Texas to Take Up Redistricting in Special Session “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the state Legislature will focus on redistricting during a special session later this year, as Republicans look to defend their narrow House majority in 2026,” Politico reports. “The move could potentially reshape the state’s congressional map — which already heavily favors Republicans.” “President…
Month: July 2025
Sen. Thom Tillis Declines to Run for Re-Election
Thom Tillis Will Not Run Again Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has represented North Carolina in Washington for a decade and has clashed with President Donald Trump as recently as Saturday, announced Sunday he will not seek reelection, the Raleigh News and Observer reports. Politico: “Tillis made the announcement after voting ‘no’ on a procedural vote…
“In Florida, ‘Powerful Little Plants’ That Protect From Big Storms”
NY Times: “A curious trend is underway in Southwest Florida. Young red mangroves trees, some with nicknames like Rosie, Penelope and Dingle, are being adopted and raised in backyard gardens, at restaurant host stands, beside bank teller windows and in school classrooms throughout Sanibel Island and the Fort Myers area. Their purpose is an existential…
“Supreme Court Punts Decision on Louisiana Voting Map Until Next Term”
NY Times: “The Supreme Court declined on Friday to weigh in on Louisiana’s contested congressional voting map, instead ordering that new arguments be scheduled during its next term. There was no explanation offered for why the justices did not make a decision or set a date for new arguments. All but one paragraph in the six-page…
“U-Va. president resigns amid Trump administration pressure”
WaPo: “University of Virginia President James E. Ryan resigned Friday, a decision he said he took to try to spare the university a costly fight with the Trump administration amid pressure over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Justice Department officials had previously told Ryan they’d like him to step down, a person familiar with the…
“Environmentalists sue to stop opening of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Everglades”
WaPo: “Two environmental groups on Friday sued to halt the construction of an immigrant detention center in the middle of the Everglades, arguing the state had ignored required ecological reviews. Florida officials have said that they plan to open the facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Republicans, as early next week and that it would hold…
“Rick Perry: I’m dedicating my life to fighting for a psychedelic drug”
WaPo: “I’ve spent most of my adult life in public service — as governor of Texas, U.S. secretary of energy and a proud veteran. And few things have moved me like what I’ve witnessed with a psychedelic drug made from a shrub in Africa. This month, Texas became the first state in the nation to allocate public…
“The Red State Where Republicans Aren’t Afraid of Trump”
The Atlantic: “To outsiders, Kentucky’s politics can be hard to grasp. In some respects, the state is no different than any other Republican stronghold. Outside of the urban centers of Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky is largely rural and conservative. The state has not backed a Democrat for president or for the U.S. Senate since the 1990s….