Aug 20 WATCH: Texas House GOP approves new congressional maps, sending to state Senate By Jim Vertuno, Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Texas Republicans on Wednesday took the first step toward approving new congressional maps that would give their party as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives, spurring what’s likely to be a national battle over redistricting. Continue reading
Aug 19 A Texas Democratic state lawmaker stayed overnight in the Legislature to protest required surveillance By Bill Barrow, Trân Nguyễn, Fernanda Figueroa, John Hanna, Associated Press Her overnight stay stemmed from Republicans in the Texas House requiring returning Democrats to sign what the Democrats called "permission slips," agreeing to around-the-clock surveillance by state Department of Public Safety officers to leave the floor. Continue reading
Aug 18 Watch 5:58 How partisan redistricting battles could decide the next Congress By Lisa Desjardins, Kyle Midura Texas lawmakers are back in session after Democrats returned to the state after leaving to block partisan redistricting. Democrats came back because California is planning its own partisan map to counteract GOP gains in Texas. To discuss how the map… Continue watching
Aug 18 Texas Democrats end redistricting walkout after California Democrats move forward with plans to redraw their map By Associated Press Democratic leaders say they will return for a second special legislative session after seeing California Democratic leaders proceed with plans to redraw their own U.S. House maps to neutralize Republican gains in Texas. Continue reading
Aug 14 Watch 6:15 ‘Stop the insanity’: Texas Democrat urges GOP to end redistricting battle By Geoff Bennett, Kyle Midura Gov. Gavin Newsom threw down the gauntlet Thursday, saying California will move forward to redraw congressional maps in his party's favor if Texas Republicans do the same. Texas Democrats have blocked the plan by walking out on a special session,… Continue watching
Aug 14 WATCH: Newsom announces California is moving ahead on response to Texas redistricting By Michael R. Blood, Trân Nguyễn, Associated Press California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday his state will hold a Nov. 4 special election to seek voter approval of new congressional map drawn to try to win Democrats five more U.S. House seats in 2026. Continue reading
Aug 11 ‘Playing with fire’: Newsom urges Trump to abandon partisan redistricting fight By Bill Barrow, Associated Press Texas Republicans are trying to reconvene the state Legislature to vote on redrawing congressional maps in their party's favor. Continue reading
Aug 11 Judge to hear case on whether Trump violated federal law with National Guard deployment in LA By Janie Har, Olga R. Rodriguez, Associated Press A federal judge will hear arguments on whether military troops deployed by the Trump administration to Los Angeles violated a federal law that bars troops from conducting law enforcement duties within the country. Continue reading
Aug 09 New study shows how climate change is driving wildfire season to start earlier in California By Gavin D. Madakumbura, Alex Hall, The Conversation Parts of California are seeing fire season start more than 10 weeks earlier now than in the 1990s. Two authors of a new study explain how climate warming has been driving this trend and why it's likely to continue. Continue reading
Aug 09 Watch 5:33 ‘When It All Burns’ recounts a historic megafire season with the elite Los Padres Hotshots By John Yang, Claire Mufson The Gifford Fire in Southern California has reached “megafire” status, burning an area bigger than Atlanta. Megafires, which burn more than 100,000 acres, have become increasingly common in recent years. A new book, “When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in… Continue watching