Lenny Mendonca

What Blue States should do if Red States super-gerrymander How to avoid a race to the bottom

What should Blue States do if Red States super-gerrymander? Some thoughts...

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-blue-states-should-do-when-red

Nope.
Federalist autocracy.

Federal court says Alabama must use map that creates 2nd Black majority district The state is expected to appeal the decision, which comes as both parties move to draw new districts for partisan advantage.

This is yet another affirmation by a federal court that under the STILL NEEDED Voting Rights Act, Alabama must have two Black opportunity districts. Alabama Republicans tried AGAIN to deny Black voters the power they are due and once again they were stopped.
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Americans deserve fair congressional district maps no matter what state they live in. Congress can make that a reality if it chooses to.

How Democrats Tied Their Own Hands on Redistricting Their threat to match Republican gerrymandering could be difficult to fulfill.

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

“We’re in a period of adjustment. We better adjust really damn quickly.”
More like autocratic takeover.

Trump falsely claims other countries pay his tariffs. US businesses and consumers will likely bear most of the costs. - The Boston Globe Tariffs are collected when foreign goods arrive at the border and amount to a back-door tax increase that one analysis estimates will cost the average US household $2,400 this year.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/07/n...

“Tariff is basically a euphemism for a tax. It’s no different than any other tax on ... products and services.”
Let’s just be clear. And a regressive one at that.

Opinion | Our President Is Economically Illiterate

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/o...

“”People don’t explain to me, I explain to them!” Perhaps he should consider flipping those two clauses.”

Trump demands a new census that excludes unauthorized residents Trump, in a Thursday Truth Social post, called for a "new and highly accurate" census.

www.axios.com/2025/08/07/t...

Next, make up GDP #’s. Autocracy 101.
Nope.

Kleptocracy?! I’m shocked, shocked.

Terms of Engagement - The Great American Redistrict-Off YouTube video by Harvard Ash Center

www.youtube.com/live/LWf--u8...

A good 30 min listen on the current redistricting issue
Reminiscent of the F Scott Fitgerald quote:The truest sign of intelligence is the ability to entertain two contradictory ideas simultaneously
The contradiction is resolved by separating ST from LT.

Always time for a local craft 🍺 before heading home.

Excited to provide a board member perspective on the great work they do at an energetic all hands @wgu meeting.

This is what fascism looks like.

Nice view of Sacto flying over this morning

How Texas Republicans want to dismantle Democratic districts | CNN Politics Texas Republicans have proposed a new congressional map for the state, with the goal of flipping five Democratic seats in next year’s midterm elections.

www.cnn.com/2025/08/06/p...

“Citizen-led Independent Redistricting Commissions (like CA) are the gold standard for protecting the power of the people.In the meantime, this racist, autocratic crap enabled by SCOTUS and a handcuffed VRA and DoJ must be stopped. 🔥🔥🔥

The Politics America Needs Now Anne-Marie Slaughter highlights the potential of collaborative efforts to revitalize civic responsibility and shared purpose.

www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/n... Syndicate Newsletter

“The America anchored in universal values that so many of us still believe in is not dead. It is just figuring out how to fight.”

The Voting Rights Act at 60: still the frontline for democracy Decades after its passage, the revolutionary law continues to face threats and attempts to pervert its purpose

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

“The mid-decade redistricting in Texas proposed by Donald Trump presents a particularly vivid example of the consequences of an end to pre-clearance and recent supreme court decisions.”

Morning flight for day trip to SLC

Small towns, massive opportunity: Unlocking rural America’s potential Rural America is not merely a peripheral part of the national economy but a critical contributor to its innovation and productivity.

www.mckinsey.com/institute-fo...

Thoughtful work from @McKinsey

The World’s Best IPA—According To The U.S. Open Beer Championship The best IPAs have been chosen by judges at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Top awards went to breweries across the U.S. and Canada

www.forbes.com/sites/erikof...

Congratulations @hmbbrewingco

Heading home

Until next year Maui

The Mystery of the Strong Economy Has Finally Been Solved Turns out it wasn’t actually that strong.

www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...

“The striking thing about these trends is how heavily they diverge from how the economy was projected to perform before Trump took office.”
#TrumpSlump

Watching the sunrise during an early board call

Trump to blame for high cost of living, Americans say in new poll Six out of 10 Americans fault president for financial struggles and eight out of 10 worry about tariffs’ impact

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

“Donald Trump has simultaneously raised prices on everyday goods through a reckless approach to tariffs, a decimation of programs that help Americans afford healthcare, education, food and childcare, and then kneecapping federal regulators.”

Always have to check out the local craft brew.

Evacuating pool because of tsunami warning in Maui

How many local journalists is enough? - Poynter We need to stop shrinking the goalposts and start asking: What would it take to truly inform every community?

Our recently published Local Journalist Index with @muckrack.com tracks the number of local journalists across the country. Now, Rebuild Local News President @stevenwaldman.bsky.social asks: how many local journalists does a community need to be truly informed?

www.poynter.org/commentary/2...

Hello Maui

Fun times ahead in Maui