states

North Carolina Republicans gerrymander themselves into permanent power

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North Carolina Republicans passed new, gerrymandered maps last month to ensure their party holds nearly all congressional seats and a veto-proof legislative majority. Background At a statewide level, North Carolina is one of the most purple in the nation. The 2020 election was decided by less than 100,000 votes, with Trump winning by just one …

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Republicans continue to undermine voting rights: Louisiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin

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Louisiana The 5th Circuit issued a writ of mandamus canceling a hearing to choose a new congressional map for Louisiana, after a lower court declared that the original unconstitutionally diluted Black residents’ votes. Background Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed the map in March 2022 because, despite Black people making up one-third of the state’s population, Republican lawmakers …

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Republicans in gerrymandered swing states seek to impeach Democratic state Supreme Court justices

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Gerrymandered into power Two of the nation’s most purple states, with a voting population split nearly 50/50 between the two parties, are also the most gerrymandered to produce a Republican advantage. North Carolina voted for Donald Trump in 2020 by just 1.3% (or 74,000 votes) and has a split state government (with a Democratic governor …

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11th Circuit bans gender-affirming care for minors because it isn’t ‘deeply rooted’ in history

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The 11th Circuit on Monday overturned a district court order that blocked Alabama’s felony ban on gender-affirming care from taking effect. Background The case, brought by a coalition of four parents of transgender children, healthcare providers, and a pastor, challenges the legality of Alabama’s “Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act.” Signed into law by Gov. …

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Gov. DeSantis ousts another progressive prosecutor, names Federalist Society replacement

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Read on Substack Florida Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) removed another democratically elected prosecutor from office yesterday, accusing her of “neglect of duty.” Monique Worrell, the state attorney of Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit covering the Orlando area, was elected to the position by over 66% of voters in 2020. She is a former public defender who built …

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Agricultural workers, delivery drivers, and prison inmates die during record heat waves | Lawmakers and businesses oppose heat illness regulations

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Read on Substack Heat waves Climate change is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise, which is leading to more deadly heat waves across the globe. According to the World Meteorological Organization, this July is the hottest month on record, with 21 of the first 23 days of July hotter than any previous days in the database. High …

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Tennessee intensifies felony disenfranchisement scheme; Florida sued over pay-to-vote system

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Read on Substack Tennessee Tennessee made it more difficult for people convicted of felonies to restore their voting rights, creating what voting rights advocates call the most “strenuous and confusing” system in the nation. Background Two residents of Tennessee who were convicted of felonies in other states but had their voting rights restored were denied …

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Red states seek out-of-state medical records to prosecute abortions, gender-affirming care

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Read on Substack MEDICAL RECORDS 18 Republican attorneys general are seeking out-of-state medical records in order to investigate and potentially prosecute people who have an abortion in less-restrictive states. In April, the Biden administration proposed a new HIPAA rule to prohibit healthcare providers from sharing an individual’s health information when the purpose is “to investigate, sue, or …

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Iowa passes 6-week abortion ban during late night vote; Idaho disbands maternal death review committee

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Iowa abortion ban Iowa Republicans passed a ban on abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy in the middle of the night Tuesday during a one day special session. The bill, House File 732, claims to ban abortion after a “fetal heartbeat” is detected. However, there is no actual heartbeat at 6 weeks of gestation because the heart of …

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Louisiana asks the most conservative court in the nation to invalidate another portion of the Voting Rights Act

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The state of Louisiana asked the 5th Circuit on Thursday to require a district court to consider throwing out Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — a move designed to bring the case to the conservative Supreme Court majority. Background The case, Robinson v. Ardoin, was brought against Louisiana in 2022 by civil rights …

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