Federal court blocks Texas Republicans' redrawn congressional map

U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith criticized a colleague for 'judicial misbehavior' after a federal court blocked Texas's new congressional map, which was seen as favoring Republicans. In a 104-page dissent, Smith described the conduct as the most outrageous he has encountered in his 37 years on the bench. The ruling has significant implications for the Republican Party's strategy ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

A cold case in Texas has been revived thanks to a group of criminal justice and forensic science students who urged investigators to focus on a specific suspect. Their efforts have led to new developments in the decades-old murder investigation.

The latest NPR, PBS News, Marist poll indicates a decline in approval ratings for Republicans, reflecting low confidence in both major political parties among voters. This trend suggests a challenging political landscape as the midterm elections approach.

Jonathan Joss, a voice actor known for his role in 'King of the Hill', has been killed, and a Texas man has been indicted in connection with his death. Joss' husband reported that the assailant shouted violent homophobic slurs before opening fire.

Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate, stated that 'abortion bans have killed another woman in Texas' following a ProPublica report. The report highlighted the case of a 37-year-old woman named Tierra, who died due to complications related to the state's abortion restrictions. Clinton's remarks were made in a post on the social platform X, linking to the ProPublica article.

Congressional Republicans have called for a revision of Census Bureau procedures ahead of the next count, alleging that the 2020 census included 'fake' individuals and resulted in an undercount of populations in GOP-leaning states. They argue this has shifted political power away from these states.

Federal judges have blocked a redistricting plan proposed by Texas Republicans, labeling it as 'racially gerrymandered.' This ruling has sparked backlash from Republican officials, who argue that the decision reflects a double standard in judicial scrutiny. The case is expected to escalate to the Supreme Court as the GOP prepares for the upcoming midterm elections.

A Republican effort to censure Democratic Delegate Stacey Plaskett for her text exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing failed on the House floor. The motion, which aimed to formally reprimand Plaskett and remove her from the House intelligence committee, was rejected by a vote of 209 to 214. This incident has sparked accusations of a deal among party leaders to shield members from ethics controversies.