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Good afternoon, Press Pass readers. And just like that, the longest government shutdown in United States history is over. I’ve loved the feedback I’ve gotten from our Bulwark+ members throughout this period; your ideas have been greatly appreciated. Is there a story out there you think the legacy media is missing? You can always drop me a line about it and I’ll have a look. If you’re not a member, consider upgrading your subscription at the link below. Let me know in the comments if you join today so I can welcome you to our community.
Today’s edition is about the political death knell for California Republicans, which came last week with the passage of Prop 50. The ballot initiative was a direct response to Donald Trump and Mike Johnson pressuring governors and lawmakers to fix the maps in Republican-majority states to squeeze out extra seats for the party in next year’s midterms—a move that has since backfired. It’s created a situation in which California Republicans, who have often helped secure Republican House majorities, are now on a slow march toward irrelevance.
In addition, Epstein files–related drama has once again engulfed the Hill as lawmakers push for a larger release. In advance of an important vote next week, it’s important to understand what the consequences might be for Trump. The president’s panic may be less about what’s in the files and more about the damage further Epstein releases might do to his credibility with a key demographic of the GOP base. Lastly, the administration’s trade policy is coming for pasta. I’m at my breaking point. All that and more, below.
Trump Kicks California Republicans Into the Abyss
As their districts disappear and their careers in Congress end, few admit their own party is to blame.
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California, rest in peace . . .
For decades, California Republicans have been essential to the GOP’s ability to gain a majority in the House. But the handful of competitive districts and reliably red areas far from the coast—the ones where these Republican candidates won their seats—won’t be around much longer. The success last week of California’s Proposition 50 means the state’s maps will be redrawn to more heavily favor Democrats. Despite years of squeezing every vote from their districts and remaining indefatigably loyal to the MAGA cause, many California Republicans will soon be getting the boot.
This mid-decade war of political cartography began after President Donald Trump urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to begin the process of redrawing his own state’s electoral maps. Trump said that because he won Texas, “We are entitled to five more seats.”
Almost immediately, Californians responded in kind. Other states, both Democratic and Republican led, took the field. But what once seemed destined to become a Republican rout has been fought closer to a stalemate. If you tally all the pending state map changes, it’s looking like the red gains and blue gains may just cancel each other out.
This surely was a bitter pill for the House’s California Republicans, who appear to have lost their careers for basically nothing (or who now have to run in incumbent-on-incumbent GOP primaries). Naturally, I sought them out, to ask: “Was it worth it?”...
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