President Trump needs new congressional maps in Texas — now. Not within the subsequent decade. Not after the following census. Not when it’s historically carried out. He needs it carried out smack dab in the course of the last decade.
Why the odd timing? As a result of he needs it carried out 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 lately 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 by way of, solely to make use of price range “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 approach that ingesting milk straight from the carton isn’t unlawful — simply gross, petty and an announcement to the room that you just’re not all for dwelling by any mutually agreed-upon requirements. (Belief me. I’ve youngsters.)
The Texas gambit, although, is totally Trumpian in its formidable recklessness. It would work. Or it’d backfire and truly price Republicans 2026 midterm seats. However both approach, this aggression is radioactive.
Contemplate the instant response. Texas Democrats, missing the votes to dam the transfer, fled the state completely — 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, truthfully, 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? Can we get a full-blown interstate standoff? A reside 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 expenses 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 (truthfully, 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 additional Democratic seats. (Sure, some blue states handed map drawing to unbiased commissions, however energy has a approach of discovering the crowbar it wants.)
That is mutually assured destruction with ballots as a substitute of missiles.
And the kicker? After either side squeeze each final seat out of their respective states, this complete exhausting mess may internet Republicans one or two additional seats — or perhaps none in any respect.
At this level, you is perhaps questioning “How did we get right here?”
I’m reminded of an previous story — presumably true, in all probability apocryphal — about how circus elephants are skilled.
Once they’re infants (calves), elephants are chained to a stake they’ll’t pull up. They attempt to fail, and finally they cease attempting.
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 acquired that memo. To him, the stake — the norms, the Structure, the establishments — is a suggestion, not a restraint.
The larger drawback? Everybody else has now seen Trump grow to be unmoored from accountability — with impunity. They think about they’ll do it, too.
Republicans who used to quietly admire their very own prudent “restraint” now consider they only lacked creativeness. And Democrats are beginning to consider that taking part in good equates to taking part in lifeless.
And so, the stakes are popping out of the bottom in all places.
We used to think about there was an invisible line — one which politicians wouldn’t cross out of disgrace, responsibility or worry of the abyss.
Seems, the abyss has a DJ and an open bar. The folks hurtling towards it aren’t falling. They’re hovering.
Matt Ok. Lewis is the creator of “Filthy Wealthy Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”
