California to Texas: Two Can Play the Gerrymandering Game
While much of the nation remains fixated on the Epstein scandal, a quieter but arguably more consequential battle is brewing in Texas and California. It’s the battle for control of Congress, it’s heading to the states and the gloves are coming off.
What We Know
Texas Republicans are pushing a rare mid-decade redistricting plan that could create five new GOP-leaning congressional seats ahead of the 2026 elections.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called a 30-day special legislative session, starting tomorrow, to try and push it through.
President Trump is backing the plan.
Governor Gavin Newsom says Trump is trying to “steal the 2026 election.”
In response, Newsom hosted Texas Democratic lawmakers today at the California Governor’s Mansion in Sacramento.
Newsom says California Democrats may consider a retaliatory redistricting plan but only if Texas moves forward.
Why It Matters to California and the Country
A partisan redraw in California could flip multiple seats, shift the balance of power in the House, and neutralize Republican gains in Texas.
• California has 52 congressional districts.
• 9 are currently held by Republicans.
The Hurdles
This would not be easy to do in California. Newsom would need to either suspend California’s independent redistricting commission or pursue a constitutional amendment. Both options would likely face steep legal and political challenges.
State law mandates redistricting only once per decade, unless that law is changed.
Overriding the voter-approved commission could trigger backlash from across the political spectrum and raise serious concerns about electoral integrity.
WATCH: @paulmitche11 and @MattRexroad discuss Gov. Newsom’s idea and potential options to redraw congressional districts in CA to pick up seats in the House for Democrats.
This is in response to Texas looking to do the same to favor Republicans.
#InsideCAPolitics— #Nikki Laurenzo (#@NikkiLaurenzo)
4:37 PM • Jul 23, 2025
Trump Speaks Out on Epstein Files and Refuses to Rule Out Pardon for Maxwell
The dog days of summer are here, and every day we find ourselves asking: There’s more? Yes. There’s more.
President Trump this morning addressed his inclusion in the Epstein Files, a fact confirmed by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Elon Musk, and others.
Let’s be clear: being named is not proof of criminal wrongdoing. But if any of those associations cross legal lines, the implications are massive for Trump, the DOJ, and the 2026 election cycle.
Deputy Attorney General and former defense lawyer for President Trump, Todd Blanche, met for a second day with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, the one-time friend and accomplice to Jeffrey Epstein. After arriving in Scotland for a five-day visit, Trump did not rule
— #CBS Evening News (#@CBSEveningNews)
11:25 PM • Jul 25, 2025
Maxwell Pardon?
Asked whether he would consider pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate currently in prison for sex trafficking minors, Trump replied:
“It’s something I haven’t thought about. I’m allowed to do it.”
He then deflected, suggesting the media focus on others who had socialized with Epstein including former President Bill Clinton and ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
Maxwell DOJ Interview
Trump’s former personal attorney Todd Blanche, now a top official at the DOJ, is currently on day two of interviews with Maxwell at a Florida prison.
What’s being discussed? Still unclear.
Lawmakers are also pushing to bring Ghislaine Maxwell to testify before Congress. But her attorney has said they don’t know if she will honor the subpoena.
This Week’s Events
In May 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi formally informed President Trump that his name appears “multiple times” in DOJ investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Original Source: Wall Street Journal /Good timeline of events here.The House Oversight Committee voted this week to subpoena the Epstein files, with three Republicans joining Democrats in support.
A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday also denied a motion to unseal Epstein-related grand jury materials, dealing a blow to those calling for full transparency.
New York Times reported Friday that Trump’s name is listed as a contributor in the now infamous “Epstein Birthday Book”.
The Times also reports that Trump once inscribed a copy of his book to Epstein with the note: “To Jeff — You are the greatest!”
BREAKING via NYT: The Times found another admiring note Donald Trump wrote to Jeffrey Epstein.
“To Jeff — You are the greatest!” reads an inscription in a copy of Mr. Trump’s book “Trump: The Art of the Comeback” that belonged to Mr. Epstein. (link in reply)
— #MeidasTouch (#@MeidasTouch)
12:38 AM • Jul 25, 2025
Public Evidence of Association
Trump and Epstein were socially acquainted as far back as the 1990s.
CNN has reported that Epstein attended Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples, multiple events at Mar-a-Lago, and a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Trump is listed eight times on Epstein’s flight logs. He is not listed as visiting Epstein’s island.
In interviews, both Jeffery Epstein and his brother Mark have confirmed that Trump was one of Epstein’s closest friends.
Before You Go
Tens of thousands of Safeway employees across California could walk off the job this weekend if union leaders don’t reach a contract agreement with the company by midnight.
What You Need to Know
The strike would begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday
Could affect more than 100 Safeway stores—from Bakersfield to the Oregon-California border.
Up to 25,000 union members are expected to participate if talks collapse.
What workers are demanding:
Wage increases to match the high cost of living, especially in the Bay Area
Improved health benefits and job protections
About Calibrate
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