🚨 Republicans pull 11TH HOUR STUNT to rig midterms
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- âť–Utah Republicans enacted a last-minute law to invalidate signature revocations on a ballot measure if they were sent in prepaid envelopes, a tactic to undermine fair maps.
- âť–This move is part of a multi-year effort by Utah Republicans to gerrymander districts, particularly targeting Salt Lake City, after losing court battles and facing issues with a ballot measure.
- âť–The hosts argue that the concept of 'moderate Republicans' is a misnomer, citing examples of politicians who, despite their moderate image, support or enable anti-democratic measures.
- âť–Key redistricting battles are ongoing in Virginia (potential 4-seat gain for Democrats), Florida (Ron DeSantis planning special session), Texas (Republican gains potentially failing), and California (Democrats potentially gaining 5 seats).
- âť–The outcome of these redistricting fights will significantly influence the control of the House in upcoming cycles.
Insights
1Utah's Legislative Stunt to Invalidate Signature Revocations
In the final moments of their legislative session, Utah Republicans passed a provision stating that any signature revocation for a ballot measure arriving in a prepaid envelope is invalid. This targets efforts by opponents of a gerrymandering ballot measure who were providing prepaid envelopes to voters who wished to revoke their signatures, often after being misled about the petition's true intent.
Republicans put a provision in the law that says that any revocation that comes in a prepaid envelope is not valid. ()
2The Myth of the 'Moderate Republican'
The hosts contend that 'moderate Republicans' are largely a myth, arguing that individuals often perceived as moderate, such as Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Brad Raffensperger (Georgia), and Susan Collins (Maine), ultimately support or enable policies aligned with the MAGA agenda. They suggest that Republicans in office are either 'scared MAGA' or 'proud MAGA,' with the former being more deceptive.
We're told that Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, is this raging moderate... Well, he's in on this. He signed this bill. () The only kind of Republicans in office today, they're either scared MAGA or they're proud MAGA. ()
3Ongoing Redistricting Battles and Their Impact on House Control
Significant redistricting litigation and legislative efforts are ongoing in several states, including Virginia, Florida, Texas, and California. In Virginia, a ballot measure could gain Democrats four seats. Florida's Governor DeSantis is planning a special session for map redrawing. In Texas, initial Republican expectations of gaining five seats are being challenged by primary election turnout, while California Democrats are projected to win all five seats they gained through redistricting.
The biggest fights in front of us are going to be in Virginia and in Florida. Virginia because Democrats are early voting has begun... would gain Democrats four seats... Florida, Ronda Santis is planning a special session for next month to start the process of redrawing maps. () I don't think anyone thinks now that Republicans will gain five seats in Texas. I don't think anyone thinks... Democrats are going to win all those five seats in California. ()
Lessons
- Share information about anti-democratic legislative maneuvers and redistricting efforts on social media and with personal networks to raise awareness.
- Subscribe to independent media outlets like Democracy Docket and Brian Tyler Cohen's channel for in-depth coverage of election integrity and redistricting issues.
- Critically evaluate politicians labeled as 'moderate' and hold them to the same standards as other political figures, recognizing that their actions may align with broader partisan agendas.
Quotes
"What Republicans in Utah are doing is they're waging this war over fair maps. They tried to invalidate the fair maps in court. They tried to pass laws to invalidate fair maps. They want to break up Salt Lake City into, you know, a million little pieces... to gerrymander so the Democrats can't win."
"Literally in the final moments, the final moments of their state legislative session, they put a provision in the law that says that any revocation that comes in a prepaid envelope is not valid."
"Here's the deal. The only kind of Republicans in office today, they're either scared MAGA or they're proud MAGA. The proud MAGA tell you upfront what they're going to be and who they are. And in some ways, I respect that more. The scared MAGA are the ones who won't tell you to your face that they're just part of MAGA, but then pull this kind of stunt."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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