*Breaking News & Hot Takes* US DOJ Sues To Block California House Map Over Racial Districting - Plus More!

Today’s Hot Takes Column is combined with breaking news! Even more for our readers! More on Newsom’s COS being indicted, High Speed Rail, the Epstein Files Debacle, and Kiley is supporting… what?

(I was just finishing up a “Hot Takes” column on a bunch of different issues when this breaking news hit, first item below. The breaking news and another “Hot Take” are above the paywall. But there are bunch of other interesting items (six of them) below the firewall, for paid subscribers. Jump in! The water’s warm!)

Breaking News… United States Justice Department Sues To Block California House Map Over Racial Gerrymandering

The U.S. Justice Department filed suit Thursday in California federal court to block Proposition 50, the voter-approved constitutional amendment that redraws congressional districts to give Democrats a path to flip five Republican-held seats in 2026. Joining a California GOP challenge, the Trump administration accuses Gov. Gavin Newsom of racial gerrymandering by using Hispanic voter concentrations as a proxy to maximize Democratic gains, violating the Equal Protection Clause.

The complaint calls the map a “brazen power grab” that “mocks the democratic process,” alleging the state legislature rushed a partisan rejiggering disguised as racial equity. Prop 50 was Newsom’s counterpunch to Texas Republicans’ redistricting, which aims to net five Democratic seats. With Republicans holding a narrow 219-214 House majority, the California fight could determine control and Trump’s second-term fate. We will do a more in-depth analysis of this filing when time permits!

More Hot Takes…

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM MCGUIRE ANNOUNCES FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT THAT HE DREW FOR HIMSELF

The Legislature insisted Proposition 50 wasn’t about creating partisan advantages — yet somehow they produced a brand-new congressional district perfectly tailored for term-limited Senate President Mike McGuire: deep-blue, no incumbent, and waiting for him like a reserved parking spot. And now, to no one’s surprise, McGuire is formally jumping in. He launches with the full Democratic establishment behind him — Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Thompson, Jared Huffman, and every Democratic county supervisor in the new 1st District. Prop. 50, which McGuire forcefully supported, conveniently spared him from waiting for Thompson to retire. The map was drawn for him, and he’s seizing the opportunity exactly as Sacramento insiders intended. It’s as bad as this maneuver in Illinois.

Representative Doug LaMalfa, who lives in this new pretty blue seat, is not giving it up without a fight, making this statement: “McGuire will continue to try and reimagine himself as a voice for the people, but voters are smarter than that. We all know he is an elitist politician siding with the most extremist members of his party to undermine the voice of the people. The last thing voters want is more of what Mike McGuire represents and that’s the Sacramento political class that is ruining the State. I think voters are tired of this corruption and I’m ready to keep fighting for the people of this district.”

FORMER NEWSOM CHIEF OF STAFF INDICTMENT, THE NEXT DAY…

Oh wait, this piece and five others can be found below the paywall below. There’s a big red button that will get you a week’s free preview. Support my independent work on this Substack with your membership. It’s not too expensive, and comes with access to a lot of additional content!