The Republican Party’s redistricting efforts are heating up as the Texas legislature pushes for new congressional maps.
President Trump has said that Republicans are “entitled” to gain five additional House seats before the 2026 midterms, as the GOP hopes to retain its slim majority in the lower chamber.
In response, dozens of Texas statehouse Democrats have fled the Lone Star State to blue states, denying the Texas legislature a quorum with the hopes of delaying a vote on the new maps.
GOP lawmakers have requested that the FBI help return the Democrats to Texas. The lawmakers that left the state are also tallying $500 daily fines, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said he would prosecute the lawmakers if they attempt to raise campaign donations to cover the incurred costs of penalties.
Some Texas Democrats have fled to California, while others have gone to other blue-leaning states like New York, New Jersey and Illinois. California Gov, Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday also announced that a special election will be held this November about redistricting.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) will be on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” where he will likely weigh in on the redistricting tit-for-tat and how the Democrats should respond.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) argued that Texas lawmakers will have to stay in other states for years to come, as he will keep calling new special legislative sessions to initiate the vote on the maps.
“That means they’re not going to come back until like 2027 or 2028, because I’m going to call special session after special session after special session with the same agenda items on there,” Abbott told NBC News.
On the foreign affairs front, Trump announced Friday that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war.
The president said that swapping territories will be discussed, a suggestion dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky early Saturday.
“Of course, we will not give Russia any awards for what it has done,” Zelensky said. “The Ukrainian people deserve peace.”
Putin has reportedly presented Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff with a ceasefire proposal during their meeting in Moscow on Wednesday, a proposition that would entail Ukraine making territorial concessions in the Donbas region. European officials have created a counterproposal which would require a ceasefire to take place before any other action is taken.
Vice President Vance, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukraine’s top officials and European national security advisors held a Saturday meeting at the Chevening House in Kent, England, where they discussed the next steps to reach a peace agreement in Eastern Europe.
“The UK’s support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace,” Lammy said Saturday on social media after the meeting.
Vance will appear on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” where he will likely talk about the Saturday meeting with European officials and the efforts the administration is taking to get closer to a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Those, along with other topics, are likely to be discussed on the upcoming Sunday shows:
NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.); Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker.
ABC’s “This Week”: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and former Ambassador John Bolton.
CNN’s “State of the Union”: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
CBS’ “Face the Nation”: Rutte; Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz); Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and former U.S. surgeon general Jerome Adams.
NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D); Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and former Attorney General Eric Holder (D).
Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday”: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D); Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R); Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.).
Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures”: Vice President Vance; Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and New York Post columnist Miranda Devine.
