President Trump needs new congressional maps in Texas — now. Not within the subsequent decade. Not after the following census. Not when it’s historically executed. He needs it executed smack dab in the midst of the last decade.
Why the odd timing? As a result of he needs it executed in time to assist his presidency.
In Trump’s thoughts, Texas is a merchandising machine: insert redistricting, obtain 5 shiny new Republican seats. “We’re entitled to 5 extra seats,” he declared on CNBC, his voice dripping with the royal “we” of somebody who thinks democracy is nothing however a loyalty program.
That is merely the most recent instance of Trump’s fondness for procedural hardball. He not too long ago sacked the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner for reporting job numbers he didn’t like. And his congressional minions simply handed a bipartisan invoice that required Democratic votes to get via, solely to make use of funds “rescissions” to take again the Democratic priorities they by no means meant to fund.
Trump performs Calvinball with democracy — guidelines change mid-play, and he’s one way or the other all the time the one scoring.
And right here’s the factor: It’s not unlawful. “Not unlawful” in the identical method that consuming milk straight from the carton isn’t unlawful — simply gross, petty and an announcement to the room that you simply’re not eager about residing by any mutually agreed-upon requirements. (Belief me. I’ve youngsters.)
The Texas gambit, although, is completely Trumpian in its bold recklessness. It’d work. Or it’d backfire and truly value Republicans 2026 midterm seats. However both method, this aggression is radioactive.
Take into account the fast response. Texas Democrats, missing the votes to dam the transfer, fled the state solely — denying Republicans the quorum they wanted to conduct enterprise.
This, in flip, was met with all of the subtlety of a bounty hunt. The Texas Home speaker signed civil arrest warrants for the lacking lawmakers. The governor ordered state officers to look each warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse. (Simply kidding. That was Tommy Lee Jones in “The Fugitive.” However, actually, it’s a fairly shut approximation.)
Powder keg vibes abound. What occurs if and when a Texas lawman tries to slap cuffs on a Democrat in New York or California? Will we get a full-blown interstate standoff? A dwell cable information shootout of sheriffs and state troopers on the airport terminal gate?
Even when nothing that loopy occurs, legislators making $600 a month are being fined $500 a day for his or her absence. And the governor has even threatened bribery prices towards anybody serving to them pay the fines.
However right here’s the place the escalation actually kicks in. Even when the Texas Democrats fold and slink again to Austin (actually, they don’t have a lot leverage), blue states are already eyeing retaliation.
California, New York, Illinois — they may all mud off the gerrymander machine to carve out further Democratic seats. (Sure, some blue states handed map drawing to unbiased commissions, however energy has a method of discovering the crowbar it wants.)
That is mutually assured destruction with ballots as a substitute of missiles.
And the kicker? After each side squeeze each final seat out of their respective states, this entire exhausting mess may web Republicans one or two further seats — or possibly none in any respect.
At this level, you is likely to be questioning “How did we get right here?”
I’m reminded of an previous story — presumably true, most likely apocryphal — about how circus elephants are educated.
After they’re infants (calves), elephants are chained to a stake they will’t pull up. They try to fail, and ultimately they cease making an attempt.
As adults, weighing a number of tons, they may stroll away from the stake they’re chained to at any time. However they don’t. They’ve discovered the stake is “unbreakable.” Resistance is futile.
Trump is the elephant who by no means obtained that memo. To him, the stake — the norms, the Structure, the establishments — is a suggestion, not a restraint.
The larger downside? Everybody else has now seen Trump turn out to be unmoored from accountability — with impunity. They think about they will do it, too.
Republicans who used to quietly admire their very own prudent “restraint” now imagine they simply lacked creativeness. And Democrats are beginning to imagine that enjoying good equates to enjoying lifeless.
And so, the stakes are popping out of the bottom in every single place.
We used to think about there was an invisible line — one which politicians wouldn’t cross out of disgrace, responsibility or concern of the abyss.
Seems, the abyss has a DJ and an open bar. The individuals hurtling towards it aren’t falling. They’re hovering.
Matt Ok. Lewis is the creator of “Filthy Wealthy Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”
