Podcast appearances and mentions of Greg Abbott

Bryan talks about finishing his run at Edinburgh, and a discussion about actress Carole Cook takes us into a 10 minute deep dive on the 1960s Don Knotts film The Incredible Mr. Limpet. Bryan discusses the new Department of Transportation mandate which led to Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis ordering every city to remove rainbow crosswalks for "political messaging" and "safety". Erin discusses good trouble happening with Michigan Governor JB Pritzker signing a bill to make contraception and abortion pills accessible at colleges and universities, plus how Texas House Representatives Venton Jones and Terry Meza took their Greg Abbott-sent police escorts to the premiere drag bar The Rose Room. For this week's bonus Dateline Recap visit www.patreon.com/attitudesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:HB 25 - a bill allowing ivermectin to be bought at Texas pharmacies without prescriptions - has blazed through the second special session and is headed for Governor Greg Abbott's desk: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/ivermectin-bill-clears-texas-house-angry-pushback-21016700.php...The Texas Medical Association testified against the bill, but the Texas Board of Pharmacy declined to get involved: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/texas-legislature-ivermectin-otc-prescription/...All while RFK Jr., 30 minutes late to a press conference with Governor Abbott, freely spouts conspiracy about autism and more in Austin: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/rfk-jr-plays-fast-and-loose-with-autism-statistics-during-rambling-press-conference-with-texas-governor-38381693Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced a seventh massive waiving of environmental and health regulations to allow five miles of border wall to bulldoze a section of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge: https://www.borderreport.com/immigration/the-border-wall/dhs-waives-environmental-rules-to-build-more-border-wall-in-south-texas-through-wildlife-refugees/About 25% of Texas school districts and charter schools have signed up for the Christianity-infused Bluebonnet Learning curriculum, narrowly allowed last year by the State Board of Education: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-schools-bluebonnet-bible-curriculum/Ken Paxton, upon the Texas Supreme Court backing the 15th Court of Appeals blocking of his efforts to stop Beto O'Rourke's Powered By People from helping Texas House Democratic quorum brakers with funding, accuses those very Republican judges of colluding with O'Rourke: https://www.rawstory.com/beto-orourke-ken-paxton/Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Help Progress Texas avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-drive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In part two of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, a report on Hollywood's elite cowardly fleeing north to Canada in protest of the election of Donald Trump and the Trump administration's policies that simply don't sit well with their WOKE agenda. Also MAGA's dillution of the President's decision to allow 600,000 Chinese student visas to attend college in America. This on the same day that Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs legislation to halt foreign entities into Texas with China at the top of the list, audio from Steve Bannon and his protege' opposing the President's decision and dust in the wind! For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The NAACP follows LULAC, filing the second lawsuit against the new Texas congressional map ordered by Donald Trump that carves out five new likely Republican seats at the expense of Texas voters of color: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/26/naacp-sues-texas-congressional-maps-black-political-power...Trump's plummeting approval in the RGV sheds light on why he's so desperate to shield himself from the wrath of voters in 2026: https://www.theborderchronicle.com/p/voters-regret-support-for-trump-plungesDan's Ban - the full ban on THC products shoved through the regular session by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick but later vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott, has stalled on its re-do run through the second special session: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/proposed-thc-ban-texas-stalls-legislature-21016853.php...At the same time, a bill that would make ivermectin available without a prescription has a decent chance to make it to Abbott's desk: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/08/25/texas-bill-could-make-drug-ivermectin-available-over-the-counter-amid-misuse-concerns/Former Trump doctor and U.S. Congressman Ronny Jackson of Amarillo, despite no longer being licensed to practice medicine, has proclaimed Donald Trump "the healthiest president this nation has ever seen" - at odds with obvious evidence to the contrary: https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-uses-disgraced-doctor-to-declare-trump-healthy/Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-drive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In part one of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, President Trump's new ⁠executive order targeting flag⁠ burning drew rare criticism from conservatives and directs the attorney general to prosecute violations of laws involving flag desecration and to pursue litigation that would clarify the scope of the First Amendment. Also audio from Texas Governor Greg Abbott explaining how the state of Texas is the least taxed state in the union. President Trump says he won't take over Chicago and other high-crime cities as he did in Washington DC with audio from Chicago's mayor, audio from Laura Inghram as President Trump opens the door to 600,000 Chinese students allowed into the U.S. to study at colleges amid ongoing trade talks with China and no tariff checks issued (sorry). Also a description of the 1989 ruling on Texas vs. Johnson describing free speech and burning the American flag, the Democrats hold their summer DNC meeting in Minneapolis rife with hate speech and Cracker Barrel releases a statement underscoring their homestyle menu and down-home atmosphere, yet not backing down from thier woke agenda (uncle Herschel we miss you already). For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on City Cast Houston, host Raheel Ramzanali is joined by ABC13 reporter Pooja Lodhia to talk about how the state's new proposed congressional maps that are on Governor Abbott's desk will impact Houston. Plus, they're breaking down how a former detention officer was caught running a Facebook Marketplace scam, and they say goodbye to a legendary Houston gem. Stories we talked about on today's show:  Texas Legislature sends Trump-backed congressional redistricting plan to Gov. Abbott's desk Fresh off Texas Senate's approval, new congressional map is target of lawsuit Here are the Republicans who might run for Texas' newly drawn congressional seats In response to failures and grieving parents, Texas lawmakers advance flood bills I taught Chloe to obey authority. At Camp Mystic, that got her killed. | Opinion Former Harris County officer and former inmate worked together to steal and sell luxury car: docs Houston Police cruiser crashes into Heights pool where children were swimming Exclusive: Alief's FunPlex, a Houston amusement park, has closed after 40 years How This Houston Voice Became America's First Ismaili Sportscaster Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: British International School of Houston The Holdsworth Center TurboTenant Wise Photo: CY/Unsplash

A mix of sun and clouds today with a cold front bringing a chance for an afternoon thunderstorm. It will also bring a little relief in the temperature for a few days. Today's high will be 89. Clouds and a chance for more rain and rumbles of thunder this evening with a low of 70.  The high won't get out of the 80s tomorrow. Thursday will be back in the 90s but another cold front is on the way that may drop temperatures back to the 80s by the time the holiday weekend comes around. In other news, A DART bus crashed at White Rock Station on Monday morning, injuring five people. At least one person had to be extricated from the vehicle. It was not immediately clear how many people were on the bus, or what caused the crash; Dallas plans to increase its budget to maintain its buildings after discovering earlier this year the city is spending half of what it needs to keep up with all of its facilities. The recommended budget includes about $36 million for the facilities and real estate management department, which is about $2 million more than last year's budget; with less than three weeks to go before the second special legislative session ends, Gov. Greg Abbott is still waiting for nearly all of his priorities to land on his desk; nd Fort Worth's political and business leaders have touted the city's economic success for years, but new data is backing up those assertions. Among large American cities, Cowtown ranks fifth best for economic growth, buoyed largely by strong marks in education and international trade, according to a new study from Coworking Cafe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

On Monday's show: The Texas Senate approved new congressional district maps on Saturday, which Gov. Greg Abbott says he'll sign “swiftly.” Does this mean lawmakers will now get to other items on the agenda for the second special session? We learn the latest from Blaise Gainey of the Texas Newsroom.Also this hour: Some recent tests suggest the secretive Chinese space program could beat the United States back to the moon. We learn more from Eric Berger of Ars Technica.Then, we learn about the latest developments in consumer technology with the help of columnist Dwight Silverman.And Major League Baseball is contemplating expansion and realignment. We discuss what that might look like for the Astros as we check in with Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Trump administration is planning to mobilize over 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states, including Texas which will receive the largest number of troops: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-national-guard-military-states-cities-b2812837.html...The only of those states with a Democratic governor is New Mexico, where Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has expressed disdain for Trump's deployment plans: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/lujan-grisham-comes-out-against-using-national-guard-for-immigration-enforcement/article_9e51af6f-ad9a-4f34-8f1d-aa93898960a0.html...Perhaps Texas IS in need of intervention - California Governor Gavin Newsom points out that Dallas and Houston have wildly higher murder rates than Los Angeles and San Francisco lately: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/california-gavin-newsom-dallas-texas-murder-rate-trump-greg-abbott-los-angeles/287-9565f3e1-b080-4aa7-8a57-f94f1e878509...Trump is also threatening to occupy Baltimore, New York City and Chicago: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/trump-building-case-to-deploy-national-guard-troops-to-more-u-s-cities/...All of which places even more importance on the mid-term elections, at a moment when the Texas Senate has sent that heavily gerrymandered map to Governor Greg Abbott to sign: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-senate-governor-desk/?_bhlid=2276038ea97d8d3a93bb0622be72c6cda7ee47d2...Mere hours after which the first lawsuit against the map was filed: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/23/texas-congressional-map-lawsuit/...At stake is a potential permanent Republican stranglehold on the U.S. House of Representatives: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-redistricting-push-could-bring-decades-republican-rule-us-house-2025-08-24/...Tejano star and possible future politician Bobby Pulido correctly calls the mid-decade redistricting of Texas "bullshit": https://tejanonation.net/2025/08/19/bobby-pulido-reflects-on-retirement-career-and-future-in-public-service/Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-drive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

August 24, 2025; 8am: The Pentagon has reportedly been planning a military deployment to Chicago for weeks in a model that could later be used in other major cities. President Trump indicated that Chicago would be his next target, along with New York, another Democratic-leaning city with a Black mayor. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joins The Weekend to discuss how Trump's plan to use the National Guard will impact his city.For more, follow us on social media.Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts

Ralph welcomes Ben Cohen (anti-war activist and ice cream entrepreneur) to discuss his new campaign, "Up in Arms," which advocates for a common-sense Pentagon budget. Then, Ralph speaks to Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi about her recent piece: "When will we finally admit: the Gaza death toll is higher than we've been told."Ben Cohen is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and longtime anti-war activist. He is a co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's and a prominent supporter of progressive causes. He is co-founder of Up In Arms, a public education and advocacy campaign pushing for a common-sense approach to military budgeting. In May of this year, Ben was arrested by Capitol Police after he interrupted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s testimony by screaming,”Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid.”We're up in arms because the government has taken the kindness, the heart, the soul of the American people and essentially replaced it with so many bombs that there's no rational use for them. They've turned us all into mass murderers.Ben CohenYou know, politicians starting from Reagan are fond of saying “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” And then they turn around and spend $100 billion a year on a nuclear arsenal that's capable of blowing up the entire world several times over. So they say one thing and they do another. I mean, a nuclear arsenal capable of blowing up the entire world several times over? That's not deterrence. That's delusion.Ben CohenI just go back to the moral issue of our time, which is Gaza—two-thirds of the American people don't support continuing to arm Israel. And we need to make our politicians pay the price for continuing to arm Israel… We have a midterm election coming up. If your guy voted to continue to essentially facilitate the genocide, vote them out.Ben CohenWhen you have more money than is needed, you tend to invite corruption, cost overruns, machinery that doesn't work, and I would advise that you look into why the GAO and the Pentagon auditors are being asked to do fewer audits of the military budget. Because there's almost a direct correlation between throwing money at a government program (especially at that scale) and corruption. And corruption is understandable to everybody. It's the number one political issue all over the world, when the pollsters poll.Ralph NaderArwa Mahdawi is a columnist for the Guardian and author of Strong Female Lead: Lessons from Women in Power. Here is her recent piece on the genocide in Gaza: “When will we finally admit: the Gaza death toll is higher than we've been told” (The Guardian, August 8, 2025)To be fair, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal have published some pretty devastating reports from their reporters in that area. They've put out some devastating features on what's going on [in Gaza], but it doesn't translate into editorial denunciation by these papers. And it doesn't translate into taking the next step and doing what they would do in other conflicts around the world where there isn't so much prejudice and domestic pressureRalph NaderI'm an opinion writer, but as journalists, you're always supposed to report facts. And the fact is: we have absolutely no idea how many people are dead in the Gaza Strip. But there are plenty of studies (which I reference in the article—one Lancet peer-reviewed study, one letter to the Lancet by a highly-respected scientist, one empirical study by Michael Spagat) which show that the death count is a lot higher. So I truly believe that unless you're saying “the official figure from the Ministry of Health is around 60,000 but studies show it is probably much higher,” then that's just journalistic malpractice.Arwa MahdawiI think there's just this instinct to believe that Palestinians are lying and Israelis are telling the truth. And it also goes back to…this isn't just Israel's war, this is America's war as well. And this desire to see America as the good guys—we're the good guys, the Palestinians are the bad guys. And to have this black-and-white narrative where, obviously, we're the good guys, you know, and so if the Palestinian narrative casts doubt on that, then it must be wrong.Arwa MahdawiI always suggest that people write to the media outlets and say that they want to see more Palestinian narratives, they want the media outlets to voice their concern that foreign reporters are not being let in, that more aid workers are not being let in, that pictures are not coming out.Arwa MahdawiThere are very few pictures coming out of the scale of this destruction in Gaza, but when you see the ones that do come out, it is very, very obvious that there are more than 60,000 people dead.But there seems to be this lack of curiosity with some of my peers. Why aren't they asking, “Why aren't we seeing more pictures?” There should be nonstop outrage that their press freedom is being stifled like this and so many Palestinian journalists are being slaughtered.Arwa MahdawiNews 8/22/25* Last Thursday, during an event in her Masscusetts congressional district, Congresswoman Katherine Clark – who holds the position of House Minority Whip, making her the number two Democrat in the House – called Israel's campaign in Gaza a “genocide,” per Axios. According to Zeteo, this makes Clark the 14th member of Congress to use the “g word.” Lest she be accused of bravery however, Clark quickly walked back her comments. In a statement to the Jewish News Syndicate, Clark said “last week, while attending an event in my district, I repeated the word ‘genocide' in response to a question…I want to be clear that I am not accusing Israel of genocide.” This incident illustrates the cross-cutting pressures facing Democratic Party leaders. This divide will be on the agenda again at the DNC meeting on August 26th, where among other issues, party leaders will vote on competing resolutions to lay out the Democrats' position on Gaza. Allison Minnerly, the progressive DNC delegate sponsoring the resolution to end arms shipments to Israel, is quoted saying “Our voters…are saying that they do not want U.S. dollars to enable further death and starvation anywhere across the world, particularly in Gaza…I don't think it should be a hard decision for us to say that clearly,” per the Intercept.* Even as Democrats wrestle with their position on Gaza, the politics are clearly shifting. The Reject AIPAC coalition has released a new statement saying that among Democrats, AIPAC is now a “toxic pariah.” As evidence of this, Reject AIPAC cites the fact that only 14 House Democrats attended the AIPAC-sponsored Israel trip this year. According to Mondoweiss, “In 2023, the lobbying group brought 24 House Dems to Israel over recess. In 2019, over 40 attended.” Reject AIPAC also cites the fact that Reps. Valerie Foushee and Maxine Dexter, both recipients of millions of AIPAC dollars, voted to block arms to Israel and Foushee is even now rejecting AIPAC money. As these small victories mount, the horizon of possibility for movement within the party grows ever wider.* Last week, Tom Artiom Alexandrovich – a senior department head in Israel's National Cyber Directorate – was arrested in a “multi-agency operation targeting child sex predators,” in Clark County, Nevada according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. According to Reuters, “Alexandrovich faces a felony charge of luring or attempting to lure a child or mentally ill person to commit a sex act ‘with use of computer technology.'” Yet, inexplicably, Alexandrovich was released by U.S. authorities and is back in Israel. This set off a firestorm in the U.S., with many accusing the Trump administration of facilitating Alexandrovich's release. The State Department was forced to issue a statement denying these claims, stating that Alexandrovich "did not claim diplomatic immunity and was released by a state judge…Any claims that the U.S. government intervened are false." The AP adds that the “Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not immediately return messages.” Disturbingly, the mainstream media seems to be purposely ignoring this case. While it has been covered by the Guardian, the Times of Israel, and Haaretz, there has been zero coverage in the New York Times or Washington Post, or ABC, NBC, or CBS. This media blackout adds fuel to the speculation that this case is being tamped down by the administration for political reasons.* Another troubling story regarding minors on the internet comes to us from Mark Zuckerberg's Meta AI. According to Reuters, internal documents from Meta Platforms detail “policies on chatbot behavior…[permitting] the company's artificial intelligence creations to ‘engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual,' generate false medical information and help users argue that Black people are ‘dumber than white people.'” Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan called these reports “disturbing” and cited a legal complaint filed by the FTC to the Justice Department against Snap in January, under her leadership, “charging that [Snap's] AI chatbot was creating risks and harms for young users.” Khan noted that the “DOJ hasn't filed the case or taken any steps to protect these kids,” and demanded that “Any lawmaker concerned about big tech's abuse of kids should ask what is going on.” The administration's lack of action on these issues indicates that despite their rhetorical inveighing against the tech industry, they are treating SIlicon Valley with the same kid gloves they use for the rest of corporate America, even when it affects minors.* In more positive news from abroad, the Washington Post reports that between 2022 and 2024, Mexico lifted a stunning 8.3 million residents out of poverty. This 18% drop in poverty includes a 23% decrease in extreme poverty and a 16% drop in moderate poverty. According to experts, this remarkable achievement is the result of the policies of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or AMLO, and his successor Claudia Sheinbaum, such as tripling the minimum wage and instituting a raft of social programs to aid “senior citizens, unemployed youth, students, farmers and people with disabilities.” President Sheinbaum is now plowing ahead with a new project – producing a “small, 100% electric, accessible [EV],” called the “Olinia,” to be fully manufactured and assembled in Mexico, per Mexico News Daily.* Turning to domestic politics, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik finally showed up in her district on Monday after an extended period of avoiding public appearances. At a ceremony honoring a late Clinton County clerk in Plattsburgh, Stefanik was drowned out by cries of “‘You sold us out!', ‘Shame!', and ‘Unseal the Epstein files!', along with a “steady stream of boos,” according to the Daily Beast. Stefanik “left the podium after speaking for less than a minute,” and when she returned, she was booed again. Stefanik's chronic absence and chilly reception is a bad sign for her gubernatorial aspirations. In the months since she has held a town hall, her constituents held a mock town hall where they addressed an empty chair, per WRGB, and New York Democrats AOC and Paul Tonko held town halls in her district, per the Albany Times-Union.* In more political news from New York, disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo is explicitly seeking to woo New York Republicans in his independent bid for Mayor of New York City. POLITICO reports that at a fundraiser at media mogul Jimmy Finkelstein's Southampton estate, Cuomo told the crowd that he agrees with President Trump that the “goal is to stop Mamdani.” To this end, he is trying to convince Republicans that they would be “wasting [their] vote on [Curtis] Sliwa,” the Republican nominee for Mayor, “because he'll never be a serious candidate.” Cuomo also implied that he is open to an alliance with Trump, telling the crowd “Let's put it this way: I knew the president very well.” Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the Zohran campaign, is quoted saying “Since he's too afraid to say it to New Yorkers' faces, we'll make it clear: Andrew Cuomo IS Donald Trump's choice for mayor.”* In Texas, state Democrats have returned to the state, ending their attempt to defeat Governor Abbott's mid-decade redistricting scheme by denying the legislature a quorum. In a statement Gene Wu, chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said "We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape," per the BBC. The legislature is now expected to approve the redrawn congressional maps; the state Democrats plan to continue fighting them in the courts. California has vowed to redraw their own maps to compensate for the expected loss of five Democrat-held seats in Texas. New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maryland are also considering their own redistricting plans. Vice President JD Vance was deployed to Indiana to pressure Republicans in that state to redraw their maps to favor Republicans as well, per the IndyStar. It is a sad state of affairs that American politics has been reduced to such naked power grabbing plots, but here we are.* In local news, the federal occupation of Washington, D.C. continues to deepen. CBS reports the governors of at least six Republican-led states are sending contingents from their National Guards to the capital. These include Mississippi and Louisiana, West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. Just what these troops will do in Washington remains unclear. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who is sending 160 troops, cited “monument security” and “traffic control” among their official responsibilities. The federal agents on the ground, with little to do – the DOJ itself reports as violent crime is at a 30-year low in the District – seem to be mostly just harassing residents. The Daily Beast reports ICE tore down a banner and replaced it with a dildo. A local, Amanda Moore, posted a photo of 15 federal agents calling an ambulance for a drunk girl in Dupont Circle. And, while the Lever reports D.C. corporate lobbyists pushed for the occupation, it is wreaking havoc on local businesses; Rolling Stone reports reservations at D.C. restaurants are down between 25 and 31%, to take just one example. We can only hope that this pointless, destructive farce of quasi-fascistic political theater ends sooner rather than later.* Finally, investigative reporter and Iraq war veteran Seth Harp is out with a new book – The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces – which details the double murder of Master Sergeant Billy Lavigne and Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Dumas, along with the “many more unexplained deaths…other murders connected to drug trafficking in elite units, and dozens of fatal overdoses,” at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Among other remarkable discoveries, Harp “describes a U.S. special forces k9 [unit] that was given titanium dentures and encouraged to feast on human brains in the field,” in the words of publisher and producer Chris Wade. Remember these titanium dentures whenever you hear that there is no money to pay for critical social programs. The money is there. The political will is not.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

August 23, 2025; 7am: The interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, which was conducted by President Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney and now top DOJ official Todd Blanche, covered topics such as Preident Trump's association with Jeffrey Epstein, whether Maxwell believed Epstein's death was caused by suicide, and if Epstein held a list of names. Miles Taylor, Paul Butler, and Kimberly Atkins Stohr join The Weekend to discuss the DOJ's release of the interview and what it could mean for Maxwell.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

President Trump got the redistricting maps he wanted from Texas, but it may come with a big political price tag. The Democratic Party, so fractured after the 2024 campaigns, suddenly found a rallying issue that washed away many of its own internal divisions - at least temporarily. Brad Johnson of The Texan and Kat Vargas of Howdy Politics join host Jeremy Wallace to break it all down. Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called out Gov. Greg Abbott again for his stance against banning all THC products in Texas, further muddying what the Legislature will do in the closing days of the special session of the Legislature. And finally, Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu joins the show for a deep dive on how his recent national media attention has helped illustrate how he's had to navigate racism and generational norms in the Asian-American community.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, in his final keynote address at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, said current conditions “may warrant” interest rate cuts. “With policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” Powell said in prepared remarks.The Texas Senate is expected to vote on a bill on Friday to redraw Texas's congressional maps to increase Republicans' hold on the state's U.S. House delegation by as many as five seats. The bill is expected to pass through the Republican-dominated upper chamber, at which point it will go to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.President Donald Trump on Friday visited “The People's House,” an immersive museum about the White House. Trump answered questions about public safety in the nation's capital, Fed Governor Lisa Cook, and his renovation plans for the Kennedy Center.

It's Friday so host Raheel Ramzanali is breaking down the big news from the week with the best and brightest journalists from the city. Today, he's joined by Gwen Howerton, Chron.com's Texas Culture Reporter and the Houston Chronicle's religion reporter Haajrah Gilani to talk about the latest from Governor Abbott's second special session and court rulings on displaying the Ten Commandments in public classrooms! Plus, a fun news quiz!   Stories we talked about on today's show: Texas House approves GOP congressional map after two-week delay from Democrats' walkout Why these transgender people told their stories at the Texas Capitol Federal judge blocks Texas law requiring Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms Car crashes into Houston restaurant, narrowly misses influencers filming review This major Houston highway is getting a makeover—thanks to the World Cup Make sure you don't have these radioactive shrimp in your freezer Why Austin's Pride Month is different from other Texas cities Learn more about the sponsors of this August 22nd episode: Apollo Chamber Players British International School of Houston Downtown Houston+ Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Photo: CY/Unsplash

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Texas Senate appears ready to fast-track the Trump-ordered redistricting of Texas as soon as today, which would send the measure to Governor Abbott's desk: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-senate-governor-desk/?_bhlid=2276038ea97d8d3a93bb0622be72c6cda7ee47d2...In California, a map redistricting the other direction is set for a November public vote - the trigger provision has been removed, so if the voters approve, it's happening: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/21/california-legislature-redistricting-plan...Some Texas Democrats believe the Republican map leans too heavily on assumptions that Latinos who voted for Trump last year will reliably vote for GOP candidates next year, when Trump's not on the ballot: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-redistricting-map-democrats_n_68a77e2ee4b0ab862cb1a518...Austin Congressman and Texas delegation dean Congressman Lloyd Doggett has announced that if the Trump map holds up in court, he will not seek re-election in the 37th district: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/lloyd-doggett-congress-retire-redistricting-greg-casar-austin/Republican Congressman Chip Roy, frequently at odds with Donald Trump, has announced a run for Texas Attorney General: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/21/chip-roy-texas-attorney-general-run-00517391Deer Park Republican State Rep. Briscoe Cain announced a run in the newly-reddened Congressional District 9 less than a day after voting for the new map: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/briscoe-cain-congress-texas-9th-congressional-district/Beaumont State Rep. and former House Speaker Dade Phelan, at bitter odds with the conservative wing of his party, has announced he'll not seek reelection in 2026: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/former-texas-speaker-announces-retirement-through-chuck-norris-video/Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-drive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This Day in Legal History: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation ActOn August 22, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act into law, reshaping the American welfare system in ways that continue to spark debate. Billed as a way to "end welfare as we know it," the law imposed strict work requirements on recipients and introduced a five-year lifetime limit on federal benefits, regardless of economic conditions. The legislation replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), transforming a federal entitlement into a state-administered block grant system.Supporters of the reform hailed it as a bipartisan success, encouraging employment and reducing long-term dependency. But critics argue that the law eroded the social safety net and punished the poor, particularly single mothers and children, by prioritizing ideological goals over economic realities. States were given broad discretion in how to allocate funds, leading to uneven access and accountability. Many used their new flexibility not to expand support systems but to restrict eligibility and reduce caseloads, often with little evidence of improved outcomes.The law also failed to account for structural barriers to employment—such as childcare shortages, low wages, and racial discrimination—leaving many without support when they failed to meet work requirements. Moreover, the block grant's fixed funding has not kept pace with inflation or need, effectively shrinking welfare over time. While welfare rolls dropped sharply in the years following the reform, poverty did not—suggesting that many were simply pushed out of the system rather than lifted out of hardship. The 1996 law codified a narrative of moral failing over structural inequality, framing poverty as a matter of personal irresponsibility rather than systemic dysfunction.A federal judge ordered an immediate halt to new construction at the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention center in Florida's Everglades. The facility, championed by Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, was barred from accepting new detainees and required to dismantle supporting infrastructure—including generators, waste systems, fencing, and lighting—within 60 days. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, sided with environmental groups who argued the project violated federal, state, and local environmental laws.The detention center, estimated to cost $450 million annually and house up to 5,000 detainees, had drawn backlash for its location in a fragile wetland ecosystem populated by endangered species. Environmental advocates and some local leaders had long criticized the plan, noting it conflicted with decades of political pledges to protect and restore the Everglades. The Department of Homeland Security had tapped FEMA funds to support the project, raising additional controversy over funding priorities.In her ruling, Judge Williams emphasized that the project ran counter to longstanding legislative commitments to environmental protection. Florida has already filed an appeal, but environmental groups hailed the decision as a critical victory. Despite mounting opposition, Trump dismissed ecological concerns and reaffirmed his intent to replicate the model nationally as part of his broader immigration crackdown.Judge orders halt to new construction at 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center | ReutersAlligator Alcatraz Expansion Blocked for Harm to Environment (1)California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a pair of redistricting bills designed to redraw congressional districts in favor of Democrats—part of an aggressive political response to a newly passed gerrymandered map in Texas. Both states are now embroiled in legal and constitutional battles, as Republicans and Democrats seek to lock in partisan advantages ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Newsom also set a special statewide election for November 4, asking voters to approve the new map. If passed, it could flip up to five Republican-held House seats and secure four Democratic-leaning swing districts.California's strategy sidesteps its voter-created independent redistricting commission, which has been enshrined in the state constitution since 2010 to prevent political interference. Because of that, lawmakers are now required to get voter approval to implement their plan—creating a high-stakes ballot measure, Proposition 50. Republicans and good-government advocates, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charles Munger Jr., have vowed to fight the plan in court and on the ballot. A pending GOP lawsuit argues the legislature violated the state's 30-day waiting period for new bills, pushing through the redistricting effort without proper transparency.In Texas, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a new congressional map at the urging of President Trump, hoping to maintain a narrow House majority. Voting rights groups immediately challenged the plan, claiming it violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by racially diluting Black and Latino voting power. The case will be heard by a federal three-judge panel in El Paso, with a likely fast track to the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas Republicans, including Governor Greg Abbott, deny any racial bias and argue the map reflects demographic shifts and Republican gains among minority voters.This escalating redistricting clash highlights the legal vulnerability of U.S. voting systems when partisan manipulation goes unchecked. Though the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts cannot weigh in on partisan gerrymandering, racial gerrymandering remains justiciable under the Voting Rights Act. Meanwhile, California Democrats are relying on voter sentiment—and Trump's unpopularity in the state—to justify a temporary abandonment of anti-gerrymandering principles.Explainer: The legal battles over redistricting in Texas and California | ReutersNewsom Signs California Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas Republicans - The New York TimesA federal judge ruled that Alina Habba, President Trump's controversial appointee as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, had no legal authority to hold the office after her temporary term expired. U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann found that the Trump administration violated federal law by firing Habba's court-selected successor, Desiree Grace, and then using a series of procedural maneuvers to reinstall Habba. These included appointing her as “special attorney,” then naming her first assistant U.S. attorney to invoke the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.Brann concluded that Habba was unlawfully performing the duties of U.S. Attorney as of July 1 and that her actions from that point forward “may be declared void.” The ruling blocks her from overseeing or participating in criminal cases, and it extends to prosecutors operating under her supervision. The judge criticized the administration's strategy as an attempt to bypass Senate confirmation entirely by exploiting loopholes in temporary appointment rules, warning that this interpretation could let the executive branch install preferred prosecutors indefinitely.The Trump-appointed Attorney General, Pam Bondi, vowed to appeal, and Brann stayed his ruling pending the outcome. Still, the decision casts a shadow over prosecutions under Habba's leadership, and some courts in New Jersey have already paused proceedings. Brann also rejected the idea that firing interim appointees before their terms expire could justify continual reappointments without oversight.Defense attorneys in the case that triggered the ruling argued that the executive branch cannot sidestep a process designed to check prosecutorial power through judicial or Senate involvement. Though the judge refused to throw out defendant Cesar Pina's indictment—since the investigation began before Habba's unlawful tenure—the ruling reinforces that prosecutorial authority must be rooted in lawful appointment.Alina Habba Blocked From Handling Cases in Rebuke to Trump (3)This week's closing theme is by Claude Debussy.This week's closing theme comes from Debussy, born on August 22, 1862—an apt choice as we mark the anniversary of his birth. Debussy was a revolutionary figure in Western music, often associated with Impressionism, though he rejected the label. He sought to break from the rigid structures of the Germanic tradition, instead favoring color, atmosphere, and suggestion over clear-cut form and resolution. His music evokes shifting light, fluid motion, and emotional ambiguity—more akin to poetry or painting than to classical architecture.One of his early works, Rêverie, composed in the 1890s, offers a glimpse into the world he would come to define. The title means “daydream,” and the piece unfolds with a gentle, unhurried lyricism that floats outside of time. Though simple in construction, it is harmonically rich and emotionally resonant—hinting at the innovations to come in Clair de Lune, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, and Pelléas et Mélisande.Rêverie was one of Debussy's first pieces to gain public attention, though he later dismissed it as “a piece for salon use.” Listeners have disagreed ever since. Its introspective tone and delicate touch make it a lasting favorite among pianists and audiences alike. It feels like a whisper—never urgent, never insistent, always inviting. In that sense, it's a fitting farewell for the week: contemplative, unresolved, and open to interpretation.Without further ado, Claude Debussy's Rêverie enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

It's Thursday, August 21st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Muslims beat Christian convert and take his wife and six kids An Islamic teacher in Uganda, who converted to Christianity, suffered persecution from his own family recently. Thirty-nine-year old Wambuzi Maka Uthman was at a mosque earlier this month when he received a vision about repentance. On his way home, he met a pastor and learned about Jesus.  Uthman told Morning Star News, “I then understood that it was [Jesus] Who had sent me to my fellow Muslims to repent. … I was so happy beyond expectations as I developed a deeper love for Jesus.”  Uthman began telling his family and neighbors about the Gospel.  In response, his extended family beat him and destroyed his house.  While he received treatment at the hospital, his wife took their six children with her to live with relatives. Such persecution is common for Muslims who turn to Christ in Uganda.  In Luke 18:29-30, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” State Department: Human rights in United Kingdom have worsened Last Tuesday, the U.S. State Department released its “2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.” The report noted that the human rights situation in the United Kingdom worsened last year. For example, the U.K. restricts free speech near abortion mills. Citizens have faced arrest simply for silent prayer inside such “buffer zones.” = Lorcan Price with Alliance Defending Freedom International said, “It's plain to see that the censorship crisis is worsening in the UK – from citizens being arrested and prosecuted just for praying in their heads, to the Online Safety Act clamping down on free expression online.” Surge of young Brits trusting in God Speaking of England, the country is witnessing a surge in the number of young adults who believe in God.  A new YouGov poll found 37% of Brits, between the ages of 18 and 24, believe in God. That's up from 22% in 2019, and it's higher than any other age group.  A YouGov study from earlier this year found that young adults are also attending church more. Sixteen percent attend at least once per month now, up from 4% in 2018. 5 VA schools lose federal funding over pro-transgender policies In the United States, the Trump administration is cutting federal funding to five northern Virginia school districts over their transgender bathroom policies, reports the Associated Press.  U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon  said the districts are “choosing to abide by woke gender ideology in place of federal law. … Today's accountability measures are necessary because they have stubbornly refused to provide a safe environment for young women in their schools.” Shockingly,  Life News reports that one of the school districts even arranged and bankrolled abortions for girls without their parents' knowledge.  Trump hopes to get in Heaven by saving Russian/Ukrainian lives President Donald Trump gave a phone interview to “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday. Trump said he wants to save thousands of lives by helping to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He even said he hopes that will help him get to Heaven.  Listen.   TRUMP: “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that's a pretty, I want to try and get to Heaven, if possible. I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I'm really at the bottom of the totem pole. If I can get to Heaven, this will be one of the reasons.” While some initially concluded that President Trump was revealing a physical health crisis when he said, “I hear I'm not doing well.”  It becomes clear that he is referring to his spiritual health Evangelist Franklin Graham responded on Facebook. He wrote, “We do get to Heaven by good works—not by our own good works, but by the perfect work of God's Son, Jesus Christ. … That's how one gets to Heaven—not by our good works, but by His.” In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In other words, no matter how many lives President Trump might save by helping to end the Russian-Ukrainian War, his lifesaving action will not save him from Hell.   He can only be assured of an eternal address in Heaven if he confesses his sins and trusts Jesus Christ as Savior. (Romans 10:9) Texas House passes Trump redistricting plan On Wednesday, the Texas House passed a new congressional map  that stands to boost Republicans' power in Congress, overcoming weeks of protests from Texas House Democrats who fled the state to stall a vote on the mid-cycle redistricting, reports the San Antonio Express-News. The new map, ordered up by President Donald Trump and endorsed by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, would wipe out five Democratic-held congressional districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston and South Texas. It passed the chamber, 88-52, along party lines. Texas State Rep. Todd Hunter, a Corpus Christi Republican and the bill's author, said, “The Supreme Court says we can use political partisanship to do congressional redistricting. We will push forward." The vote came after Republicans took extraordinary steps to push the bill over the finish line. On Monday, when dozens of quorum-busting Democrats returned to the Capitol in Austin, Republican House leadership refused to let them leave without state trooper escorts who would “ensure their return” for Wednesday's votes. On Wednesday, Democrats offered up a dozen amendments seeking to kill or amend the bill, all of which were unsuccessful. The map now heads to the Texas Senate, which is expected to quickly pass it, and then to Texas Governor Greg Abbott who will sign it.  Bible-based character education comes to 34 states And finally, a record number of students will receive Bible-based character education during public school hours this coming year. LifeWise Academy is providing the Bible programs under religious release time laws in 34 states. The ministry estimates it will serve nearly 100,000 students in the 2025-26 school year. Joel Penton is the CEO of LifeWise Academy. He said, “Demand for LifeWise is surging, and we couldn't be more excited to see families taking advantage of our programming, from urban areas to remote towns.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, August 21st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: After passing new Congressional maps – less “gerrymandered” than the previous – Governor Abbott has added items to the called session agenda. One is asking for more penalties for lawmakers who do not show up to work while in session.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas lawmakers revive effort to replace STAAR exam with three tests.Campaign news: Dade Phelan Calls It Quits One Session After Speakership Collapse – how about that for wasting millions of other people's money in the last election and runoff! Abilene's lackluster state Rep. Stan Lambert not running again. Abilene city councilman announces campaign for Texas House of Representatives. – same guy who didn't appear to understand the property tax system in media interviews this summer. GOP Rep. Briscoe Cain files for 9th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Chip Roy announces run for Texas attorney general. Chip Roy's House Exit for Texas AG Bid Tied to Senate Fight. New poll: Beto O'Rourke leads Colin Allred in hypothetical Texas Senate primary Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

#TexasValuesReport with special guest Matt Krause, Of Counsel with First Liberty Institute and host Jonathan Saenz, President & Attorney for Texas Values as they discuss the constitutionality of Texas Ten Commandments Law. Learn more about the Ten Commandments Law and purchase posters for a school district near you. https://tencommandmentstexas.com/ Join us at Texas Faith Fest September 26-27 with lead keynote Governor Abbott and 30-40 additional leaders across the nation http://texasfaithfest.com/ David Barton, Founder of WallBuilders is joining us at Texas Faith Fest! https://txvalues.org/new-speaker-david-barton-at-texas-faith-fest/ Press Releases/Action Alerts: - https://txvalues.org/release-6000-donated-for-ten-commandments-posters-to-conroe-isd/ - https://txvalues.org/breaking-court-ruling-in-tx-commandments-law/ - https://txvalues.org/breaking-governor-abbott-signs-law-banning-taxpayer-dollars-for-abortion-logistics/ - https://txvalues.org/alert-texas-womens-privacy-act-hearing-tomorrow-in-texas-house-come-early-to-testify/ Help us build our channel so we can maintain a culture of Faith, Family, & Freedom in Texas by interacting with us; like, comment, share, subscribe! For more about Texas Values see: Txvalues.org To support our work, go to donate.txvalues.org/GivetoTexasValues

Texas Republicans have passed a controversial new congressional map designed to flip five Democratic seats. Democrats accuse Republicans of cheating under Trump's direction, while Gov. Greg Abbott vows to sign the plan. With lawsuits looming, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has already fired back online. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas Republicans have passed a new congressional map in the state House, crafted to give President Donald Trump a partisan advantage by flipping Democratic seats. The plan now heads to the state senate before reaching Gov. Greg Abbott. With Democrats in states like California, New York and Illinois pushing their own maps, the national battle over redistricting is intensifying ahead of 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Day in Legal History: Economic Opportunity ActOn August 20, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act into law, marking a major legal milestone in the federal government's efforts to address systemic poverty. The Act authorized $1 billion to fund a wide range of social programs aimed at improving education, employment, and economic security for low-income Americans. It was the legislative backbone of Johnson's "War on Poverty" and a cornerstone of his broader Great Society agenda.The law created the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to oversee a suite of initiatives, including Job Corps, Head Start, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). These programs sought to address poverty through direct services, job training, and community empowerment rather than traditional welfare.Legally, the Act reflected a dramatic expansion of federal authority in the realm of economic and social rights, shifting the understanding of poverty from a local issue to a national legal and policy concern. It encouraged the formation of Community Action Agencies, which brought poor communities into the policy-making process—a novel approach for federal law at the time.Critics challenged the constitutionality and effectiveness of the programs, with some arguing the Act encroached on states' rights and created administrative overreach. Nonetheless, the Economic Opportunity Act became a model for future federal social legislation.By institutionalizing anti-poverty efforts through law, the Act marked a turning point in American legal and political history. While many of its original provisions have since been revised or repealed, its legacy continues in modern public assistance and education programs.California Republican lawmakers have filed an emergency lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to block Governor Gavin Newsom's redistricting proposal, which would create five new Democratic congressional districts. The GOP legislators argue that the state constitution requires a 30-day review period for new legislation and that Democrats cannot legally move forward with the plan until September 18 unless both legislative chambers approve it by a three-fourths vote. The lawsuit seeks either a ruling on the merits by Wednesday or a temporary halt to the legislative process.Newsom's proposal is intended as a direct response to a controversial redistricting initiative in Texas, championed by Governor Greg Abbott and supported by President Donald Trump, which is expected to yield five new Republican congressional seats. With the GOP holding a narrow 219-212 majority in the U.S. House, the outcome of these redistricting efforts could have significant national political implications ahead of the 2026 midterms.California Democrats aim to pass the redistricting bills by August 22 in order to place the revised maps on a special November ballot. They justify bypassing the state's independent redistricting process, established by voters in 2008, as a necessary emergency countermeasure to what they describe as partisan manipulation in Texas. That state's plan, criticized for potentially disenfranchising minority voters, led to a dramatic walkout by Texas House Democrats. Upon their return, Republican leaders imposed restrictions requiring lawmakers to remain under state police escort during sessions, sparking further protest.California Republicans sue to block Democratic redistricting plan | ReutersA federal appeals court has sided with Elon Musk's SpaceX and two other companies, ruling that the structure of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is likely unconstitutional. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that laws protecting NLRB board members and administrative judges from being removed at will by the president likely violate the Constitution's separation of powers. The court said these protections improperly restrict the president's authority over the executive branch.This decision is the first from a federal appeals court to challenge the NLRB's structure on these grounds, setting a precedent as similar lawsuits are pending. The ruling blocks the NLRB from continuing enforcement actions against SpaceX, Energy Transfer, and Aunt Bertha while the companies' constitutional challenges proceed. Circuit Judge Don Willett, writing for the panel, stated that the companies should not have to choose between following NLRB procedures and asserting their constitutional rights.The NLRB, an independent agency created by Congress, handles private-sector labor disputes, and its structure was designed to insulate it from political influence. However, this independence is now under scrutiny. The issue gained momentum after President Trump fired Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox in January—a move that left the board without a quorum and marked the first time a sitting board member had been removed by a president.Musk, once an adviser to Trump, has a separate pending lawsuit against the NLRB related to another dispute. The court's panel consisted entirely of Republican-appointed judges.Musk's SpaceX, others win US court challenge to labor board's structure | ReutersNevada's Chief Justice Douglas Herndon is spearheading an initiative to establish a dedicated business court in the state, aiming to attract companies seeking an alternative to Delaware's Chancery Court. During a public hearing in Las Vegas, Herndon urged the state Supreme Court to approve a commission to draft rules for the new tribunal, which could begin hearing cases as early as 2026. The court would feature judges appointed by the chief justice to four-year terms from a vetted list, with input from legal, governmental, and business stakeholders.Currently, Nevada handles business cases through district courts in Las Vegas and Reno, where judges balance other civil and criminal matters. Herndon said the creation of a specialized court would streamline corporate litigation and provide data to inform future legislative reforms. While a constitutional amendment to establish a fully independent business court is underway, that process will take years. The commission's work would serve as an interim step.This move follows a broader trend of states competing for corporate incorporations. Nevada and Texas are positioning themselves as more business-friendly venues, especially for Big Tech and firms led by controlling shareholders. Companies like Andreessen Horowitz and AMC Networks have already opted to leave Delaware in favor of Nevada. Recent changes in Nevada law now allow companies to waive jury trials via their articles of incorporation, aligning the state more closely with Delaware's procedures.Delaware, while still the leading venue for corporate law, has faced criticism over judicial bias and repetitive judge assignments. In response, it has revised statutes and begun implementing judge rotation. Texas, meanwhile, launched its business court last year and issued its first final judgment in June. Judges there serve two-year terms and juries are allowed in some cases.Nevada's Top Judge Calls for Plan to Craft Business Court RulesInvestors suing Elon Musk over his delayed disclosure of a large Twitter stake in early 2022 are challenging his attempt to use an advice-of-counsel defense while withholding related legal documents. The plaintiffs, led by an Oklahoma firefighters pension fund, argue Musk is employing a “sword and shield” tactic—invoking legal advice to justify his actions while citing attorney-client privilege to avoid releasing relevant evidence.They've asked a federal judge in Manhattan to force Musk to formally declare whether he intends to rely on legal counsel or a good-faith defense before he testifies in late August and early September. If Musk invokes this defense, plaintiffs want access to communications with lawyers from Quinn Emanuel and McDermott Will & Emery, both of which advised Musk around the time he disclosed his 9.2% Twitter stake in April 2022.The lawsuit alleges Musk defrauded shareholders by delaying disclosure, causing them to sell stock at artificially low prices. Musk has denied wrongdoing, stating he misunderstood SEC disclosure rules and acted in good faith once he realized the mistake. Plaintiffs argue that if Musk refuses to share legal advice-related documents, the court should prevent him from using that defense at trial.A similar civil lawsuit by the SEC over the same issue remains pending. The outcome of this discovery dispute could shape the strength of Musk's defense in both cases.Musk's advice-of-counsel defense faces test in Twitter lawsuit | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Mary Talley Bowden – Texas lawmakers clash over vaccine mandates, exemptions, and access to ivermectin, with Texans for Vaccine Choice leading the charge. Bills reshape healthcare freedoms, from disclosure rules to parental rights, while private schools and the Catholic Church resist exemption leniency. Advocates press Governor Abbott to act, framing the debate as a fight for medical freedom in...

Texas Democrats are back in Austin for Gov. Greg Abbott's second special session, but guess who's weighing in on redistricting? One hint: “Hasta la vista, baby!” Plus, there's a new app for Houstonians to track train traffic, but City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali is still frustrated. Find out why as he breaks down these stories and more with Chron.com's trending news reporter Faith Bugenhagen.  Stories we talked about on today's show:  When Texas Democrats head home. Will the GOP's redistricting plan move forward? Arnold Schwarzenegger told me we're getting the redistricting battles in Texas and California all wrong Houston unveils Train Watch tool to help residents and first responders avoid blocked crossings Union Pacific resumes morning and afternoon train traffic near Houston's Milby High School A student's train death brought promises of new bridges near HISD schools. For now, they wait. Houstonians want a theme park, hockey team, and WNBA, new survey shows Fan interrupts Astros' game by running onto field at Daikin Park Super Bowl streaker says he bet $50,000 on his stunt, but his plan is falling apart because he couldn't keep his mouth shut Learn more about the sponsors of this August 19th episode: Apollo Chamber Players British International School of Houston Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Photo: Jermaine Thomas II/City Cast

America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Mary Talley Bowden – Texas lawmakers clash over vaccine mandates, exemptions, and access to ivermectin, with Texans for Vaccine Choice leading the charge. Bills reshape healthcare freedoms, from disclosure rules to parental rights, while private schools and the Catholic Church resist exemption leniency. Advocates press Governor Abbott to act, framing the debate as a fight for medical freedom in...

In the name of “fixing” the economy, this administration has its hands deep in the market. From firing the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner to inserting itself into corporate deals and demanding a cut of it to imposing tariffs on Americans, President Trump is disrupting vital market signals. That's no place for a president, especially in what should be a free-market capitalist system (it's not).There is a place for presidential leadership—urging fiscal discipline, lowering taxes, and cutting red tape. It's encouraging to hear the president express interest in these areas, but continued actions will speak louder than words.Meanwhile, Texas' first special legislative session called by Governor Abbott to revisit bills he vetoed ended on Friday. How much progress was made?You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

With Donald Trump and the Republican Party low in the polls, Texas is resorting to one of their favorite ways to win voters: cheating. They've drawn new maps to implement unprecedented gerrymandering, taking away five Democratic-held seats - all done at Trump's insistence, of course. We're joined by Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, to walk us through Texas Governor Abbott's scheme. Democrats are attempting to fight back in Texas and across the country… even if it is a fight they are likely to lose. We discuss how the Supreme Court continues to erode voting rights and how Chief Justice John Roberts is NOT the moderate that he'd like us to think that he is.  If history is any indication, Democrats SHOULD have a successful midterm election. But history may not be enough to overcome this gerrymandering lollapalooza and the attacks on voting rights. READ Ari's work in Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/author/ari-berman/ 

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on how Texas Governor Greg Abbott getting outmaneuvered by California Governor Newsom and freaking out with Trump over their plans and Meiselas interviews John Bisognano, the President of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, about his efforts to fight back against MAGA unlawful gerrymandering. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our news wrap Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special session to approve new congressional maps in favor of Republicans, Erin strengthened into the first hurricane of this year's Atlantic season and at least 280 people are dead after flash floods wreaked havoc on parts of northern Pakistan and India. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

There are wild stories, and then there's Trump Burger. Host Raheel Ramzanali teams up with conservative commentator Charles Blain and executive producer Laura Isensee to unpack the week's biggest headlines — from the latest twists in the Trump Burger saga to the redistricting showdown between Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Democrats. Plus, they share the moments that brought them the most joy this week! Stories we talked about on today's show:  The untold origin story of Trump Burger: A $250K murder-for-hire plot, ICE arrest and vaccine scam Texas Senate approves new congressional lines as House Democrats remain out of state Attorney who has advised Fort Bend County on redistricting cautions against mid-decade redrawing of voter map How one Houston neighborhood could fare under Texas' proposed new congressional map Elected constables want a pay hike. They need to earn it. | Editorial Harris Health CEO commits to condemnation of portion of Hermann Park despite descendants' protest More than 100 Spurs volunteers prepare meals for Hill Country flood victims Read more of Charles' commentary at the Urban Reform Institute blog We're doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We'd be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it's only 7 minutes long. You'll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. Want to become a City Cast Houston Neighbor? Check out our membership program.  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 15th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Apollo Chamber Players Downtown Houston+ Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Photo: Raheel Ramzanali/City Cast

President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, Friday, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. A press conference is set for 7:30 p.m. ET following the summit.Despite the high-stakes talks, both Russia and Ukraine report ongoing attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues calling for his country's involvement in the peace process.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special session after lawmakers failed to pass a new congressional map. Democratic legislators are preparing to return home to bolster legal challenges to the map.

New polling shows young Democrats boosting Zohran Mamdani to victory, and we examine just why; President Trump continues his moves to take control of DC's crime problem; and Gov. Greg Abbott of TX stops by. Click here to join the member-exclusive portion of my show: https://bit.ly/3WDjgHE Ep.2258 - - - Facts Don't Care About Your Feelings - - - DailyWire+: Join millions of people who still believe in truth, courage, and common sense at https://DailyWirePlus.com My new book, “Lions and Scavengers,” drops September 2nd—pre-order today at https://dailywire.com/benshapiro Get your Ben Shapiro merch here: https://bit.ly/3TAu2cw - - - Today's Sponsors: Perplexity - Ask anything at https://pplx.ai/benshapiro and try out their new AI-powered web browser Comet at https://comet.perplexity.ai/. Policygenius - Head to https://policygenius.com/SHAPIRO to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save. Lean (Brickhouse Nutrition) - Visit https://takelean.com and get 20% off with promo code BEN20 Helix Sleep - Go to https://helixsleep.com/ben for an exclusive offer. Oracle - Visit https://oracle.com/shapiro to try OCI for free with zero commitment. Kikoff - Start building credit with Kikoff today, and you can get your first month for as little as $1. Visit https://getkikoff.com/shapiro  - - - Socials: Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3cXUn53  Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3QtuibJ  Follow on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3TTirqd  Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPyBiB - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday's Mark Levin Show, George and Alex Soros are relentlessly working to undermine this nation. Despite the Soros family amassing billions from this country, they choose to finance antisemitic protestors, purchase radio stations to sway public opinion, and back radical Democrats and influencers. They are now supporting protests against President Trump's crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., including a $20 million contribution to groups opposing the deployment of National Guard troops and federalization of D.C.'s police. When will the Republicans investigate the Soros family? Also, Gov Mike Dunleavy calls in to discuss the Trump/Putin meeting in Alaska this Friday. In addition, Alaska's energy resources are vital, but under the Biden and Obama administrations, the state faced restrictive federal policies. In contrast, Trump has liberated Alaska's energy sector. Later, Democrats, having lost touch with the cultural zeitgeist, are attempting to fracture the MAGA coalition built by Trump. Their strategy involves exploiting internal disagreements within MAGA, using media-driven wedge issues like foreign policy and the Epstein case to create divisions. “Some are being advanced by paid influencers and operatives, along with bot armies, to split the movement.” Afterward, Gov Greg Abbott calls in and addresses the ongoing issue of redistricting in Texas, where a special 30-day legislative session is nearing its end with less than a week remaining. Democrats in the Texas House, numbering 62 out of 150 members, left the state to block a quorum, which requires two-thirds of the House and Senate to act, preventing a vote on redistricting. Abbott expressed confidence in passing the redistricting legislation by calling consecutive special sessions if needed. Finally, Gov Ron DeSantis calls in to announce his new Lieutenant Gov Jay Collins. They discuss Florida's appeal and the need for redistricting to ensure fair representation, especially in rapidly growing areas like Tampa Bay and Sarasota. They also advocate for a census that counts only legal residents and points out California's gerrymandered district maps, which favor liberal candidates despite being drawn by an independent commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) joins the program to discuss the ongoing redistricting battle with the Texas House Democrats fleeing the state. Have the Texas Democrats realized they are losing this standoff? Glenn and Greg also discuss Beto O'Rourke's recent vulgar comments and the possibility of Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) losing her seat due to Texas' new redistricting map. What is going on with America's airline industry? Has it fallen into an absolute crisis? Aviation expert and CEO and president of Boyd Group International Mike Boyd joins to discuss what has gone wrong with the airlines and what needs to change. Co-host of "Triggernometry" Konstantin Kisin joins to discuss the importance of not rewriting uncomfortable truths of history but confronting them head-on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of George Soros turning 95 years old yesterday, Glenn reads a heartwarming monologue dedicated to all the ways Soros has made an impact on the world. What do you get a man who has everything, except the soul he lost years ago? Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) joins the program to discuss the ongoing redistricting battle with the Texas House Democrats fleeing the state. Have the Texas Democrats realized they are losing this standoff? Glenn and Greg also discuss Beto O'Rourke's recent vulgar comments and the possibility of Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) losing her seat due to Texas' new redistricting map. What is going on with America's airline industry? Has it fallen into an absolute crisis? Aviation expert and CEO and president of Boyd Group International Mike Boyd joins to discuss what has gone wrong with the airlines and what needs to change. Glenn analyzes the Trump administration's efforts to clean up D.C. and the Left's strange outrage. Co-host of "Triggernometry" Konstantin Kisin joins to discuss the importance of not rewriting uncomfortable truths of history but confronting them head-on. Our Republic President Justin Haskins joins to discuss what role AI will have in the future of American politics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newt talks with Governor Greg Abbott of Texas about the special session to vote on redistricting the state. On Tuesday, the state's top three elected officials, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said the Legislature will adjourn its current overtime session this Friday, and the Governor will immediately call another special session. The ongoing political standoff continues, with Democrat lawmakers who have left the state refusing to return to prevent the passage of a new congressional map favoring Republicans. Abbott vows to continue calling special sessions until Democrats return, emphasizing the need for a quorum to conduct legislative business. He highlights the penalties Democrats face for their absence and criticizes their actions as contrary to Texas values. Abbott also addresses the broader political implications, including the impact on future elections and the importance of maintaining Republican control in Congress to support President Trump's agenda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To The Contrary newsletter author Charlie Sykes examines how Democrats are dropping the ball in opposing Trump. Party Chair of the Texas Democratic Party Kendall Scudder details how they’re fighting back against Greg Abbott’s gerrymander. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas house democrats cave to Governor Greg Abbott and will return to work after fleeing a redistricting vote that benefits the GOP. Why hey say they fled to California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York, and how it's increasingly clear to all Americans that the left will stop at nothing to stop President Trump and the MAGA agenda. Democrat polling hits a new low as we peel back the curtain on Adam Schiff's alleged Russia collusion hoax peddling. Why the California senator's leaking of classified intelligence to the media will likely be considered a premeditated criminal act.

Fox News, the unofficial propaganda network for the Trump administration, continued to largely ignore the Epstein files, a trove of documents that might link the president to a child sex trafficking ring.Last week the network put most of its focus on a gerrymandering battle that involved Democratic Texas state representatives, the Trump administration, Texas Governor Greg Abbott along with the governors of Illinois, New York and California.Jesse Watters presented the legislative fight as a war between good and evil for the soul of America. Although he over hyped the drama at least it was an important news story unlike the network's other distractions from the Epstein files. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Redistricting in Texas is turning into a showdown that has nationwide implications for the House of Representatives. The situation paints another stroke in a portrait of a president who hasn't been shy about his desire to consolidate power and shore up GOP prospects ahead of the 2026 midterms.So, what kicked this off? Last week more than 50 Democratic lawmakers fled the state to break quorum and prevent their state House vote on new redrawn congressional maps. The Democrats' revolt, threats of retaliation, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's threats have intensified the fight and sparked a national conversation. In this installment of our politics series, "If You Can Keep It," we discuss the fight over redistricting in Texas what it means for the state of our democracy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer left Texas to deny Republicans a quorum and block their gerrymandered map. He sat down with Marc to discuss the threats to him and his colleagues, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Paxton's internal battle, and what's next in the redistricting fight. Support Texas Democrats by visiting onetexas.org-Become a Democracy Docket premium member: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/member-youtube-Sign up for our free newsletters: https://hubs.ly/Q03jcbrc0-Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/   -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com  Follow Democracy Docket!-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com-⁠X/Twitter⁠: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket  -⁠Facebook⁠: https://facebook.com/democracydocket  -⁠Instagram⁠: https://instagram.com/democracydocket  -⁠TikTok⁠: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket  -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocketThis video was produced by Sabrina Jacobs and edited by Nar Melkonian.

President Trump has declared war on D.C. crime, announcing that he is federalizing the city's police to get the nation's capital under control. Charlie reacts to Trump's dramatic press conference, and explains what is motivating the president to add this issue to his already full plate. Plus, Texas Governor Greg Abbott joins to lay out how far he is ready to go in the battle to change the state's House map and add new Republican seats. Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Redistricting in Texas is turning into a showdown that has nationwide implications for the House of Representatives. The situation paints another stroke in a portrait of a president who hasn't been shy about his desire to consolidate power and shore up GOP prospects ahead of the 2026 midterms.So, what kicked this off? Last week more than 50 Democratic lawmakers fled the state to break quorum and prevent their state House vote on new redrawn congressional maps. The Democrats' revolt, threats of retaliation, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's threats have intensified the fight and sparked a national conversation.In this installment of our politics series, "If You Can Keep It," we discuss the fight over redistricting in Texas what it means for the state of our democracy.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Joyce Vance hosts #SistersInLaw to examine the legality of the proposed effort by Governor Abbott to gerrymander Texas, how the Democrats in the Texas legislature are fighting back, and where things might go from here.  Then, the #Sisters chastise A.G. Bondi for summoning a grand jury to target Trump's political opponents, and weigh whether she has lived up to the precedent and responsibilities of her office.  They also explain the legal issues that could shut down ‘Alligator Alcatraz' by looking at the potential civil rights and environmental violations taking place there. Get the brand new ReSIStance T-Shirt & Mini Tote at politicon.com/merch #SistersInLaw Spin-off Shows Are Here! Check out Jill's New Politicon YouTube Show: Just The Facts Check out Kim's New Politicon Podcast: Justice By Design Books & Upcoming Tour Events From The #Sisters Joyce's new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable, is now available for pre-order!  Not only that, for a limited time, you have the exclusive opportunity to order a signed copy here! Get Barb's book, Attack From Within, now in paperback! And, don't miss her ongoing tour!  You can buy tickets at barbaramcquade.com for all upcoming shows, the Aspen Institute Link for her appearance there, or for her talk in Denver at this EventBrite link. Add the #Sisters & your other favorite Politicon podcast hosts on Bluesky Get your #SistersInLaw MERCH at politicon.com/merch WEBSITE & TRANSCRIPT Email: SISTERSINLAW@POLITICON.COM or Thread to @sistersInLaw.podcast Get text updates from #SistersInLaw and Politicon.  Get More From The #Sisters: From Joyce- Five Questions with Dara Kass, Emergency Room Physician and Women's Rights Activist Support This Week's Sponsors Osea Malibu: Get 10% off your order of clean beauty products from OSEA Malibu, samples, and free shipping on orders over $50 when you go to oseamalibu.com and use promo code: SISTERS10 HoneyLove: Save 20% Off HoneyLove by going to honeylove.com/SISTERS! #honeylovepod Calm: Perfect your meditation practice and get better sleep with 40% off a premium subscription when you go to calm.com/sisters HexClad: Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.com/SISTERS! #hexcladpartner Get More From The #SistersInLaw Joyce Vance: Bluesky | Twitter | University of Alabama Law | MSNBC | Civil Discourse Substack | Author of “Giving Up Is Unforgiveable” Jill Wine-Banks: Bluesky | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight For Truth & Justice Against A Criminal President | Just The Facts YouTube Kimberly Atkins Stohr: Bluesky | Twitter | Boston Globe | WBUR | The Gavel Newsletter | Justice By Design Podcast Barb McQuade: Bluesky | Twitter | University of Michigan Law | Just Security | MSNBC | Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America