President Trump desires new congressional maps in Texas — now. Not within the subsequent decade. Not after the following census. Not when it’s historically performed. He desires it performed smack dab in the midst of the last decade.
Why the odd timing? As a result of he desires it performed 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 not too long ago 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, solely to make use of funds “rescissions” to take again the Democratic priorities they by no means supposed to fund.
Trump performs Calvinball with democracy — guidelines change mid-play, and he’s one way or the other at all times the one scoring.
And right here’s the factor: It’s not unlawful. “Not unlawful” in the identical method that ingesting milk straight from the carton isn’t unlawful — simply gross, petty and an announcement to the room that you simply’re not interested by residing 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 would backfire and really price Republicans 2026 midterm seats. However both method, this aggression is radioactive.
Think about the rapid response. Texas Democrats, missing the votes to dam the transfer, fled the state totally — 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, actually, it’s a reasonably 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? Will we get a full-blown interstate standoff? A stay 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 prices in opposition to 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 (actually, they don’t have a lot leverage), blue states are already eyeing retaliation.
California, New York, Illinois — they might all mud off the gerrymander machine to carve out further Democratic seats. (Sure, some blue states handed map drawing to impartial commissions, however energy has a method of discovering the crowbar it wants.)
That is mutually assured destruction with ballots as a substitute of missiles.
And the kicker? After each side squeeze each final seat out of their respective states, this complete exhausting mess might internet Republicans one or two further seats — or possibly none in any respect.
At this level, you is perhaps questioning “How did we get right here?”
I’m reminded of an outdated story — probably true, most likely 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 might stroll away from the stake they’re chained to at any time. However they don’t. They’ve realized the stake is “unbreakable.” Resistance is futile.
Trump is the elephant who by no means obtained that memo. To him, the stake — the norms, the Structure, the establishments — is a suggestion, not a restraint.
The larger downside? Everybody else has now seen Trump turn out 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 imagine they simply lacked creativeness. And Democrats are beginning to imagine that enjoying good equates to enjoying 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, obligation or concern of the abyss.
Seems, the abyss has a DJ and an open bar. The individuals hurtling towards it aren’t falling. They’re hovering.
Matt Okay. Lewis is the writer of “Filthy Wealthy Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”
