Texas Makes the First Move in Redistricting Wars
Plus: Warning signs for Democrats.
I’m trying out a new format for the newsletter for days when there’s too much news for one top story. Let me know in the comments what you think. Also: I didn’t send out an afternoon email yesterday… so if you have burning questions for me to answer in my next Q&A column, drop them in the comments as well. Have a great day!
MUTUALLY ASSURED REDISTRICTING
The Texas House of Representatives voted 88-52, along party lines, on Wednesday to approve a new Republican-drawn congressional map that could yield up to five new U.S. House seats for the GOP. The measure now goes to the Texas Senate, and then to Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), who plans to sign it.
Texas’ congressional districts — new and old — ordered by how they voted in the 2024 presidential election. (Graphic by the New York Times) Texas’ new map poised to set off a nationwide flurry of mid-decade redistricting. Next up: California, where the state legislature cannot singlehandedly redraw district lines — that power rests with an independent redistricting commission — but plans to call a statewide referendum for voters to override the commission and approve a new map that would net Democrats up to five seats.
President Trump, who inspired Texas’ redistricting push, is now pressuring Indiana to follow suit, although some local Republicans are pushing back. Trump allies are reportedly considering primary challenges against any Indiana state legislators who don’t fall in line.
Fun fact: As the Congressional Research Service notes, the first example of historical mid-decade redistricting is believed to have taken place in New York, which redrew its congressional district lines in both 1804 and 1808. The practice was relatively common throughout the 1800s, but has been rare since the dawn of the 20th century.
WAR ZONE
As President Trump tries to orchestrate peace talks, Russia is continuing to pummel Ukraine with attacks, including 574 drones and 40 missiles overnight, one of the heaviest bombardments in weeks.
Two claims by the White House — that Russia has agreed to a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky and that Moscow has agreed that the West can offer security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a peace deal — have been publicly contradicted by the Kremlin. Russian officials continue to play down the prospect of a Putin-Zelensky meeting, while insisting that Russia should play a role in any post-war security guarantees for Ukraine, an immediate non-starter for Zelensky and European leaders.
Meanwhile, Israel said Wednesday that it will begin calling up around 60,000 reservists as it moves towards a plan to take over Gaza City. Israel has yet to formally respond to a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas this week.
WARNING SIGNS FOR DEMOCRATS
“Of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party,” the New York Times reports, “Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one between the 2020 and 2024 elections — and often by a lot.”
And that’s not the only warning sign for Democrats to reckon with this week: per Politico, as of the end of June, the Republican National Committee (RNC) had $80 million in the bank — compared to only $15 million for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Exacerbating the party’s cash issues: The DNC has spent more than $15 million this year paying off lingering expenses from Kamala Harris’ campaign.
INSIDE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing for ICE to buy, own, and operate its own fleet of airplanes to deport immigrants, per NBC News. Such a move could potentially double the number of immigrants the agency is able to deport each month; according to the New York Times, the administration deported almost 1,500 people per day in the first week of August, a pace not seen since the Obama era.
President Trump called on Biden-appointed Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to resign Wednesday, after an administration official accused Cook of committing mortgage fraud. (Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, posted documents that appeared to show Cook describing two separate properties as her primary residence, 14 days apart, while seeking mortgages on both.) According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump is considering firing Cook.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is carrying out a massive downsizing, reducing her agency workforce by more than 40% and seeking to slash its budget by more than $700 million annually.
The Justice Department is 0-3 in its attempts to persuade federal judges to unseal grand jury materials related to Jeffrey Epstein.
GOOD NEWS FOR MIKE JOHNSON
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) announced plans this morning to run for Texas Attorney General, seeking to fill the post being vacated by Ken Paxton, who is mounting a primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). Roy, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus, has often been a thorn in the side of House Republican leadership, forcing procedural delays to block bills he views as insufficiently conservative.
ONE INTERESTING GRAPH
The United States has (by far) the highest share of lawmakers over 60 among developed democracies, per a new report by the New America and Protect Democracy think tanks.
ONE WILD STORY
Via The City, a local New York City news outlet:
A former top City Hall advisor and current campaign confidante to Mayor Eric Adams attempted to give money to a reporter from THE CITY following a campaign event in Harlem Wednesday.
The failed payoff — a wad of cash in a red envelope stuffed inside an opened bag of Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion ripple potato chips — was made by Winnie Greco, a longtime Adams ally who resigned last year from her position as the mayor’s liaison to the Asian community after she was targeted in multiple investigations. She resurfaced recently as a consistent presence in his re-election campaign.
“I make a mistake,” Greco said when The City later contacted her, trying to give the money back. “I’m so sorry. It’s a culture thing. I don’t know. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry. I feel so bad right now. I’m so sorry, honey.”
She added in a later call: “Can we forget about this? I try to be a good person. Please. Please. Please don’t do in the news nothing about me… I just wanted to be her friend. I just wanted to have one good friend. It’s nothing.”
I like the format! Organized, short and informative. I like the graphics you choose to use as well. Knowing when to do a deep dive is a skill to have, as a journalist and a reader. Good job, Gabe!
This format would be okay occasionally… say, one (at most two) days a week. I would miss your focus on deeply educating your readership on the nuances of a story. Quality over quantity is your differentiator in the market of journalism.