David Nir
@davidnir.com
10K followers 21 following 1.4K posts
Publisher, @the-downballot.com. davidnir (at) the-downballot (dot) com Our site: https://the-downballot.com
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davidnir.com
Something I love about running a tiny independent media outlet that's beholden only to our readers: We get to do awesome public service journalism like this.

Don't get me wrong—this redistricting war is terrible. But we don't have to worry about clicks or shareholders. We just do work that matters.
the-downballot.com
The new redistricting wars triggered by Trump & the GOP have unleashed a torrent of news. To help keep track of it all, we've published a guide to the latest developments in every state—28 in all—and we'll update it every time there’s something new to report.

You'll want to bookmark this one —>
The Downballot’s live guide to redistricting in every state
As states move forward with mid-decade redraws, we're continually updating this tracker
www.the-downballot.com
davidnir.com
At the very least, I think "consequences" is a much better word for Dems to use than "accountability"!
atrupar.com
Q: Politico reported on a group chat of young Republicans. Does this just reflect some bad apples?

HOCHUL: Some bad apples? These are the future of the GOP. This is so vile it's hard to find the words to put into context ... there's gotta be consequences ... this bullshit has to stop.
davidnir.com
If Republicans *genuinely* thought making the troops go without pay would hurt Democrats more than themselves, they would have allowed precisely that to happen! The fact that they did the opposite strongly suggests it's a political loser for them.
davidnir.com
Wait, what on earth is this feature?
Reposted by David Nir
the-downballot.com
Also in the newsletter:

• A top House recruit in MD is stuck waiting for fellow Dems to decide whether to draw a new map

• JD Vance's latest mission to Indiana seems to have gone as well as his last one (so, poorly)

• NC GOP says it will pass an even more extreme gerrymander

And much more!
the-downballot.com
Holdouts are making it hard for the Kansas GOP to pass a new gerrymander, so party leaders are offering a new incentive: agree to convene a special session and we'll hold a vote on banning trans people from changing their gender on their driver's licenses.

We explain it all in today's Digest →
Morning Digest, sponsored by Campaign Legal Center: What's more important to the GOP than gerrymandering? Anti-trans laws
Kansas Republicans fear a "flood" of trans people wanting to change their driver's licenses
www.the-downballot.com
Reposted by David Nir
the-downballot.com
Holdouts are making it hard for the Kansas GOP to pass a new gerrymander, so party leaders are offering a new incentive: agree to convene a special session and we'll hold a vote on banning trans people from changing their gender on their driver's licenses.

We explain it all in today's Digest →
Morning Digest, sponsored by Campaign Legal Center: What's more important to the GOP than gerrymandering? Anti-trans laws
Kansas Republicans fear a "flood" of trans people wanting to change their driver's licenses
www.the-downballot.com
davidnir.com
Whoever taught Dems the word "accountability" ... well, too bad they can't un-teach it. It's a crutch, and normal people definitely don't talk that way.

Just tell us exactly what you think should happen when you see wrongdoing!
davidnir.com
The gaslighting—from NC Republicans and many others—is really something else. They're just outright pretending that California launched this year's redistricting wars, even though it started with Texas. bergerpress.medium.com/general-asse...
davidnir.com
It's impressive that polls continue to favor the Dems on the shutdown when Beltway flat-out blames the entire thing on them—with zero responsibility assigned to Republicans. Here's an example from today.
Capitol Hill crossroads. Back home, Congress faces a critical moment. Especially the GOP-run House, which has pretty much given up any pretense of relevancy during this impasse. An institution that voluntarily shuts itself down for weeks in the midst of a huge clash over federal spending — something that impacts all Americans — isn’t playing a real role in governing.

Yes, the House passed a CR 23 days ago. But Senate Democrats, who instigated this crisis, have rejected it seven times now. So maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board.

We’ve told you that the cumulative impacts of a shutdown grow the longer it lasts, and that’s the case here.
Reposted by David Nir
the-downballot.com
Also in today's newsletter:

• A key FL Republican seems to be slowing the GOP's roll on redistricting

• New Orleans will have a new mayor—with no runoff necessary

• Texs Dems land a candidate for a tough but not impossible seat the GOP just gerrymandered

And more!
the-downballot.com
An eight-figure infusion to help CA pass a new congressional map has sparked chatter that Tom Steyer could run for governor. But the campaign trail in the Golden State is littered with failed bids by the ultra-wealthy.

Our full report in today's Morning Digest -->
Morning Digest, sponsored by Campaign Legal Center: Another California billionaire might run for governor
But self-funders have a long record of falling short in the Golden State
www.the-downballot.com
Reposted by David Nir
the-downballot.com
An eight-figure infusion to help CA pass a new congressional map has sparked chatter that Tom Steyer could run for governor. But the campaign trail in the Golden State is littered with failed bids by the ultra-wealthy.

Our full report in today's Morning Digest -->
Morning Digest, sponsored by Campaign Legal Center: Another California billionaire might run for governor
But self-funders have a long record of falling short in the Golden State
www.the-downballot.com
davidnir.com
Were you musing about this? bsky.app/profile/atru...
atrupar.com
Trump: "I don't think there's anything that's gonna get me in heaven. I think I'm not maybe heaven bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to make heaven."
davidnir.com
Sure seems like another climbdown, doesn't it, @joshtpm.bsky.social?
davidnir.com
"Inside the White House, top advisers joke that they are ruling Congress with an 'iron fist,' according to people who have heard the comments. Steve Bannon, the influential Trump ally, likened Congress to the Duma, the Russian assembly that is largely ceremonial."

From Josh Dawsey at the @wsj.com.
Trump, Feeling Emboldened, Pushes Agenda Into Higher Gear
Recent moves by the president reflect a commander in chief who has seemingly faced little resistance to his agenda.
www.wsj.com
Reposted by David Nir
snipy.bsky.social
Do you ever wake up in a cold sweat at night thinking about how venerable your publication used to be and how now you’re just a handmaiden to the worst people in the world?
washingtonpost.com
President Trump has made clear that he is eager to use the might of the American military and the resources of the federal government to crack down on what he sees as domestic threats: violent crime, illegal immigration and the antifa movement.
Trump deploys tactics and language of war against perceived domestic threats
It represents a dramatic shift in the use of the military, which has been focused for most of American history on threats from abroad.
wapo.st
Reposted by David Nir
clarajeffery.bsky.social
We will need Nuremberg-like trials
longtimehistory.bsky.social
ICE secretly kidnap autistic boy during bathroom break—never notify parents.

Mother reported him missing a week ago—turns out ICE had him detained the whole time.

He was helping sell fruit and asked to go to the restroom—by the time she was done helping a customer he was gone.

Houston, Texas
Reposted by David Nir
joshscherr.bsky.social
cry havoc! and let slip the frogs of war
Man in inflatable frog costume at Portland protests
davidnir.com
I don’t recall saying “good luck”
Reposted by David Nir
djangowexler.bsky.social
My boss: so how's our fourth quarter looking?

Me, the sales manager at the company that makes inflatable frog suits: well, you're never going to believe this, but
Reposted by David Nir
ianboudreau.com
ICE in Portland is coming off like Gargamel getting repeatedly rolled by the Smurfs
Reposted by David Nir
joshtpm.bsky.social
If GOP wants to abolish the filibuster over this, awesome. It helps Rs way more than Ds. It’s also a central reason for loss of faith in government over the last 25 yrs. Rs can reopen the govt tonight if they want. If they want to do it to make sure 15 million lose their health care that’s on them.
ringwiss.bsky.social
“And that’s why we nuked it twice in the past month.”