Everything Is Bigger In Texas, Including Spineless MAGA
Rig the maps. Blame the DOJ. Cut the mic. Just another day.
Last night, in a move that should surprise no one, Republicans told on themselves. After five hours of doing their “constitutional duty,” Republicans shut the hearing down, despite 130 Texans still not having their turn to have their voices heard. And when Democrats moved to extend the time of the hearing, to be fair and let the voices of the people be heard, Republicans took their masks off. Chair Cody Vasut even cut off Representative Gene Wu’s mic when he invited the people to another room to testify for the Democrats, who were willing to stay.
Watch this outrageous moment:
Nearly 200 people signed up to testify. Only 40 people had testified by the time Chair Vasut adjourned the hearing. Between Democratic questioning and testimony from three sitting members of Congress, we learned a few things, none of them good. Testifying were Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, Congressman Greg Casar, and Congressman Joaquin Castro.
Allegedly, not only have Democrats not seen maps, but Republicans haven’t seen maps either. It was also implied yesterday that the maps will presumably be sent to Texas Republicans by the Trump Administration. You heard that right, the Trump Administration is going to decide what representation you have in Congress. Maybe even the Nazi King Stephen Miller, himself.
Aside from Vasut answering questions in the beginning, which he was entirely vague about, just like Senator King was in the Senate, Republicans were completely silent throughout this entire hearing yesterday.
Only two Republicans asked one witness questions. That was the witness from MALDEF, which is a legal powerhouse in Texas.
The loudest moment in that hearing was the last ten minutes.
It showed all of us that Texas Republicans are ready to fuck us, and they don’t even care who’s watching. It’s theater to them, and they were all just there to play a part. The script was written before the curtain even rose.
Cutting off the mic and ignoring a motion to extend time. Adjourning with over a hundred Texans still waiting, some who traveled across the state, some waking up at 4 am, missing work, arranging childcare, all for the fundamental right to speak at their own Capitol. It’s disrespectful, and it’s all part of their plan.
Republicans are deliberately silencing the people most impacted by these maps, working-class Texans, people of color, immigrants, flood victims, and young organizers, because they already know what we’ll say. Stop rigging our democracy.
It was a middle finger to the people.
Thank heavens for the Texas Democratic House Caucus and Chair Gene Wu, who redirected folks to the People’s Hearing. Democrats all stayed to make sure everyone had their voice heard. After Republicans left, Democrats went downstairs with everyone who was left and listened to them all.
That’s what real leadership does.
Who stayed:
Rep. Joe Moody (D)
Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D)
Rep. Josey Garcia (D)
Rep. Christian Manuel (D)
Rep. Gene Wu (D)
Rep. Jon Rosenthal (D)
Rep. Chris Turner (D)
Right now, most of us have very little trust in the National Democratic Party, but the men and women sitting in the front of that room last night, I trust to fight for Texans harder than anyone in Washington, DC, has ever done.
They do it because they know what’s at stake. Because they know Texas is the frontlines of fascism.
Republicans ignored Texans, and Democrats listened. I haven’t seen any mainstream media report on how Democrats stayed after Republicans shut them down. If I missed that story, please email it to me. If no one sees it, send letters to the editor.
Isaiah Martin got arrested.
Several TX18 candidates showed up to testify on the redistricting. Martin’s testimony got a little rambunctious. You can see that here:
After he goes off camera, he falls, which CBS Austin catches, and they arrest him after he’s removed. When you’re running in a field with 30 other candidates, you’ve got to stand out somehow.
Also, testifying was TX18 candidate Amanda Edwards:
And TX18 candidate Ebony “Rain” Eatmon:
And HD142 candidate Savant Moore:
Republicans lost Richard Raymond.
Another interesting moment happened when Richard Raymond showed up to give Vasut the third degree. Only a month ago, we were talking about Raymond switching sides; now he’s acting like a Democrat again.
Don’t get your hopes too high, Raymond has a close relationship with the Cuellar family and is looking to run for Henry Cuellar’s seat after he gets hauled off by the FBI.
What now?
Not one person who testified yesterday was in favor of redistricting. Zero. Even if it’s also zero in every Senate and House hearing for the next week, expect Republicans to push these maps still anyway. They don’t care.
You still have to show up. Doubly show up. Show up harder. The more people that show up against this, the more it will help in the courts, and the more it will show Texas Democrats we’re behind them.
Every voice needs to be on record. Every name needs to be signed up to testify. Every person needs to pack the hallways. We all need to become part of the legal and political record.
The Senate will hold its first virtual hearing tomorrow, and the next House hearing is scheduled for Saturday. Here is the remaining schedule:
They want us quiet. Let’s be deafening.
August 23: Last day of special session
November 4: Constitutional/TX18/SD09 Election
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I am going to try and make it to the Arlington hearing on Monday. This is so 'deja vu' to the Tarrant County redistricting hearings. My feed is showing people in other states being surprised that Trump and Texas Republicans coordinate. Talarico is doing yeoman's work getting the word out about the dire straits we are in here in Texas.
It wasn't until Talarico's Rogan interview that others started realizing how deep the Trump/Texas Republican entanglements go. Talarico also did a good job getting across the Christian Nationalist angle here in Texas too. People from other states haven't quite picked up on that yet.
Our political reporting is so messed up. It does not inform citizens of the material information they need to vote in their own interest. National political reporting just keeps the same D's in disarry and Trump saying outrageous things narrative. Democrats from other states have apparently been working under the assumption that all this autocratic garbage coming out of Texas is the will of Texas voters. I hope we can pierce that bubble because it would really help if National Democrats got on the stick and worked to win in every single Red state.
Anyway - fantastic reporting as usual. Thanks, Michelle.
Thank you Michelle, for another hard days work. We’re lucky you’re putting this out for us, so we can keep up.
I’m going to the Town Hall in Austin with Beto,Castro,and Talarico with Jasmine Crockett, Greg Casar and Gene Wu among others….but notably absent is Colin Allred’s name.
Allred doesn’t seem to be playing team ball. What is up with him?