Max Flugrath🗳️

Don't be distracted by the chaos. Trump’s 2nd term agenda will be more calculated than his 1st. He's following the playbook of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to crush democracy, silence dissent & entrench his own power. Those who lived it say there’s a window to act now. Here’s how we fight back. ⬇️

23 days out from election day, the most notable trend emerging from the early vote is large turnout increases among voters of color relative to the same point in time in both 2022 and 2024. In fact, in every state reporting thus far the white vote share is lower than '22/'24.

He’s a roadkill enthusiast not a scientist

It’s time to throw down.

No one in this regime will face federal criminal accountability unless we reform the Supreme Court first. That's what folks should be running on. That should be the lesson of the Jack Smith prosecutions: it doesn't matter who the AG is.

This is a mother's day for organizing. Today I'm busy getting out the word about the march on Montgomery, Alabama next Saturday while also supporting local organizing against confederate special sessions happening to gut black political power across the South. Mothers let's make it happen.

Happy Mother's Day! here's what awaits the special mom in my life 1. Breakfast 2. The mother of all civil rights actions! Giving my wife tickets to Montgomery, Alabama, where next weekend we march. Please join us 👉https://blackpowerwarroom.com/dayofaction/

They’re against diversity. And they want Black people grouped together in one part of town, until it comes to our voting power. We see you.

the most anti free speech administration in this country’s history

Reminder: The Supreme Court ruled some businesses can refuse service to gay people. The case was brought by a web designer who got a request from a gay couple for a wedding website. But the request was fake. The man who supposedly requested it – didn’t. And he’s straight and married.

So Texas, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee can redraw districts without a referendum and that stands, but when Virginia lets voters decide directly at the ballot box, it gets overturned?

Resistance is booming in the South as Republicans rush to rig congressional maps and silence Black communities. Politicians responded fast to the Supreme Court gutting the law that took America out of Jim Crow. But opposition is moving just as fast. Must read from @jenrice.bsky.social ⬇️

Today in Politics, Bulletin 366. Everything you need to know about what happened today in politics. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...

Virginia was a setback But the math still points to a pro-democracy pickup The South is rising up — protests in Tennessee Alabama & beyond And a national mobilization in Montgomery is set for May 16 The movement is growing and here's how to join on my Publisher's note on @contrariannews.org -TN

THP Col. Matt Perry congratulates a trooper who was involved in Thursday’s special-session confrontation with Tennessee Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social. (Deleted previous post; it was MY Friday, but not Friday.)

Exactly two months ago today, Trump said he would not sign any other bills until the SAVE Act reached his desk. We now know that he was bluffing — and we also know that the SAVE Act has been shelved. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

yes. change the statute on which this decision turned and redistrict according to the legitimacy conferred by the people of the state

We’re in the “break glass in case of emergency” moment for American democracy. Democrats can create 22 new blue US House seats by 2028 by redrawing maps in: – New York – Colorado – Maryland – Oregon – Wisconsin – Minnesota – Pennsylvania Time to take action.

Virginia supreme court's inexplicable ruling against the will of voters on redistricting dramatically raises the urgency for Dems to redistrict in other states before 2028. The stakes in state legislative races this cycle just got more urgent. My piece on that here: newrepublic.com/article/2098...

BREAKING: Tennessee GOP passed a rigged congressional map cracking Memphis – largest U.S. Black-majority city – in 3 pieces. Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social: "These maps are racist tools of white supremacy at the behest of the most powerful white supremacist in the United States, Donald J. Trump."

Chaos in Alabama: Last night, Republican State Senators rammed through a bill to advance redistricting while tornado sirens blared, the chamber was being evacuated, and the livestream went dark. When this is how they pass it – that tells you everything you need to know.

They’re trying to rig the maps, but organizers across the South are pushing back. ✊🏾

Whole clip is a must watch. But the bottom line is this: "In a democracy, the right to vote is sacrosanct. But it is also the passport to participation." Republicans intend to rig the maps and decimate Black Americans' representation, all to cement control of Congress.

"We would never sit in these bodies and say that ranchers can only be represented by vegans." @staceyabrams.com in Tennessee today discussing what the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act in Callais means for Black Americans – and every American.

"If Democrats gain control of more state legislatures this year...they could...all but erase any [GOP redistricting] advantage...races for state legislature this year just got way more important." Good @maddow.bsky.social segment on the need to escalate (cites our reporting):

🚨On May 20, Mississippi lawmakers will walk into a special redistricting legislative session. It'll be held inside the Old Capitol. It's the very same building where Jim Crow was written into law. That's not just symbolic – it’s a reminder. ⬇️

a thought i had while talking to a friend is that a federal end to partisan gerrymandering has to be at the top of the democratic party's agenda, and may likely get there because of threat the status quo poises to black representation, and thus black political involvement altogether.

the kid – like us – has no idea WTF Trump is talking about.

Reminder: SCOTUS only ruled Louisiana’s congressional map is unconstitutional. States like Tennessee saying their maps are illegal are echoing Trump's false comments. Unless there’s evidence that Tennessee’s maps was drawn in regard to Sec. 2 of the VRA, they're just spewing BS.

Walking in a straight line is hard.

This is an essential point from @maxflugrath.bsky.social: If Dems don't aggressively redistrict in the face of escalating GOP abuses, it's actually an abdication of responsibility to the voters. See our exchange here: newrepublic.com/article/2099...

Just like their denial of the 2020 election results, they're being chosen *for* a willingness to ignore reality. These questions are litmus tests that demonstrate loyalty to one man – not to the American people, our constitution, or the rule of law in general.

Trump is openly urging the GOP to gerrymander everywhere as his polls crater. That requires Dems to respond, says @maxflugrath.bsky.social. "You can’t win a fight by choosing not to use stronger weapons that your opponent is using." Today's pod lays out the roadmap: newrepublic.com/article/2099...

@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social quoted in The Atlantic! Read the piece, on Trump's attempt to be remembered as a "great man" of history, here: lnk.thebulwark.com/4niN5sf

After the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, far-right politicians in the South are rushing to rig congressional maps before voters can stop them. It's moving fast! But opposition is too – events: –Monday: Louisiana, Alabama + North Carolina –Tuesday: Tennessee Share to spread the word.

I do not recall ever having a restaurant ask me for ID when I arrived. This is the acting Attorney General of the United States. bsky.app/profile/atru...

"The family made national headlines after being taken by ICE during a routine immigration appointment. The family was detained in Dilley TX, while the oldest son, Antonio, was held in Raymondville. "The family and Antonio were later released and reunited..." www.valleycentral.com/news/local-n...

Unfortunately bribery laws won’t reach this conduct without proof of quid pro quo

My thoughts are that this prediction is not looking great.

Can someone let the AP know that violating court orders is not a sign of "executive power. " It is a sign of contempt, lawlessness and authoritarianism.

By gutting the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court is killing the Second Reconstruction. The first Reconstruction shows how Congress should respond. Me and Daphna Renan in the NYT on the tools we have to save democracy from a hostile Court.

Weird for him to post this for many reasons, but one is the fact that he’s owned pools his entire life but has never been in one because he doesn’t want to be seen with his shirt off.

Republican controlled states are rushing to rig voting maps so they can lock in GOP control of Congress. Instead of competing for votes to win, they want to change the maps to weaken the power of your vote. Essential reading from @contrariannews.org. ⬇️

this needs to extend to everything, including for example filing the exact same bill shit lawsuit at 60 Minutes for editing trumps interview as trump filed over the biden interview