>>23424601 TYB!!!
@USMC
235 years of steadfast service at sea and ashore ⚓️ 🇺🇸
Today, we salute the @USCG
on its 235th birthday.
From safeguarding our shores to executing rescues and interdicting threats far from home, the Coast Guard is a key component of our nation's maritime security and defense.
Happy Birthday, Shipmates — Semper Paratus, always.
#CoastGuardBirthday #SemperParatus #Marines #USMC #USCG
https://x.com/USMC/status/1952379638828724365
+1 for ESTRN
Ways to Complete the Vote or Make a Decision on the District MapDemocrats Return Voluntarily:If enough Democratic lawmakers return to Austin to restore quorum (at least 100 members present), the vote on the redistricting map could proceed. In 2021, a similar walkout ended when three Democrats returned after nearly five weeks, allowing a quorum and passage of the contested legislation.
Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to remove absent lawmakers from office if they do not return by Monday afternoon, August 4, 2025, though such action would likely face legal challenges and may not be enforceable due to separation of powers.
Legal Action to Compel Return:The Texas Constitution allows the House to compel absent members to attend through civil arrest warrants, as attempted in 2003 and 2021, though no arrests were made in 2021.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has vowed to assist law enforcement in “hunting down” absent Democrats, but Texas state troopers lack jurisdiction in Illinois, and federal intervention is unlikely.
Democrats have dismissed these threats, citing separation of powers, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has pledged support, making enforcement difficult.
Wait Out the Special Session:The current special session, called by Governor Abbott, lasts up to 30 days from July 21, 2025, leaving just over two weeks as of August 4. If Democrats stay away until the session ends, the vote cannot occur. However, Abbott can call additional special sessions, as he did in 2021, prolonging the standoff.
Historical walkouts in 2003 and 2021 delayed but did not prevent Republican legislation, suggesting this strategy may only postpone the vote.
Legal Challenges to the Map:Democrats have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging the proposed map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting minority voting power.
Filing in Chicago leverages a perceived favorable precedent and avoids Texas courts, which Democrats view as biased. A court order could potentially halt or force a redraw of the map, though success depends on judicial interpretation, especially after the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision weakened federal oversight.
A separate ongoing lawsuit in El Paso challenges the 2021 Texas maps for similar reasons, but no ruling has been issued.
Republican Concessions or Negotiations:Republicans could negotiate with Democrats to modify the map, addressing concerns about racial gerrymandering or vote dilution to entice enough Democrats to return. However, the proposed map’s aggressive partisan design, aiming to create five new Republican-leaning seats, makes compromise unlikely.
Republicans might also pass the map in a future session with fewer Democratic objections if they adjust it to comply with legal standards, though they’ve defended the current proposal as “politically based” and defensible.
Alternative Legislative Maneuvers:If quorum is restored, Republicans, with their majority, could push the map through quickly, as seen in past sessions.
Speaker Dustin Burrows has indicated “all options” are on the table if quorum isn’t met, which could include procedural moves or waiting for Democrats to face financial or political pressure (e.g., $500 daily fines for breaking quorum).
Challenges and ConsiderationsHistorical Precedent: Walkouts in 2003 and 2021 delayed but failed to stop Republican redistricting efforts. Democrats’ current strategy may only buy time to rally public opposition or strengthen their legal case.
Political Risks: The walkout delays flood relief votes tied to the special session, risking public backlash, though Democrats argue Republicans prioritized redistricting over relief.
National Implications: Democratic governors like JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom have suggested retaliatory redistricting in their states, but legal and political barriers (e.g., New York’s independent redistricting laws) limit this.
Voting Rights Act: The map’s legality hinges on whether it violates Section 2 by diluting minority votes. Republicans claim it’s politically motivated, not racially discriminatory, but courts will decide.
https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1952415198100230336
Just gonna leave this here
Titanic sank: 1912
Federal reserve created: 1913
Federal Income Tax: 1913
Democrats America