every new mom dreams of being cared for in those fragile, early days: someone to bring meals to bed, hold the baby so you can rest, remind you that you're not alone. That kind of support is often missing, which is why one video has struck such a deep chord. Olivia Culpo, 33, shared a glimpse of that care after welcoming her daughter, Colette Annalise, on July 13, 2025. In her now-viral Instagram Reel, Culpo's mom appears tending to the newborn and showing up for her daughter with nourishing trays of food, champagne by her bedside, and even a violin serenade. The former Miss Universe, who is married to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 29, posted the clip just over four weeks postpartum. It has already brought millions of women to tears, with nearly 10 million views in under 48 hours. Culpo captioned the moment simply: 'I can only hope to be as good as her ' (@oliviaculpo). In an interview with People, Culpo admitted just how much she has leaned on her mom during this transition. 'I feel like I have a lot of respect for my mom … one thing that I realized through this experience of becoming a mom is actually how much I've needed my mom, which I didn't anticipate,' she said. 'It's just an ironic thought that you need your mom the most when you're about to become a mom. That's just genuinely how I felt.' Moms are flooding the comments with tears and longing Mothers poured out raw emotion, reflecting on what they had, what they lost, or what they still long for. 'You are rich in the way that matters ' (@irenesarah) 'This makes me want to cry! Mama taking care of her baby! And her baby's baby!' (@lauren_kawa) 'For those of us who didn't have our mother's postpartum — we rejoice for you! This is truly the biggest blessing in life ' (@touchoftallow) 'I lost my mom 6 months before conception… it's so hard doing it alone.' (@desireediamante) 'The mom I wish to be for my kids… because it's the kind of mother I didn't get to have postpartum.' (@kaaydaddy) For many, the video sparked joy — for others, grief. Not everyone has a supportive parent or family to lean on, and that absence can weigh heavily in the early days of motherhood. And the truth is, those mothers are far from rare. As Motherly has reported, 1 in 6 moms with a child under three say they received no support outside of their partner. Even among those who did get help, 42% said it wasn't enough. A recent survey of over 1,000 parents found that about two-thirds (66%) sometimes or often feel lonely due to parenting. Similarly, 62% reported, as per, Parents, feeling burned out by their parental responsibilities, and 38% said they lack adequate support in their role as a parent. And while two-thirds long for intergenerational help, only 14% actually live near family. Olivia's reel may look like a luxury, but for millions of women, it's a mirror of what's missing. Cultures around the world know: mothers need to be mothered Traditions like 'Omugwo,' Asian confinement, or Latin 'cuarentena' highlight that postpartum care is a timeless human need. But in the U.S., the cultural script is different. Our society still glamorizes maternal martyrdom, reinforcing the message that needing help is weakness. Nearly two-thirds of parents say the first three months are when they need help most, yet too many never receive it. Hispanic mothers are especially likely to struggle asking for support; three in four report difficulty voicing their needs. This disconnect between willingness and action is stark: while 90% of Americans say they're willing to help a new parent, most mothers don't feel able to ask. And unless a 'village' knows what postpartum really looks like, they may never offer. The research is clear: support changes everything The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 8 mothers in the U.S. experience depressive symptoms after birth, with even higher rates among those facing social or economic challenges. New data from the CDC shows that postpartum depression can persist well beyond the newborn stage. Nearly 7% of mothers reported depressive symptoms 9–10 months after delivery, and more than half of them had shown no earlier signs — a reminder that these struggles don't always surface right away. Support makes a measurable difference. A U.S.-based study published by the National Institutes of Health found that mothers who experienced decreased support during the COVID-19 pandemic were far more likely to report depression, anxiety, and disrupted bonding with their babies. Those who maintained emotional support, even without practical help, had noticeably better outcomes. And according to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, maternal mental health disorders — including postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis — are now the most common complication of childbirth in the U.S., affecting 1 in 5 mothers. A reminder for every mom — especially if you lacked support Olivia Culpo's reel captures a universal truth about what mothers crave. It's a model of the kind of support that can change a mother's entire experience of postpartum. And if you didn't have this kind of support, you are not alone. Many mothers are creating that circle of care in different ways — through partners, friends, doulas, and even by vowing to be this kind of presence for their own daughters one day. Because the truth is clear: the way Olivia Culpo's mom cared for her postpartum is what every new mom deserves, and when that care doesn't come from family, it can be built through community. Sources: Guidance on postpartum depression and where to find care. 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidance on postpartum depression and where to find care. Timing of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms. 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Timing of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms. Vital Signs: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Provider Discussions About Perinatal Depression. 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital Signs: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Provider Discussions About Perinatal Depression. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump vows to end mail-in ballots with executive order
Former President Donald Trump said Monday that he plans to sign an executive order aimed at ending mail-in voting and eliminating voting machines, a proposal that election experts note he cannot carry out on his own. Trump has long criticized mail-in ballots, calling them fraudulent. On his Truth Social account, Trump wrote: 'THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!!' He also said his order would 'help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections.' According to the New York Times, the Constitution gives states the authority to set the 'times, places and manner' of elections, with Congress able to override state rules. That means Trump could not unilaterally end mail-in voting or require states to stop using voting machines, even if he returns to office. KIRO 7 News has reached out to the office of Gov. Ferguson for comment. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Trump, saying on X, 'His plan to rig new Congressional seats is going to backfire — thanks to he's clamoring for other ways to cook the results." Trump claimed in his post that states serve as 'merely an agent' for the federal government in counting ballots and that they must follow the president's instructions. Legal scholars say this interpretation is at odds with constitutional law and decades of precedent. He also repeated an inaccurate assertion that the United States is the 'only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting.' In reality, many democracies, including Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, allow citizens to vote by mail under certain conditions. Trump's position comes despite evidence that Republicans made gains in mail-in voting during the 2024 elections after the party encouraged supporters to use it. In past elections, skepticism toward the practice had sometimes disadvantaged GOP candidates, as Democrats more often embraced early and absentee ballots. In his Truth Social post, Trump argued that Democrats are 'virtually Unelectable' without mail-in voting. He also said that electronic voting machines are inaccurate and expensive. His remarks followed a recent summit with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin in Alaska. Trump told Fox News that Putin agreed with him that the 2020 election was 'rigged' because of mail-in ballots, quoting Putin as saying, 'Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting.' It remains unclear what language Trump's proposed executive order would contain or how he would attempt to enforce it, given that election administration is largely managed at the state level.
