How Texas May Redraw Congressional Map To Ensure U.S. House Majority For Trump
Plus: The Generations Turning To AI For Romance
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Sad news to start today’s newsletter: Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for playing Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” has died at age 54. Warner drowned on Sunday while vacationing with his family off the coast of Costa Rica, where he was pulled out to sea by a strong current.
Warner, who received an Emmy nomination for his role on the iconic sitcom (which aired from 1984 to 1992), remained proud of the show even after allegations against Bill Cosby cast a shadow over its legacy.
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Texas Moves To Add Five GOP-Leaning Congressional Seats — California Could Counter
The Texas legislature kicked off a special session Monday with redistricting high on the agenda.
President Trump is pressing Texas lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map to create as many as five additional Republican-leaning U.S. House districts that could help the GOP maintain congressional control in the midterms.
The gamble: Texas’s maps already tilt toward Republicans — who hold 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats — and redrawing them to cut into more Democratic strongholds could lead to even more GOP seats, but could make some races competitive for both parties. Republicans only won 58% of voters last year, but they control 2/3 of the House seats. They are looking to expand that.
Texas is the second most populous state, with 38 representatives in the U.S. House. But the most populous state, California, is warning that it may also move to redistrict its 52 seats to create more Democratic seats.
How can Texas do this? Redrawing maps falls under state jurisdiction, not federal. As of 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that only state courts — not federal courts — can step in when there is a perceived instance of gerrymandering, the practice of drawing maps to favor a political party.
WHY NOW?
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called this week’s special session following Trump’s request for the state to address the devastating floods in Central Texas earlier this month and redraw congressional maps ahead of the midterms.
Texas is unique in allowing multiple rounds of redistricting outside of the census, which occur every 10 years, and is typically when states redraw districts based on population changes.
In 2003, about 50 Texas Democratic state reps literally fled to Oklahoma to deprive the legislature of a quorum and block a mid-cycle redistricting effort. But, Republicans eventually prevailed.
This time, Democrats are debating whether to skip the special session to again temporarily deny Republicans of a quorum, though such a move could bring fines, arrest threats, and public backlash — particularly as the session also addresses flood relief.
“What Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans are doing is craven, cowardly, and a naked power grab. Texas Democrats are fighting back against this overreach,” Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said Monday.
OTHER STATES
Ohio Republicans are also trying to get two or three more seats on their side through their own map-drawing effort. If they are successful, Republicans might control 87% of the seats in a state where Trump won with 55% of the vote.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is openly considering retaliation. "If we're gonna play fair in a world that is wholly unfair, we may have the higher moral ground, but the ground is shifting from underneath us. And I think we have to wake up to that reality," Newsom said.
California has an independent redistricting commission designed to prevent gerrymandering. However, a ballot measure in a special election could change that.
BIG PICTURE
Currently, Senate Republicans hold a three-seat majority in the Senate. In the House, the GOP also has a very narrow single-digit majority. The fight in Texas underscores the growing trend of states redrawing political maps more frequently, leveraging every advantage to secure congressional seats. This move from Texas, and if California follows suit, could have major consequences in Congress.
President Trump’s former press secretary Sean Spicer predicted on the Mo News podcast that Texas’s redistricting will help Republicans retain control of the House in 2026, defying historical trends.
The sitting president’s party historically loses seats during midterm elections. During Trump’s first term, Democrats gained 40 seats to regain the House majority after the 2018 midterms.
🎧 Listen to the full interview with Spicer on a variety of political topics on the Mo News Podcast, available on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. We discuss everything from immigration raids and tariffs to Trump’s evolving foreign policy and the growing rift inside the MAGA movement.
🚨 ONE THING THAT’S VERY 21ST CENTURY
Singles Embrace AI Chatbots For Dating: Salt Lake City, Denver & DC Top List
Singles across the U.S. are turning to AI chatbots for romance and companionship like never before, according to new data from Match’s annual “Singles in America” survey, which polled over 5,000 people ages 18 to 98 this year.
By the numbers: A third of Gen Z and nearly a quarter of Millennial singles surveyed said they've interacted with AI as a romantic companion. About half of Gen Z-ers surveyed said they've used AI for dating help, such as crafting dating profiles or messages.
Denver, CO, and Salt Lake City, UT, topped the list of U.S. cities where the most singles (33%) have used AI for emotional intimacy or dating support, followed by Washington, D.C., where 28% of singles have done so.
AI use in dating is up 333% from last year, Michael Kaye, communications director at Match Group, told Axios, with Gen Z and men helping lead the surge.
Companies fill the space: It comes as AI companion apps like Replika, Blush, and Nomi have exploded in popularity.
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok also introduced two “Companions” — a flirty anime girl and a vulgar red panda — that reportedly push users into sexually explicit and/or violent chats.
PROS & CONS
Proponents say AI tools can help people build confidence and connections in cities with challenging dating scenes or where long work hours make it harder to meet others.
On the other side, critics say AI companions — whether used for advice or intimacy — may worsen the loneliness crisis by fostering more isolation. They argue that these chats are designed to keep users engaged, creating a feedback loop that can hinder interpersonal growth.
"It goes to the loneliness that so many people feel, and the way in which so many are not well-prepared to deal with conflicts that inevitably arise among people with their own autonomy," Irina Raicu, who runs Santa Clara University's Internet Ethics program, told Axios.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
Trump shares AI video of Obama being arrested (MO NEWS)
FAA investigating SkyWest jet’s near miss with B-52 bomber over North Dakota (CNBC)
Trump administration and Harvard spar in court over massive funding freeze (NBC)
Number of missing in Texas floods drops from nearly 100 to 3 in hard-hit county (ABC)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Japan’s long-dominant party suffers election defeat by right-wing populist party that began on YouTube (CNN)
A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into a school in Dhaka and kills at least 20 (NPR)
Israeli forces push into parts of a central Gaza city that the war had largely spared (AP) UK, Canada and 23 other countries say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’ (AP)
Scale of Russia-Ukraine drone strikes builds ahead of possible ceasefire talks (ABC)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Beef prices are the new egg prices. They’re soaring (CNN)
Jeep maker Stellantis warns of a shock $2.7 billion loss as tariffs bite (CNBC)
Over 5.2 million pools sold across the U.S. and Canada are under recall after reports of nine deaths (AP)
Starbucks reveals Pumpkin Spice Latte will return to US menus Aug. 26, along with fall menu (CBS)
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ controversy (CNBC) The controversy sparked over $7 million in prediction markets bets on his ouster (CNBC)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… The WNBA's best players called for higher pay before Saturday night's All-Star game in Indianapolis by wearing t-shirts reading: "Pay us what you owe us" during pre-game warmups. The message comes as the WNBA is in negotiation with the players' union to replace their current collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2025 season.
In the WNBA, players reportedly only receive about 20-25% of league revenue, compared to the NBA which splits revenue evenly between players and owners. Salaries range from $66,000 to $250,000 annually in the WNBA, whereas the average NBA player makes nearly $10 million a year.
The shirts got a lot of attention on social media – and as always there are mixed reactions. Some are questioning how the players can demand higher pay when the WNBA is still not profitable in 2025, while the NBA brings in a lot of $$.
The Golden State Warriors alone generated $781 million in revenue for the 23-24 season. Meanwhile, the entire WNBA lost $40 million last season.
The WNBA has seen a wave of increased attention and viewership with the addition of Caitlin Clark, the league's most popular player who was on the bench for the All Star game due to a groin injury. The calls for better pay come a year after the league’s $2.2 billion media rights deal was announced – with hopes for future profitability – alongside the introduction of new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia in the coming years.