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Report: California Dems Plot Redistricting Move To Pick Up House Seats

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Casa Rosada (Argentina Presidency of the Nation), CC BY 2.5 AR via Wikimedia Commons

California Democrats have plans to redraw the state’s districts in a long-shot attempt to threaten Republicans’ majority in Congress.

According to California Democrats, the move was prompted by news that Texas might try to redraw its districts to gain more Congressional seats. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has “directed the state Legislature to discuss redistricting in an upcoming special legislative session,” KCRA noted. California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom said of Texas, “They’re playing by a different set of rules.” (RELATED: Trump Eyes Redistricting Blitz To Add 5 More GOP Seats In Texas Before 2026)

On Wednesday, the California Democratic congressional delegation met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and reportedly discussed ideas for gaining even more seats to overturn the perilously slim majority Republicans hold in the House, Punchbowl News reports.

“The games they play aren’t working and the more people get educated on what’s going on, the more they’re going to fight back,” California Assemblymember Leticia Castillo of Riverside, who left the Democratic Party and became a Republican, said of California’s Democrats.

In 2010, California voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 20, a constitutional amendment that stripped politicians of the ability to draw their own districts and instead handed that responsibility to an independent redistricting commission.

But now, California Democrats—led by Governor Gavin Newsom—are exploring ways to claw back that authority, effectively undoing the will of the people. As Punchbowl News reported, Newsom sees two potential paths to tilt the balance of power in his party’s favor.

The first plan would involve Newsom calling a special session of the Democratic supermajority legislature to put a proposition on the ballot that would “pause” or completely eliminate the independent commission’s authority. It would then be up to voters—again—to decide. But Democrats are reportedly weighing whether to sweeten the deal by bundling the measure with conservative-friendly policies like a voter ID requirement, which is broadly popular among Republicans. Critics point out that this could be a costly and deceptive move, as it would require millions in campaign funds to push the message through California’s media markets.

The second strategy would be even more brazen: simply redrawing the maps mid-decade by claiming California’s constitution doesn’t explicitly prohibit it. Newsom himself has called this a “novel legal question,” but it would almost certainly invite a legal battle. Such a move would represent a major break from precedent and an alarming use of loopholes to override voters’ intent.

One potential legal barrier is the Voting Rights Act, which protects majority-minority districts—particularly Latino-majority seats—from being dismantled. Redrawing those lines could dilute minority voting power and ignite a broader constitutional showdown.

Targeted GOP districts that have reportedly been discussed include these GOP Congressmen:

  • Ken Calvert
  • Kevin Kiley
  • Darrell Issa
  • Young Kim
  • David Valadao
  • Doug LaMalfa

“We want our gavels back,” Rep. Mark Takano, who would be the new chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee should Democrats regain the majority in the House, stated. “That’s what this is about.”

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Pam Bondi Fires Jeffrey Epstein Prosecutor

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On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi fired Maurene Comey, a prosecutor with the Southern District of New York who had prosecuted deceased financier and child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Comey, a senior trial counsel, is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired in 2017.

“The reason for her firing was not immediately clear. She did not immediately respond to phone calls and an email seeking comment,” Politico said. “Comey, who had worked in the U.S. attorney’s office for nearly a decade, prosecuted both Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.”

Maurene Comey worked at the SDNY for almost a decade.

Maurene Comey’s termination at the DOJ comes amid an investigation into her father, who posted an image of seashells on a beach arranged to say  “86 47.” Though “86” is restaurant industry lingo for refusing service to a patron or kicking them out of an establishment, many conservatives insisted Comey was calling for the president’s death. Last week, The New York Times reported that the Secret Service had tracked the former FBI director after the incident.

The Justice Department last week released a memo concluding there was no evidence suggesting the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender kept a “client list” to blackmail high-profile individuals. The memo also found no evidence to suggest foul play in Epstein’s death, which had previously been ruled a suicide.

The memo spurred fierce backlash from many Trump supporters, who had long called on the government to release material on Epstein that they argue would expose wrongdoing at the highest level of elite circles.

Trump has brushed aside calls to reveal more information about the Epstein case and has shown increasing frustration when asked about it over the past week.

“You mentioned past supporters when you were talking about the Epstein issue. Does that mean that you’re effectively disowning any supporters who are now calling—” a reporter asked Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

Trump cut off the question and added, “I’ve lost a lot of faith in certain people, yeah, I’ve lost. Because they got duped by the Democrats.”

In a lengthy social media post, which included references to the president’s previous claims about the 2017 Russian election interference probe, Trump blamed Democrats for creating what he called a “scam” and “hoax.”

“Scams and Hoaxes are all the Democrats are good at – It’s all they have – They are no good at governing, no good at policy, and no good at picking winning candidates,” Trump said. He added, “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”

Former CNN Commentator Has ‘Gut Feeling’ Republicans Cheated In 2024 And Plan To Rig 2026 Midterms

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CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

Former CNN commentator Angela Rye revealed that she believed President Donald Trump and the Republicans cheated to win the 2024 election and are planning to do the same in the 2026 midterms.

“I think me and [Tiffany Cross] really might feel a way about telling y’all how many days are left till the midterms because I don’t really know this thing’s going to damn happen,” Rye said on her “Native Land Pod” podcast recently. 

She added, “Even if they are going to happen, are they going to cheat like they did, I still feel like they did, in the 2024 election? I don’t have data. I got a gut feeling, but I’m going to tell you about the Black woman and the Holy Ghost. We be spot on.”

Her podcast co-star and former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross stopped short of outright accusing the 2024 election of being stolen, though she felt that the election may “require some investigation” based on arguments she has heard. (RELATED: MSNBC Rising Star Blames Joe Scarborough For Her Departure)

She agreed with Rye, however, that she didn’t see a point in looking forward to the midterm elections.

“Even if they did, okay it’s here now,” Cross said. “Like what, they’re not going to say ‘okay takesies backsies we stole it.’ Like they have already instituted this authoritarian regime, and I don’t know any post-industrialized country that has come this far into authoritarianism and turned around.” 

She continued, “So why we think all of a sudden we’re going to have free and fair elections in this country for midterms, which we’ve never really had, as Black folks know all too well and, as women know all too well. We’ve never really had that, but we think somehow in 480 days that we’re going to have a better chance at democracy. I just don’t think so.”

Rye’s baseless claims come amid a time when the threat of political violence appears to be reaching a fever pitch.

Democrat lawmakers say their voters are enraged at the lack of ability to counter President Donald Trump‘s agenda, with some sounding the alarm that they could potentially resort to “violence,” Axios reported last week.

The outlet says it spoke to over two dozen House Democrats to measure the temperature of the Democrat base and what it uncovered was red-hot anger and a desire to circumvent the rule of law.

“We’ve got people who are desperately wanting us to do something… no matter what we say, they want [more],” Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) told the outlet.

Another said their constituents are convinced that “civility isn’t working” and that they should prepare for “violence… to fight to protect our democracy.”

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Trump Goes Off On ‘Past Supporters’ Over Epstein Backlash

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    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Yikes…

    President Trump blasted his own supporters who continue to fume over the Jeffrey Epstein files.

    “You mentioned past supporters when you were talking about the Epstein issue. Does that mean that you’re effectively disowning any supporters who are now calling—” a reporter asked Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

    Trump cut off the question and added, “I’ve lost a lot of faith in certain people, yeah, I’ve lost. Because they got duped by the Democrats.”

    In a lengthy social media post, which included references to the president’s previous claims about the 2017 Russian election interference probe, Trump blamed Democrats for creating what he called a “scam” and “hoax.”

    “Scams and Hoaxes are all the Democrats are good at – It’s all they have – They are no good at governing, no good at policy, and no good at picking winning candidates,” Trump said. He added, “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”

    The president made clear he no longer wants the support of those who remain interested in the Epstein investigation.

    By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-epstein-maxwell/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143417695

    “I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country’s history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” Trump said.

    Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have come under fire from conservatives for declining to release the Epstein probe files in their entirety. A new CNN poll shows just 3 percent of the public, and 4 percent of Republicans, are satisfied with the amount of information the government has put out about the Epstein case.

    The Justice Department and FBI last week stated they found no evidence the deceased financier kept a “client list” of associates whom he blackmailed or conspired with to victimize dozens of women.

    House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Bondi should explain the administration’s handling of the case especially after she told Fox News in February that Epstein’s alleged “client list” was “sitting on my desk now to review.”

    In his post, Trump disavowed those who focus on the Epstein story rather than his accomplishments.

    “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!” Trump said.

    Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said he is in favor of Bondi releasing “credible” documents related to the Epstein case. He praised Bondi when it was pointed out that she and other officials have made “inconsistent statements” about the Epstein case in the past.

    “I really think that she’s done very good. She says, I gave you all the credible information. And if she finds any more credible information, she’ll give that too. What more can she do than that? I mean, honestly, what more can she do?” Trump said.

    The president argued there are “bigger problems” than Epstein, like the southern border.

    “She’s got a lot of things she’s working on. And, you know, it’s very sad that somebody can be waylaid, they just get waylaid, but she’s — I think she’s doing a great job,” he said.

    Trump Eyes Redistricting Move To Add 5 More GOP Seats In Texas Before 2026

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      Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

      New districts could cement GOP control for years to come…

      President Donald Trump is pushing Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional map in a bid to add five new GOP-friendly U.S. House seats ahead of the next year’s midterms, according to Punchbowl News and other outlets.

      Texas currently holds 38 House seats — 25 Republican, 13 Democrat. To carve out more red territory, state lawmakers would need to undertake a mid-decade redistricting effort, something rarely attempted. GOP leaders plan to tackle it during a special legislative session starting July 21.

      Critics have called the move a blatant power grab, warning it could dilute Black and Latino voting strength and open the door to racial gerrymandering lawsuits. Some Republicans agree the plan is a legal and political gamble, potentially weakening solid red seats by spreading GOP voters too thin.

      Still, Trump and Governor Greg Abbott remain steadfast — with supporters citing the GOP’s razor-thin House majority and rumblings of a potential blue wave in 2026. For the president, the redistricting effort is a preemptive strike to fortify the party’s grip where it’s strongest.

      Critics argue the state’s 2021 maps already wrung every possible advantage for the GOP. “Crocodile tears,” is how Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones described Democratic outrage, noting the existing lines were carefully engineered to protect Republican incumbents — not expand their reach.

      Jones warned that any map changes would hurt sitting Republicans and carry a serious risk of political blowback, according to The Dallas Morning News:

      “Texas Democrats want Republicans to engage in this redistricting, because they’ll be able to, from a PR perspective, use it to criticize Republicans for trying to stack the deck and change the rules and manipulate the districts for political gain,” Jones said. “But at the same time, those Democrats know that those new districts will actually be more favorable for Texas Democrats than the current districts.”

      Abbott’s redistricting effort was prompted by a letter this week from the Department of Justice, which raised concerns over the legality of four districts in Houston and the Dallas area that have non-white majority populations. All four districts strongly lean sharply to the left, and voters in each district elected Democrats by margins greater than 30 points.

      While Republicans have little left to gain in Dallas or Houston, the GOP sees opportunity in South Texas — where Trump-era gains have reshaped the political map. But redrawing lines there could backfire, potentially making neighboring red districts more competitive for Democrats, who pushed their statewide vote share up to 46% in recent cycles.

      Redistricting expert Michael Li, of NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice, warned the GOP effort could turn into a “dummymander” — a gerrymander that overreaches and ultimately backfires:

      That happened in Arkansas in 2013 after that state’s Democratic-led legislature redrew congressional districts to elect a second Democrat to Washington. Instead, Republicans won all four of the state’s seats and have held them since.

      “When you gerrymander, you’re making a bet that you know what the politics of the future look like,” Li said. “That’s a very hard thing to predict in Texas, because the state is changing so fast.”

      Nevertheless, success could deliver Texas Republicans a crucial edge going into a volatile 2026 cycle. The question is whether the courts — and the electorate — will let it happen.

      Trump Tells Lawmakers He Plans To Fire Jerome Powell ‘Soon’

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      By Federalreserve - https://www.flickr.com/photos/federalreserve/54004811346/, Public Domain,

      President Trump reportedly indicated to Republican lawmakers that he plans to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

      According to Fox News reporter Chad Pergram, Trump asked a group of Republican lawmakers if they think he should fire Powell, and they all agreed he should.

      “Fox has confirmed that President Trump asked a group of House Republicans if he should fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell,” Pergram wrote on X. “Fox is told that that lawmakers agreed he should be fired.”

      Pergram added that a source said Powell’s firing will be coming “soon.”

      Trump has been vocal on not being pleased with Powell. While speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, he said the chairman is doing a “terrible job.” When asked if he’d appoint him to another term, the president answered, “You must be kidding!”

      However, President Trump later refuted claims that Powell is on the chopping block during a Wednesday White House meeting, saying it’s “highly unlikely.”

      Watch:

      This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

      GOP Congressman Says He Doesn’t Trust Trump’s DOJ

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      A Republican Congressman says he does not trust President Trump’s Justice Department…

      CNN chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju joined anchor Boris Sanchez on Tuesday to discuss the state of play surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case on Capitol Hill when they interviewed GOP Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.)

      “Yeah, this is through a procedural vote, Democrats moving to force this vote to put Republicans on the record. If this were to succeed, it would have required that all documents related to Epstein be on a publicly accessible database within 30 days. That did not happen,” Raju explained, adding:

      This came after the Senate and bipartisan Senate vote did succeed last week calling for the release of those Epstein files. But that separate bill has been stalled in the Senate committee. So it’s unclear exactly whether Congress will assert itself and force this issue. But the Republicans are divided about this. Republican leaders want absolutely nothing to do with this matter.

      The speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, told me yesterday that he is going to defer to the White House on this. John Thune, the Senate majority leader, has not taken really any position on this at all. But members on the right flank of the House GOP and Senate GOP are the ones in particular who are raising the most concerns, including Congressman Tim Burchett, who just told me moments ago, he does not believe what the Justice Department is saying.

      An amendment demanding that President Donald Trump’s administration release all files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was shot down by Republicans on the House Rules Committee on Monday.

      The amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), was rejected by every Republican present during the vote except Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who voted with Democrats in favor of demanding that the Trump administration release the Epstein files.

      Khanna’s amendment would have required U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to “retain, preserve, and compile any records or evidence related to any investigation, prosecution, or incarceration of Jeffrey Epstein,” and to “release and publish any records or evidence” on a “publicly accessible website” within 30 days.

      Raju then played a clip of his exchange with Burchett, beginning with him asking, “Should there be investigation or special counsel investigation?”

      “I don’t know. I’m not an attorney. Find them guilty and hang them publicly. I mean, that’s not over the top either. I’m ready. I’m over it. It disgusts me. I’m big on clarity and transparency, and that’s a good reason people don’t trust government, either party,” Burchett replied.

      “But you don’t believe what the Justice Department is saying?” pressed Raju.

      “I don’t know. No, I don’t. I think I don’t. I don’t trust them,” Burchett concluded.

      “And that reference to the Justice Department memo that said that Jeffrey Epstein was indeed murdered and that there was no client list here, or that he was not murdered and that there was no client list, as some of those on the folks on the far right have suggested here. But there’s also no indication, Boris, that there will be an investigation into this on Capitol Hill. The Senate, the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jim Jordan, told reporters earlier today that he has confidence in President Trump and his handling of this matter,” concluded Raju.

      Watch:

      On Tuesday, Rep. Tim Burchett just formally called on Oversight Chair James Comer to allow Ghislaine Maxwell to testify in front of Congress on the Epstein situation.

      Former Jan. 6 Committee Lawyer Running for Congress in Trump District

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        An uphill bid…

        Robin Peguero, who served as investigative counsel for the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is launching a bid to unseat Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) in Florida.

        “It’s time for us to write a new story for South Florida — one where hard-working families stop being forced to choose between making rent or seeing a doctor, where small businesses have access to resources and tax relief, and where we no longer get squeezed by corporations and billionaires while politicians like María Elvira Salazar do their bidding,” Peguero said in a statement on Tuesday announcing his candidacy. 

        “Miami deserves a representative in the House who fights for them. That’s the leader I’ll be.”

        Peguero is the latest Democrat to enter the race to take on the Florida Republican. Former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, accountant Alex Fornino and businessman Richard Lamondin have also launched bids on the Democratic side to take on Salazar. 

        The Florida Republican handily won her last election in November against Democrat Lucia Baez-Geller by more than 20 points. President Trump won the district last year by close to 15 points, according to The Downballot.

        The seat is one of 35 held by House Republicans that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it plans to target in the 2026 midterms.

        The list, which the DCCC called its Districts in Play, includes Alaska Rep. Nick Begich (R); Arizona Reps. David Schweikert (R), Eli Crane (R) and Juan Ciscomani (R); California Reps. David Valadao (R), Young Kim (R) and Ken Calvert (R); Colorado Rep. Gabe Evans (R); and Florida Reps. Cory Mills (R), Anna Paulina Luna (R) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R).

        The committee is also targeting Iowa Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R), Ashley Hinson (R) and Zach Nunn (R); the open seat in Kentucky’s sixth congressional district; Michigan Reps. Bill Huizenga (R) and Tom Barrett (R); the open seat in Michigan’s 10th congressional district; Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner (R); Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon (R); New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R); and New York Rep. Mike Lawler (R ).

        The final names on the list are Ohio Reps. Max Miller (R), Mike Turner (R) and Mike Carey (R); Pennsylvania Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R), Ryan Mackenzie (R), Rob Bresnahan (R) and Scott Perry (R); Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles (R); Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R); Virginia Rep. Rob Wittman (R); and Wisconsin Reps. Bryan Steil (R) and Derrick Van Orden (R).

        Trump Accuses Adam Schiff Of Mortgage Fraud

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        Photo via Gage Skidmoer Flickr

        On Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump accused former impeachment leader Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif) of committing mortgage fraud.

        “I have always suspected Shifty Adam Shiff (sic) was a scam artist,” Trump wrote. He then claimed that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division had determined that Schiff had improperly declared a Maryland home as his primary residence to secure better mortgage terms, despite representing California in Congress.

        “Adam Schiff said that his primary residence was in MARYLAND to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America, when he must LIVE in CALIFORNIA,” Trump alleged, before outlining what he described as a fraudulent timeline beginning in 2009 and ending in 2020.

        According to Trump’s post, the alleged “fraud” began on February 6, 2009, with the refinancing of a property in Maryland, and continued “through multiple transactions” until October 13, 2020, when the property was finally “correctly designated as a second home.” He concluded the post with a familiar refrain: “Crooked Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice.”

        As of Tuesday morning, no independent confirmation of such an investigation has been reported.

        Schiff’s ownership of the Maryland property was reported on during his Senate campaign by CNN, which at the time reported that the then-House member wasn’t likely to face any legal repercussions because the law at issue is ambiguous when it comes to the definition of a primary residence.

        However, Schiff’s spokesperson during the campaign and his current press secretary, told CNN last year that he has claimed both his properties as primary residences for mortgage purposes “because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property.”

        The animosity between Trump and Schiff has been swirling for year and dates back to at least 2017, when the California lawmaker emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal critics during the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Schiff later served as the lead impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2020, drawing attacks from the former president, who routinely referred to him as “Pencil Neck” and “Shifty Schiff.”

        Supreme Court Rules On Education Department Layoffs

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        Duncan Lock, Dflock, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

        The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Education Department to fire half of its workforce on Monday, a move that advances President Donald Trump’s plans to dismantle the department.

        The high court’s decision in McMahon v. State of New York was issued 6-3 along ideological lines.

        It arose from a lawsuit brought by 20 Democrat-led states, who asked the court to halt the Education Department’s plans to lay off half of its employees and eventually shutter altogether.

        This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.