Texas Republicans are scrambling to tell their base they’re mobilizing all resources to punish Democrats who left the state. Sen. John Cornyn said FBI Director Kash Patel responded to his request for federal assistance in locating Democrats.

Thursday, August 7

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Republicans say FBI will help find quorum-breaking Texas Democrats

- Texas Republicans are scrambling ([link removed] ) to tell their base they’re mobilizing all resources to punish Democrats who left the state. Sen. John Cornyn said FBI Director Kash Patel responded to his request for federal assistance in locating Democrats.

- Cornyn did not release any documentation or details about what, if anything, the FBI intends to do. A press release from his office did not include a comment from Patel. It’s unclear why Texas Republicans would need help “locating” Democrats in Chicago, who have held multiple public appearances and even received a bomb threat at their hotel.



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Trump calls for new census based on ‘Presidential Election of 2024’

- Trump called ([link removed] ) for a new census that excludes noncitizens and uses information from the 2024 election. The proposal represents yet another illegal move from the executive, as federal law prohibits using mid-decade census data for apportionment counts.

A win for Michigan voters

- A state appellate court upheld ([link removed] ) the dismissal of an anti-voting lawsuit filed by the RNC, which aimed to disenfranchise overseas voters ahead of the 2024 election, specifically those who participate in Michigan elections but currently reside outside the state.

Florida reconsiders controversial map

- Florida Republicans have opened the door to redrawing ([link removed] ) the state’s congressional map mid-decade — joining Texas and potentially other GOP-led states in a national push to secure more Republican House seats ahead of 2026.

These states responded to DOJ’s requests for voter data

- The DOJ is seeking sensitive voting data from states, an unprecedented move that has raised concerns among election officials. Some states have complied, while others have outright refused to provide the information. We break down ([link removed] ) what you need to know.

Speaking of Trump's DOJ, it can ‘jump in the Gulf of Maine’

- The DOJ wants your voter information. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows joined ([link removed] ) Marc to discuss the DOJ’s demand for state voter lists, Maine’s dangerous voter ID ballot initiative and how Trump’s conspiracy theories harm election workers.

SCOTUS doesn’t need Trump to dismantle democracy, but he helps

- As the Supreme Court continues to enable Trump, we can’t pretend it will spare ([link removed] ) us from the authoritarian hill we’re tumbling down. While the Court’s brazen partisanship continues to damage our democracy, the work of lower courts becomes even more vital, Democracy Docket guest author Rachel Rossi writes.

Coming up tomorrow

- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition Tuesday directly with the Texas Supreme Court, asking ([link removed] ) justices to declare state Rep. Gene Wu’s seat vacant. Wu’s response is due tomorrow by 5 p.m. CT.

- There's a hearing in a lawsuit seeking to block a South Dakota law ([link removed] ) that makes the signature collection process for ballot initiatives more difficult.

- A federal court will hear a lawsuit seeking to restore funding for the National Endowment For Democracy after a funding freeze ([link removed] ) .

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