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The Latest: Interest rates are central to Trump’s continuing feud with Fed chair Powell
President Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington on Thursday. He publicly scorned Fed chairman Jerome Powell over the costs of a long-planned, roughly $2.5 billion renovation project. The Department of Agriculture will move about 2,600 workers — more than half its workforce in the capital — in a reorganization the agency says will put them closer to customers while saving money. The union representing federal workers criticized it as a ploy to cut jobs, pointing out that some 95% of the department’s employees already work outside Washington. A former DOJ prosecutor who handled high-profile Capitol riot cases sues over his firing claims that his recent firing was politically motivated retribution for his work on prosecuting Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He and two other former employees — Patricia Hartman and Joseph Tirrell — are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Thursday against the Department of Justice, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Executive Office of the President. It follows a workforce reduction of more than 15,000 department-wide this year through voluntary retirements.
President Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington on Thursday, where he publicly scorned Fed chairman Jerome Powell over the costs of a long-planned, roughly $2.5 billion renovation project, and sparred with Powell, who challenged the president’s latest price tag as incorrect.
Trump has previously indicated that Powell’s handling of the extensive renovation project on two agency buildings could be grounds for firing. But on Thursday, when asked if the rising costs of the Fed’s renovation was a “fireable offense,” Trump said, “I don’t want to put this in that category.”
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Trump has criticized and threatened to fire Powell for months for keeping the short-term interest rate the Fed controls at 4.3% after cutting it three times last year. Powell says the Fed wants to see how the economy responds to Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports, which Powell says could push up inflation. If Trump were to undermine the Fed’s independence, it could reduce the Fed’s ability to calm financial markets and stabilize the U.S. economy.
Here’s the latest:
Trump’s USDA to scatter half its Washington staff to field offices. Critics see a ploy to cut jobs
The Department of Agriculture will move about 2,600 workers — more than half its workforce in the capital — in a reorganization the agency says will put them closer to customers while saving money.
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The employees will be moved to five hubs from North Carolina to Utah, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who said Thursday in a statement that “it is long past time the department better serve the great and patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we are mandated to support.”
The union representing federal workers criticized it as a ploy to cut jobs, pointing out that some 95% of the department’s employees already work outside Washington.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, demanded that department officials appear before lawmakers to explain the “half-baked proposal.”
The USDA expects the plan to take several months. It follows a workforce reduction of more than 15,000 department-wide this year through voluntary retirements.
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DOJ prosecutor who handled high-profile Capitol riot cases sues over his firing
Michael Gordon ’s lawsuit claims that his recent firing was politically motivated retribution for his work on prosecuting Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
He and two other former employees — Patricia Hartman and Joseph Tirrell — are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Thursday against the Department of Justice, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Executive Office of the President.
Gordon, 47, said he received a performance review two days before his firing and got the highest rating. His one-page termination letter, signed by Bondi, did not specify any reasons for his dismissal.
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Gordon said he is proud to have played a part in the largest investigation in Justice Department history.
“We did what was right for the right reasons, without fear or favor,” Gordon told AP this week. “I didn’t lose my job for breaking the law. I lost it for enforcing it.”
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.
Dozens of department attorneys have been fired, demoted or forced out or have quit since Trump returned to the White House. Gordon, Hartman and Tirrell appear to be the first to sue.
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Trump celebrates Australia’s announcement that it will reduce restrictions on US beef imports
“Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that U.S. Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World,” the president said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep the country free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, would not compromise biosecurity.
“Australia stands for open and free trade — our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this,” Collins said in a statement.
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The Trump administration has called the decision a major victory over “non-scientific trade barriers,” and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins congratulated the president on a “major trade breakthrough that gives greater access to U.S. beef producers selling to Australia.”
Trump backs Whatley for Senate seat from North Carolina
“Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,” the president posted on his Truth Social platform Thursday night.
“So, should Michael Whatley run for the Senate, please let this notification represent my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump added.
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Whatley is chairman of the national Republican Party. Earlier in the day, Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, passed on seeking the open seat in 2026.
Democrats see the race as their top chance to flip a seat in the midterm elections as they try to regain control of the Senate. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis recently made a surprise announcement that he would not run for a third term after clashing with Trump.
The White House wants more states to redraw House maps to help GOP. Democrats are readying a fight
The White House is eyeing redistricting efforts beyond Texas to help Republicans in 2026 — and Democrats are preparing to escalate in response.
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What’s shaping up to be a multistate redistricting battle could mark the opening round for House control ahead of next year’s midterms, when Democrats see retaking the House as the party’s best chance to break Republicans’ hold on Congress and Trump is determined to keep the GOP’s majority.
Democrats, under pressure from their base to match GOP tactics, have grown more forceful in their messaging and are taking concrete steps to push back, even as the party enters at a disadvantage.
“If they’re going to go nuclear, then so am I,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin. “They’re forcing us into this position because they’re trying to pick their voters.”
▶ Read more about the redistricting fight
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US and Mexico sign accord to combat Tijuana River sewage flowing across the border
The agreement outlines specific steps, funds and a timetable to clean up the longstanding problem of the Tijuana River pouring sewage across the border and polluting California beaches.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and his Mexican counterpart Alicia Bárcena signed the memorandum of understanding Thursday.
Under the agreement, Zeldin said, Mexico will complete its allocation of $93 million toward completing infrastructure projects. Mexico also will adhere to a specific schedule.
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Billions of gallons of sewage and toxic chemicals from Tijuana have polluted the Pacific Ocean off neighboring Southern California over the years, closing beaches and sickening people.
Administration appeals to Supreme Court to allow $783 million in research-funding cuts
The Trump administration made the appeal Thursday as part of its push to roll back federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
The Justice Department argued that a federal judge in Massachusetts was wrong to block the National Institutes of Health from making the $783 million in cuts to align with the president’s priorities.
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U.S. District Judge William Young found that the abrupt cancellations ignored long-held government rules and standards.
Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, also said the cuts amounted to “racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community.”
The ruling came in lawsuits by 16 attorneys general, public-health advocacy groups and some affected scientists. His decision addressed only a small fraction of the hundreds of NIH research projects that have been cut.
The administration’s appeal also takes aim at nearly two dozen cases over funding.
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Venezuelan sent to El Salvador by Trump administration says he was beaten by prison guards there
Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel, 27, has taken the first step toward suing the government, saying he was wrongly sent to El Salvador and held in the notorious prison, where he was beaten and kept from contacting family or an attorney.
Leon Rengel, 27, filed a $1.3 million claim with the Department of Homeland Security, his attorneys said Thursday.
He is one of over 250 migrants from Venezuela who were sent to El Salvador in March after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
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Immigration agents took Leon Rengel into custody March 13 in the parking lot of his apartment in Irving, Texas, wrongly saying his tattoos reflected an affiliation with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, according to his claim.
He entered the U.S. in 2023, worked as a barber and was scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in 2028.
Homeland Security alleged via email that Leon Rengel entered illegally and is a “confirmed associate” of Tren de Aragua, though without saying how it reached that conclusion.
▶ Read more about the case
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Trump administration sues New York over ‘sanctuary city’ policies
The lawsuit argues that the policies are obstructing the government from enforcing immigration law and contributed to the recent shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
It is the latest in a series of complaints brought by the Justice Department targeting state or city policies seen as interfering with immigration enforcement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi accused New York of releasing “thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies.”
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“If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will,” Bondi said in a statement.
Kayla Mamelak Aluts, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, said the mayor “supports the essence” of the city’s policies but has urged the City Council “to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to make our city safer” when it comes to dealing with “violent criminals.”
“So far, the Council has refused,” she added.
DOJ’s No. 2 official says Ghislaine Maxwell interview to continue Friday
“The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said via the social platform X.
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That came after he met Thursday with Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The meeting is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following backlash from parts of Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional Epstein records.
A lawyer for Maxwell said she “answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.” David Oscar Markus said the meeting was “very productive” but declined to comment on “the substance.”
Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
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Iran says it’s ready for nuclear talks with the US but only if Washington rebuilds trust
That’s according to social media comments by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Thursday, ahead of a key meeting with European officials.
It will be the first meeting since a ceasefire was reached after a 12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw U.S. B-52 bombers strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.
The discussions will bring together officials from Iran, Britain, France and Germany and include the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. A similar meeting was held in May.
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Gharibabadi said that for talks with the U.S. to take place, “several key principles” must be upheld.
Those include “rebuilding Iran’s trust — as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States,” he said, adding that there can be no room “for hidden agendas such as military action, though Iran remains fully prepared for any scenario.”
▶ Read more about Iran’s conditions
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump can represent himself at trial
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off on Ryan Routh’s request but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. The federal public defenders had asked this week to be taken off the case, saying Routh refused repeated attempts to meet with him.
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Routh said during Thursday’s hearing that his attorneys were diligent but did not listen to and were afraid of him.
“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said.
Routh, 59, is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted assassination, assault on a federal officer and several firearm violations.
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FCC approves Paramount’s $8 billion deal with Skydance
The approval comes after months of turmoil around Trump’s legal battle with “60 Minutes,” the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS.
With the specter of the administration potentially blocking the hard-fought deal with Skydance, Paramount agreed this month to pay a $16 million settlement with the president.
Critics called that a veiled a bribe to appease Trump, amid rising alarm over editorial independence overall.
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Further outrage emerged after CBS said it was canceling Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” days after the comedian sharply criticized the settlement on air. Paramount cited financial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned its motives.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the merger is an opportunity to bring more balance to what he called a “once-storied” CBS network.
“Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change,” Carr said in a statement.
Trump’s AI and data center plan could speed up building boom already expected to strain US’ ability to power it
The plan is to boost AI and build data centers across the country. The White House has vowed to expedite permitting for construction of data centers and reconsider environmental regulations that stand as barriers for development.
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Massive amounts of electricity are needed to support AI. In many cases that may come from burning coal or natural gas.
Tech companies are tapping into nuclear power as a way to reduce data center-induced emissions while still meeting demand and staying competitive. But emerging demand is so big that it cannot be met with nuclear or clean energy alone.
Regardless of what powers AI, the simple law of supply and demand makes it all but certain that costs for consumers will rise.
▶ Read more about the administration’s AI and data center plan
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Nancy Pelosi says Democrats ‘fully intend’ to win back the House
The former speaker said “everything is on the table” as House Democrats work to counter Trump’s redistricting push in Texas with their own plans to redraw congressional maps in California. The San Francisco Democrat believes her home state could pick up more seats for her party.
“We fully intend to win the House in this next election, there’s no question about that,” Pelosi told AP in an interview.
“I don’t like redistricting in the middle of a decade,” she said, but if that’s what the party needs “to win, we will do that. Everything is on the table.”
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California Democrats discussed the matter issue during a private meeting Wednesday, and Pelosi joined an emergency call the following day with others in the state.
Pelosi also said Democrats are mobilizing against Republicans for passing Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill: “They know they’re going to lose, because their policies are so bad. It is a stinking, lousy, rotten bill.”
DOJ’s No. 2 official meets with Ghislaine Maxwell
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has met with Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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The meeting is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following backlash from parts of Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional Epstein records.
A lawyer for Maxwell said she “answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.” David Oscar Markus said the meeting was “very productive” but declined to comment on “the substance.”
On Tuesday, Blanche said in a social media post that Trump “has told us to release all credible evidence” and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and DOJ “will hear what she has to say.”
Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
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White House deputy chief of staff says Fed chair was ‘splitting hairs’ over the cost of renovations
James Blair said budget officials still have questions about the costs of renovations at the Fed’s headquarters. “There’s no way around it, the cost overrun is massive,” he told reporters.
Trump visited the Fed on Thursday in an attempt to publicly shame Jerome Powell, its chair, over the renovation costs. When Trump said they had increased from $2.5 billion to $3.1 billion, Powell said the president was including work on a separate Fed building.
“We still want to get to the bottom of the plans that were submitted and how they have changed,” Blair said.
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Institute of Peace’s request for full appellate court hearing is denied
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected the the request for a hearing of the full court on lifting the stay of a three-judge panel last month.
The institute said in a statement that would put its efforts into winning its case before the three-judge panel and “regain control of the organization and its assets — including its headquarters — and to fulfill its congressionally mandated mission.”
In March, the Department of Government Efficiency took over the headquarters of the 300-employee institute and its board and acting president were fired, part of a government downsizing under a Trump executive order.
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A district judge overturned those actions in May, and the institute, which focuses on peace initiatives and conflict resolution around the world, regained control of its headquarters.
The appeals court stayed Howell’s ruling June 27 and forced the turnover of the headquarters for a third time.
Trump on the cost of renovations at Federal Reserve HQ: ‘It is what it is’
The president made the comment on his Truth Social platform after visiting the central bank and attempting to publicly shame Fed Chair Jerome Powell over renovation costs. Still, he said, he hopes the project is finished “ASAP.”
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“The cost overruns are substantial but, on the positive side, our Country is doing very well and can afford just about anything — Even the cost of this building!” the president said.
Trump said he hopes to lend his expertise to the project, citing his experience renovating the Old Post Office building.
US envoy meets with Syria and Israel on de-escalation
Trump’s special envoy to Syria says he met with representatives from Syria and Israel to discuss de-escalation and “we accomplished precisely that.”
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Tom Barrack, who is also U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said on social media that the parties met in Paris on Thursday and committed to further those efforts.
Israel intervened during the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, which the White House said this week caught Trump off guard.
Barrack told AP this week that Israel’s actions were poorly timed and complicated efforts to stabilize the region following years of civil war in Syria.
Trump has sought to support Syria’s new government.
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College industry group rejects Columbia deal as a roadmap
A higher education industry group is rejecting the Trump administration’s suggestion that its deal with Columbia University can be a roadmap for other colleges facing federal investigations.
Columbia said Wednesday that it agreed to pay more than $220 million to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.
Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, said the deal “cannot be a template for the government’s approach to American higher education.”
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“Columbia was put in an untenable position by the outrageous actions of the executive branch of the government,” he said.
▶ Read more about Trump and higher education
Trump signs executive order seeking to clarify college athletes’ employment status
The order addresses whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools and aims to clarify national standards for the NCAA’s name, image and likeness program.
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The decision follows a surge in money flowing through college athletics and court victories for athletes seeking compensation. In 2021 the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from NIL deals after a Supreme Court ruling against its restrictions.
The shift has led to schools paying athletes directly and sparked debates over collective bargaining and labor laws. The NCAA continues to push for antitrust protections, even amid these changes.
▶ Read more about the executive order and NIL
Trump signs bill to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid, public broadcasting funding
President Donald Trump signed a bill Thursday canceling about $9 billion that had been approved for public broadcasting and foreign aid as Republicans look to lock in cuts to programs targeted by the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency.
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The bulk of the spending being clawed back is for foreign assistance programs. About $1.1 billion was destined for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR and PBS, though most of that money is distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country.
The White House had billed the legislation as a test case for Congress and said more such rescission packages would be on the way.
▶ Read more about budget cuts
Trump says Fed spending too much money to protect historic features in renovation
The president said the Federal Reserve spent too much money on plywood to protect the historic features of its central bank.
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“It’s a very luxurious situation taking place,” Trump told reporters. “Let’s put it that way.”
Trump said his goal is to get the renovation project done. He noted that it was a very expensive project with building underground parking lots and opening up the basement, causing the Fed to build a “reverse bathtub.”
Trump said he didn’t want to put Powell in a situation of being fired, but he said his renovation of the Old Post Office in Washington into a hotel with its marble bathrooms only cost $200 million. The Fed renovations are expected to cost roughly $2.5 billion.
Trump scorns Powell in meeting over Federal Reserve construction spending
Trump sought to publicly shame Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the cost of renovating the central bank’s headquarters, suggesting that the cost was $3.1 billion instead of the $2.5 billion cited by the Fed.
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“This came from us?” Powell said, later figuring out that Trump was including the renovation of the Martin Building that was finished five years ago.
“Do you expect any more additional cost overruns?” Trump asked.
“Don’t expect them,” Powell said.
Trump said in his career as a real estate developer he would fire someone for cost overruns.
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The president joked that he would back off Powell if he lowered interest rates.
Trump says he’ll meet with Fed Chair Jerome Powell as part of construction site tour
Trump has lambasted the Federal Reserve for its $2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters and another building ahead of a Thursday tour of the site.
He posted on Truth Social that Jerome Powell, the chair of the U.S. central bank, will also be “present” to an event in which the president is expected to attack the cost of the project. Trump has been publicly pressuring Powell to cut interest rates and has tried to pillory him on social media.
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Also attending the site tour are Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., White House budget director Russ Vought and Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
White House looking to push redistricting beyond Texas
Talk about mid-decade redistricting has been centered around Texas, but the White House signals it’s looking at other states, too.
Officials are looking to redraw lines in states like Missouri, according to a person familiar with conversations but unauthorized to speak publicly about them.
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Texas’ Republican-controlled legislature convened a special session this week with the aim of considering House district maps in ways that favor their party in next year’s midterm elections.
State Dept. remains mum on what ‘alternative options’ US will use for Israeli hostage release after breakdown in talks
At a news briefing Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott would not offer details on what the “alternative options” the U.S. is considering to release hostages in Gaza after Trump envoy announced a breakdown in negotiations.
When pressed for clarity on whether and how the U.S. would proceed, Pigott did not offer clarity and said, “This is a very dynamic situation.”
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He said there’s never been a question of the U.S. commitment to reaching a ceasefire, but Hamas’ commitment.
Journalists get rare tour of Fed building renovations before Trump visit
On Thursday, reporters wound through cement mixers, front loaders, and plastic pipes as they got a close-up view of the active construction site that encompasses the Fed’s historic headquarters.
Fed staff pointed out new blast-resistant windows and seismic walls that were needed to comply with modern building codes and security standards set out by the Department of Homeland Security.
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Sensitivity to the president’s visit later Thursday among Fed staff was high during the tour. Reporters were ushered into a small room outside the Fed’s boardroom, where 19 officials meet eight times a year to decide whether to change short-term interest rates. The room is oval-shaped, and someone had written “oval office” on plywood walls.
The Fed staff downplayed the inscription as a joke. When reporters returned to the room later, it had been painted over.
Democrats rally at Texas Capitol as GOP pushes forward with redistricting plans
Texas lawmakers are taking public testimony about plans to redraw the state’s congressional districts. The move comes after the Department of Justice claimed four districts in the Houston and Fort Worth areas are unconstitutionally drawn along racial lines. Critics are calling the effort a political power play aimed at expanding GOP control in the 2026 midterms. Republicans hope the effort produces more support for the Trump administration in Congress, while Democrats are sounding the alarm and calling it a power grab. The House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting was still hearing hours of testimony Thursday afternoon.
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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers are taking public testimony Thursday about plans to redraw the state’s congressional districts after Governor Abbott quickly added redistricting to the special session. The move comes after the Department of Justice claimed four districts in the Houston and Fort Worth areas are unconstitutionally drawn along racial lines, though critics are calling the effort a political power play aimed at expanding GOP control in the 2026 midterms.
The House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting was still hearing hours of testimony Thursday afternoon. Republicans hope the effort produces more support for the Trump administration in Congress, while Democrats are sounding the alarm and calling it a power grab.
Democrats and activist groups rallied at the Texas State Capitol against GOP efforts to redraw congressional district maps. Party leaders say Democrats should use every strategy to oppose it, including leaving the state to bring the capitol to a halt.
“Donald Trump is trying to rig the next election,” said Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat from Austin.
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke addressed the crowd, saying, “Let’s show this country what it looks like to stand, to fight and to win.”
People attending the rally expressed concerns that redrawing maps could disenfranchise their vote. Belinda Vaca from Buda explained her presence at the rally: “Because the injustice I saw, like my sign says… fair maps, equals fair votes.”
Alexandria Anderson from Austin emphasized the broader impact.
“I think this is the time for Texans to get up and have a voice and stand in solidarity with the individuals, even though this may not be affecting your district, it’s going to affect us all,” Anderson said.
Inside the Capitol, the House Select Committee on Redistricting took testimony, with Republicans remaining focused on moving forward with Governor Abbott’s call for redrawing maps and not pushing back on the assertion that redrawing maps would benefit President Trump.
“I think whether or not there needs to be midcycle redistricting is a matter of opinion,” said Rep. Cody Vasut, a Republican from Angleton.
Texas lawmakers begin controversial redistricting process
The House Select Committee on Redistricting opened its first hearing of the Special Session on Thursday afternoon with 9 votes, essentially all but confirmed as “No” votes. Democrats call it a power grab and Republicans consider it a fair opportunity to gain seats in Congress. Redrawing the lines now, in theory, could increase the number of seats held by Republicans which Democrats oppose. A new map could reduce the GOP advantage in several districts, making more competitive races and providing possible opportunities to flip seats for Democrats. A proposed map is not expected to be made public until Saturday. The hearing is the first of three hearings on a plan to re-draw congressional districts in Texas. More committee hearings are set for next week and a vote on the plan is expected by the end of the month. There is a deadline of December to draw a new map. There are a few Democrat states that are filing their election process much later, much later. Our deadline is a few months away here in Texas, but there are other states that have been talking about and doing this very same thing.
One of the big hot-button issues for the Texas Special Session got its first hearing on Thursday.
Gov. Abbott has called on state lawmakers to re-draw congressional lines, which has sparked protests from state and national democrats.
Democrats call it a power grab and Republicans consider it a fair opportunity to gain seats in Congress.
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Redistricting hearing
On Thursday, state lawmakers held the first of three hearings on a plan to re-draw congressional districts in Texas.
The House Select Committee on Redistricting opened its first hearing of the Special Session on Thursday afternoon with 9 votes, essentially all but confirmed as “No” votes. Of the 21 members, 9 are Democrats.
“I’m insulted, I’m concerned, and I’m wondering why must we do this? And what I’m hoping, and this is to the entire committee, let’s not allow the White House to put its arms into Texas and divide our community. It’s wrong, it should not happen, and we want to make sure, that our legislators know this is wrong, and we will not stand by and just let it occur,” said State Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins (D) San Antonio in a opening statement at the hearing.
Texas has 38 Congressional Districts, with 13 considered to be Democrat strongholds. Redrawing the lines now, in theory, could increase the number of seats held by Republicans which Democrats oppose.
Several familiar Democrat faces were seen at a protest rally that took place before Thursday’s committee hearing. Former Congressman Robert “Beto” O’Rourke, spoke at the rally and said the move by President Trump was similar to the rise of Adolph Hitler.
“And if he holds this election in 2026 and nothing changes in the system or the map before then, he will lose this power, and we will finally have a check on him,” said O’Rourke.
Congressman Greg Casar also made political accusations and also took note of supporters of Palestine who were also at the gathering.
“I believe the United States should stop funding Netanyahu and Trump’s plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza. And as we go to save lives in the U.S. in Gaza, across the world, we need to restore a full democracy here in the U.S. And that’s what we’re doing right here, right now,” said Congressman Casar.
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Round Rock Democrat James Talarico, who is considering running for the US Senate, also condemned the re-districting process.
“This is the rot at the core of our broken political system. Politicians picking their voters instead of voters picking their politicians. In any other industry, this would be called a conflict of interest. But in politics, it’s business as usual. It’s why I filed a bill to take the power to draw political maps out of the hands of politicians and put it in the hands of the Texans we seek to represent,” said Rep. Talarico.
Both political parties have used redistricting to gain an edge in Texas elections for decades. This current political fight was triggered after a court ruling against what’s called “Coalition Districts”, where voting boundaries are set by counting different smaller minority groups as one large set.
Four Texas districts, in Dallas and Houston, held by Democrats, were cited as justification for a re-write. But they are not included in a long list of districts the house committee is considering to re-draw. That brought this question from committee member Gene Wu.
“I’m personally very confused about why exactly we are here doing this,” said State Rep. Gene Wu (D) Houston.
Governor Greg Abbott, in a recent interview with FOX 4 reporter Steven Dial, defended his decision to put re-districting in his Special Session call.
” Don’t think that Texas is the only state that’s doing this. Texas is first in line because our primaries are earlier. Our filing deadline is a few months away here in December. There are other states that are Democrat states across the country where their election process begins much later, who have been talking about and doing this very same thing,” said Gov. Abbott.
Democratic committee members called several witnesses during the hearing. Some pointed out that last year Republicans supported the current Congressional map and claimed it was “race neutral.”
Redrawing Congressional lines comes with some risk for Republicans. A new map could reduce the GOP advantage in several districts, making races more competitive, and providing possible opportunities to flip seats for Democrats.
A proposed congressional map is not expected to be made public until all the hearings are held. The next committee meeting is in Houston on Saturday, and then Monday in Arlington.
The White House wants more states to redraw House maps to help GOP. Democrats are readying a fight
The White House is eyeing redistricting efforts beyond Texas to help Republicans hold the U.S. House in 2026. Democrats are preparing to escalate in response, with one senator vowing to go “nuclear’ if needed. At Trump’s urging, Texas Republicans are looking to redraw congressional maps to favor GOP candidates during a 30-day special legislative session that started this week. Trump officials are now going beyond just Texas, looking toRedistricting efforts in other states such as Missouri, according to a person familiar with conversations but unauthorized to speak publicly about them. More of the states the party controls do not allow elected partisans to draw maps, instead entrusting groups such as independent commissions to draw fair lines.“Two can play this game,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic contender for president in 2028, said on social media in response to the redistricting push. “What I’m going to say is, all is fair in love and war,’ New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is eyeing redistricting efforts beyond Texas to help Republicans hold the U.S. House in 2026 — and Democrats are preparing to escalate in response, with one senator vowing to go “nuclear” if needed.
What’s shaping up to be a multi-state redistricting battle could mark the opening round for House control ahead of next year’s midterms, when Democrats see retaking the House as the party’s best chance to break Republicans’ hold on Congress and President Donald Trump is determined to keep the GOP’s majority. Democrats, under pressure from their base to match GOP tactics, have grown more forceful in their messaging and are taking concrete steps to push back, even as the party enters at a disadvantage.
“If they’re going to go nuclear, then so am I,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin. “They’re forcing us into this position because they’re trying to pick their voters.”
At Trump’s urging, Texas Republicans are looking to redraw congressional maps to favor GOP candidates during a 30-day special legislative session that started this week. Trump has said he wants to carve out five new winnable GOP seats.
But Trump officials are now going beyond just Texas, looking to redraw lines in other states such as Missouri, according to a person familiar with conversations but unauthorized to speak publicly about them.
Democrats have fewer options. More of the states the party controls do not allow elected partisans to draw maps, instead entrusting groups such as independent commissions to draw fair lines.
Still, party leaders are exploring their legal options and shifting their posture. A party long known for believing it’s on the moral high ground is signaling it’s ready to fight dirty.
“We can’t fight with one hand behind our backs,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters Tuesday.
Democrats explore their own redistricting map plans
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries may have fewer options to match Republicans, but it hasn’t stopped him from exploring them.
Earlier this month, Jeffries’ team spoke with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office about redistricting after the news in Texas, according to a person familiar with the conversations. Drawing new congressional lines now could run afoul of the state constitution and undoubtedly draw legal challenges — but it doesn’t appear to be off the table.
“What I’m going to say is, all is fair in love and war,” Hochul said Thursday, adding that she’s “going to see what our options are.”
“If there’s other states that are violating the rules that are going to try and give themselves an advantage, all I’ll say is I’m going to look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.”
Jeffries and his advisers have also examined legal strategies in other states with Democratic trifectas, including California, where he recently met with the state’s congressional delegation.
“Two can play this game,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic contender for president in 2028, said on social media in response to Trump’s redistricting push.
An independent commission handles redistricting in his state. Newsom has floated the notion of California’s Democratic-controlled legislature doing a mid-decade redistricting, arguing it wouldn’t be expressly forbidden by the 2008 ballot initiative that created the commission. He’s also mentioned the possibility of squeezing in a special election to repeal the popular commission system before the 2026 elections get underway, either of which would be a long shot.
Democrats see redistricting fight as an avenue to pushback
Beyond the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Democrats see the redistricting fight as an opportunity to meet the moment politically — delivering the kind of aggressive pushback their voters have demanded.
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, in a series of social media posts, pushed Democrats to fight back, saying the party should “gerrymander to help Democrats” and arguing they should dilute heavily Democratic districts to secure more seats “everywhere.”
“It’s time for Democrats to understand the existential threat. Republicans aren’t playing around and they will do this as long as it takes to keep power,” he warned.
Gallego later told the Associated Press it’s simply about ensuring “that we’re also fighting back.”
That sentiment has gained traction beyond Congress. Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke said Sunday on CNN that Democrats need to be “to be absolutely ruthless about getting back in power.”
Next month, former President Barack Obama is heading to Martha’s Vineyard for a fundraiser benefitting the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a group that has filed and supported litigation in several states over GOP-drawn districts. Eric Holder, Obama’s former attorney general who chairs the outfit, is expected to attend, along with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to a copy of the invitation first reported by Politico.
The group has been critical of Texas’ efforts, in a release earlier this week accusing Texas Republicans of “following Donald Trump’s orders to try to cheat their way to a House majority because they are terrified of facing voters after taking health care away from millions of Americans and giving a massive tax cut to the wealthy.”
Redrawing maps could be risky for GOP
Redrawing of congressional maps holds risks. During the 2010s, Texas’ GOP-controlled Legislature redrew the congressional map to bolster the party’s majority. But the advantage proved short-lived: in 2018, a backlash to Trump’s presidency helped Democrats flip two seats that Republicans had assumed were safely red.
“There had to be folks that drew these lines and everything that had a very strong opinion of exactly where they ought to be,” said West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice, a Republican. “Now just to say, ‘Okay, we’re going to redraw this, we’re going to redraw that. And by god, if you’re going to redraw, we’re going to redraw.’ I don’t like that.”
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said Thursday that he has not yet spoken to any Republicans in his state about redistricting but that it’s up to the Missouri legislature and governor to make the call.
“I’d love to have more Republicans,” Hawley said.
Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, N.Y., contributed to this report.
Kinnard reported from Chapin, S.C., and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
Democrats Admit GOP Already Winning 2030 Redistricting War, New Memo Shows
A Democratic memo released Wednesday acknowledges Republicans’ head start in gerrymandered House seats and warns that “the 2030 redistricting fight has already begun.” The memo — from Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) President Heather Williams and obtained by Politico — lays out the context of the coming battle for House control. It also lays out a step-by-step plan to capitalize on the years leading up to the 2030 Census and redistricting.Williams argued Democrats should take a page from Republicans, who, instead of focusing solely on federal races, have already poured more than $30 million into state legislatures. “Democrats must reassess the failed federal-first strategy and rebuild the party from the ground up in order to achieve lasting success,” she said.
A Democratic memo released Wednesday acknowledges Republicans’ head start in gerrymandered House seats and warns that “the 2030 redistricting fight has already begun.”
The memo — from Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) President Heather Williams and obtained by Politico — lays out the context of the coming battle for House control and a step-by-step plan to capitalize on the years leading up to the 2030 Census and redistricting.
Williams argued Democrats should take a page from Republicans, who, instead of focusing solely on federal races, have already poured more than $30 million into state legislatures — the level of government that “play[s] in shaping policy, deciding state voting laws, and drawing the maps that could define majorities in the states and in the House of Representatives for a decade.”
“To have a shot at winning and maintaining a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives moving forward, Democrats must reassess our failed federal-first strategy and get serious about winning state legislatures ahead of redistricting – not just in the final months of 2030, but starting now,” Williams said. (RELATED: History Poised To Repeat Itself As TX Dems Mull Using Same Tactic That Failed 22 Years Ago)
Williams also pointed to President Donald Trump pressuring allies in Texas to redraw districts to “protect the GOP’s meager House majority” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which she said are “generally more favorable for Democrats.”
She argued Democrats are still “digging themselves out of the hole we found ourselves in” after Republicans’ state-level strategy in 2010 gave them the “ability to unilaterally draw over 340 congressional districts.”
“It was no coincidence that as Donald Trump was elected President in 2016, Republicans held both houses of Congress, were packing the Supreme Court, and held unprecedented control of 70 state legislative chambers – almost enough to call for a Constitutional Convention,” Williams said. “Eight years later, we find ourselves in a similar nightmare.”
Williams said the landscape is shifting as “Democratic power in the states is back on the rise,” crediting the DLCC with beginning to “break the GOP’s stranglehold on our statehouses” and leading a “disciplined, long-term strategy to put Democrats back in a stronger position for the next redistricting cycle.”
Her year-by-year plan calls for growing margins in Senate chambers with four-year terms — such as Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin — in 2026; protecting the Virginia Senate’s one-seat majority in 2027; contesting seats in the Pennsylvania and Wisconsin state senates in 2028; expanding the majority in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2029; and shoring up and winning new ones in battleground states in 2030.
“Our counterparts at the RSLC are already setting a record-breaking fundraising pace this year and Republicans are moving quickly to shut Democrats out of the redistricting fight altogether,” Williams said. “In order to meet this moment and secure our future, Democrats must focus and allocate increased resources to this ballot level.”
“Democrats must reassess the failed federal-first strategy and rebuild the party from the ground up in order to achieve lasting success,” she said.
Source: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-redistricting-hearing-house-legislature-congress/