Donald Trump’s response to the affordability crisis is “stunning” for its failure to account for political risks, according to an economics expert. Gene Sperling, a senior Biden adviser who also led the National Economic Council in the Obama and Clinton administrations, appeared on MS NOW on Thursday where he was asked about Trump’s recent comments in which the president mocked the very concept of “affordability. You know, his response to this is just so stunning, just from kind of a political self-interest point,” he said before explaining that Biden himself faced criticism for trying to brag about economic successes when people weren’t feeling them at home. “And it’s striking how many Americans understand what tariffs are and that they are raising your prices,” he said. “So what’s kind of stunning is he didn’t learn any lesson. And now, at a time when he has an economy that is very iffy, very iffy. Job numbers, not particularly strong. He’s not just deemphasizing affordability. He’s mocking it.”.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-affordability-2674315620/
Tag Archives: Trump
Trump nominates new CFPB director, but White House says agency is still closing
By KEN SWEET, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) President Trump nominated Stuart Levenbach as the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, using a legal maneuver to keep his budget director Russell Vought as acting director of the bureau while the Trump administration continues on its plan to shut down the consumer financial protection agency. Levenbach is currently an associate director inside the Office of Management and Budget, handling issues related to natural resources, energy, science and water issues. Levenbach’s resume shows significant experience dealing with science and natural resources issues, acting as chief of staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during Trump’s first term. Levenbach’s nomination is not meant to go through to confirmation, an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. Under the Vacancies Act, Vought can only act as acting director for 210 days, but now that Trump has nominated someone to the position, that clock has been suspended until the Senate approves or denies Levenbach’s confirmation as director. Vought is Levenbach’s boss. The CFPB has been nonfunctional much of the year. Many of its employees have been ordered not to work, and the only major work the bureau is doing is unwinding the regulations and rules it put into place during Trump’s first term and during the Biden administration. While in the acting director role, Vought has signaled that he wishes to dismantle, or vastly diminish, the bureau. The latest blow to the bureau came earlier this month, when the White House said it does not plan to withdraw any funds from the Federal Reserve, which is where the bureau gets its funding, to fund the bureau past Dec. 31. The White House and the Justice Department used a legal interpretation of the law that created the bureau, the Dodd-Frank Act, that the Fed must be profitable in order to fund the CFPB’s operations. Several judges have rejected this argument when it was brought up by companies, but it’s never been the position of the government until this year that the CFPB requires the Fed to be profitable to have operating funds. “Donald Trump’s sending the Senate a new nominee to lead the CFPB looks like nothing more than a front for Russ Vought to stay on as Acting Director indefinitely as he tries to illegally close down the agency,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, in a statement. The bureau was created after the 2008 financial crisis as part of the Dodd-Frank Act, a law passed to overhaul the financial system and require banks to hold more capital to avoid another financial crisis. The CFPB was created to be a independent advocate for consumers to help them avoid bad actors in the financial system.
https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2025/11/19/trump-cfpb-nomination/
Trump’s trade reset exposes Europe’s hypocrisy on free markets
The Washington Times ^ | 11/18/2025 | Peter Morici Posted on by E. Pluribus Unum President Trump is redefining the bargain between America and its allies by radically altering post-World War II Western security arrangements and the conditions that fostered market-driven globalization. He has successfully secured commitments from Europe and Japan to contribute their necessary shares to the common defense against Russia, China and their axis allies and imposed asymmetrical deals that raise U. S. tariffs. Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the legality of those tariffs, the president’s new arrangements are inherently unstable. Among the accomplishments in creating the 1995 World Trade Organization was the extension of rules governing trade in services, similar to those governing trade in goods under the 1948 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The 1995 General Agreement on Trade in Services was anticipated to permit America’s most competitive sectors finance, high tech and the creative media to thrive without border taxes similar to tariffs on goods. That expectation has been violated by arbitrary European Union regulations that target U. S. high-tech companies. Governments across Europe, Canada, India and elsewhere have imposed digital services taxes that apply primarily to the largest global companies, American businesses such as Alphabet and Microsoft, on products created in their countries and exported into their markets. By targeting primarily American high tech, those taxes effectively become import tariffs on U. S. services. Canada, seeking to remove the Trump tariffs on goods, has abandoned its digital services tax; however, the trade deals reached with Britain and the EU don’t require similar action. Mr. Trump may be threatening and bullying our partners into accepting what most call uneven economic bargains by imposing tariffs of 10% to 20% while demanding that they lower their taxes on our goods exports. However, by allowing them to retain their taxes on our most competitive services, these deals are hardly one-sided. (Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes. com . TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs KEYWORDS: Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC PO Box 9771 Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. 1 posted on by E. Pluribus Unum Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4353262/posts
Hochul demands Trump admin release $400 million in funding for HEAP heating bill assistance program
Gov. Kathy Hochul urged President Trump’s administration on Monday to release $400 million in federal funds that the state can use to help 1. 5 million New Yorkers heat their homes through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Hochul and upstate Rep. Paul Tonko are making the demand after the federal government reopened last week following a 43-day shutdown, the longest in U. S. history. The state had not been able to start the program due to the shutdown, according to Hochul’s office.
https://politicsny.com/2025/11/17/hochul-demands-trump-admin-release-400-million-in-funding-for-heap-heating-bill-assistance-program/
Jets player ‘clings to life’ after NYC shooting, report
Here’s the stories you’ll be talking about on the New Jersey 101. 5 Morning Show on Monday: The winds were whipping this weekend and much of that wind will stay with us as we start the new week. I did my best to get our Christmas lights up outside, but it seems like as soon as I got one decoration up, the wind tore it down. When do you put up your holiday lights and decorations? If we get a mild day ahead of Thanksgiving, I prefer to get the lights and other decorations up. Sunday would have been perfect, if not for the wind. There is some good news as we begin the week: Flights should be back to normal at Newark and the rest of the nations airports. The FAA lifted restrictions that had been imposed during the government shutdown because air traffic controllers were not reporting for work. A tragedy in Somerset County: A police officer and his family are safe, but lost all their possessions in a devastating fire. There are ways you can help. And will the House vote to release the Epstein files this week? President Trump now says they should. Even if the house approves the release, there may not be enough votes in the Senate. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know to start a new week in the Great Garden State. ⬛ Reward offered after Newark shooting leaves boy, woman dead 🚨Gunfire on a Newark street leaves a 10-year-old boy and a 21-year-old woman dead 🚨Authorities offer a $10,000 reward as investigators search for the shooter 🚨Newark’s mayor calls it a “dark and devastating day” following the double killing NEWARK A $10,000 reward is being offered to find those responsible for firing the shots that left a 10-year-year old boy and 21-year-old woman dead on Saturday. Over a dozen shots were fired around 7 p. m. on the 300 block of Chancellor Avenue in Newark’s South Ward, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II. The boy and the woman were pronounced dead at University Hospital. An 11-year-old male, a 19-year-old male, and a 60-year-old male were also injured. They were in stable condition as of Saturday night. At least 17 evidence markers were on the street and sidewalk following the shooting, according to a report from ABC 7 Eyewitness News. Stevens did not disclose the circumstances of the shooting or the identities of the victims. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the Essex County Sheriff’s Crime Stopper program for information leading to an arrest in the case. ⬛ New tickborne meat allergy kills NJ man in first confirmed death 🍔 New Jersey pilot becomes first confirmed fatality from alpha-gal syndrome 🍔 The man collapsed and died just hours after eating a hamburger 🍔 Lone star ticks are spreading, with established populations in 12 counties A pilot from New Jersey is the first confirmed death from a disturbing new meat allergy spread by the lone star tick, according to a study. It explains why the 47-year-old man died on his bathroom floor just hours after consuming a hamburger in September 2024, according to University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers. First documented fatality from alpha-gal syndrome in the U. S. The report was published According to the report, the man had no significant past medical history that would explain his death. Several details, including the victim’s name and where he lived in New Jersey, were not released in the study. It’s only been publicly released that his family lived in the suburbs. ⬛ Jets player ‘clings to life’ after NYC shooting, says report 🚨 NY Post reports Jet’s cornerback Kris Boyd was shot in NYC. 🚨 His injuries are said to be critical. New York Jet’s cornerback Kris Boyd was involved in a shooting early Sunday morning in New York City, the New York Post is reporting. The Post says the 29-year-old was shot in the abdomen and was “clinging to life” at a city hospital. Police have not confirmed any of the details of their investigation. A representative of the Jets said they were “aware of the situation” but offered no further comment. Boyd is in his first year with the Jets, but has not seen playing time since suffering a shoulder injury during a preseason game. According to the Post, Boyd was with two other Jets players at a trendy restaurant in Manhattan because he “felt the vibe was off.” The shooting took place just moments after the three players left. ⬛ Community rallies around local cop and his family who lost everything in a fire 🔥 Fire totally destroyed the home of a Somerset Count police officer 👮♂️ Officer Vito Spadea and his family are o. k. ♥ Community members rally around the family to offer help A devastating fire destroyed a home in the Martinsville Section of Bridgewater Township this weekend. The fire has left a Somerville Police officer and his family with nothing. The community has rallied around officer Vito Spadea, who lived with his wife and two young daughters in the home. The family is safe, but they lost everything in the fire. An online fundraiser has raised close to $100,000 for the Spadea family. There is no word on a cause of the fire. ⬛ FAA lifts order slashing flights ✈ Flight restrictions had been in place during the government shutdown. ✈ Commercial airlines are allowed to resume their regular schedules. ✈ Airline leaders expressed optimism operations would rebound in time for the Thanksgiving travel period. Airlines can resume their regular flight schedules beginning Monday at 6 a. m. EST, the agency said. The announcement was made in a joint statement by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. Citing safety concerns as staffing shortages grew at air traffic control facilities during the shutdown, the FAA issued an unprecedented order to limit traffic in the skies. It had been in place since Nov. 7, affecting thousands of flights across the country. ⬛ In reversal, Trump says House Republicans should vote to release Epstein files ❎ After fighting it for months, President Trump says Epstein files should be released. ❎ Trump says, ‘We have nothing to hide.’ ❎ The House is expected to approve the release this week. There may not be enough votes in the Senate. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said House Republicans should vote to release the files in the Jeffrey Epstein case, a startling reversal after previously fighting the proposal as a growing number of those in his own party supported it. “We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on social media late Sunday after landing at Joint Base Andrews following a weekend in Florida. Trump’s statement followed a fierce fight within the GOP over the files, including an increasingly nasty split with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had long been one of his fiercest supporters. The New Jersey 101. 5 Morning Show airs from 6 10 a. m. on New Jersey 101. 5. Join the conversation by calling 1-800-283-1015 or download the NJ101. 5 app. You can reach him at eric. scott@townsquaremedia. com.
https://nj1015.com/jets-chris-boyd-shot/
Goldman Sachs stands by top lawyer who bashed Trump in chummy Jeffrey Epstein emails
Goldman Sachs is standing by its top lawyer after newly released emails revealed she repeatedly trashed President Trump in exchanges with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and turned to him for career advice. The Wall Street giant on Thursday defended general counsel Kathy Ruemmler following the release of her correspondence with Epstein by the House Oversight Committee. The emails released Wednesday span 2014 to 2019. Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs as its top lawyer in 2020 and is currently co-vice chair of Goldman’s Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee, among other roles. Bankers inside Goldman previously complained to senior management about Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein in light of her role on the reputational risk committee, which decides which clients the bank shouldn’t work with, according to The Wall Street Journal. Goldman officials reportedly told the bankers the Epstein matter had nothing to do with her job at the firm and that she was upfront in disclosing her relationship with Epstein when she joined “Kathy is an exceptional general counsel and we benefit from her judgment every day,” Goldman spokesman Tony Fratto said in a statement to CNBC this week. Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama, regularly vented to Epstein about Trump’s political rise. “Trump is living proof of the adage that it is better to be lucky than smart,” she told Epstein in an August 2015 email. Months later, she expressed alarm about Trump’s climb in the polls as the real estate magnate was vying for the Republican nomination. “The Trump success is seriously scary,” Ruemmler wrote in February 2016. “Trump is truly stupid,” she wrote in July 2017. Months earlier, she called Trump “so gross.” Epstein’s reply: “Worse in real life and upclose.” The emails show Ruemmler also consulted Epstein on major career decisions, including whether she should become US attorney general in 2014. She picked his brain for advice when rival law firms tried to recruit her and when hunting for a Manhattan apartment, too. The correspondence was released by the House Oversight Committee, which obtained the emails from Epstein’s estate. The messages came after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea in Florida to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. He spent 13 months behind bars and became a registered sex offender. Epstein hanged himself in a Manhattan lockup while awaiting trial in August 2019 weeks after federal prosecutors charged him with sex trafficking. In October 2014, Ruemmler weighed whether she should succeed Eric Holder as head of the Justice Department. Epstein urged her to “talk to boss” about the position. In the same exchange, he offered to connect her with influential figures including Leon Black, Woody Allen, Peter Thiel and Larry Summers. Ruemmler ended up removing herself from consideration for the attorney general post and remained at the law firm Latham & Watkins, where she led its global white-collar defense group. The recently released emails captured Epstein and Ruemmler discussing former President Bill Clinton, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and even people Ruemmler apparently considered overweight. Fratto said Thursday the emails “were private correspondence well before Kathy Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs.” Epstein told Ruemmler in one of the emails that he ended his friendship with former President Bill Clinton because he thought he was a liar. In a January 2016 messge, Epstein said he’d cut off contact with Clinton “when he swore, with whole hearted conviction to me, that he had done something, he had forgotten that he also swore the exact opposite to me only weeks before.” A January 2019 draft of Epstein’s will named Ruemmler as the backup executor to his estate, according to a copy of the document released by the House Oversight Committee earlier this year. In 2023, The Journal reported that Ruemmler met with Epstein “dozens” of times after leaving the White House and before starting her job at Goldman. Epstein invited her on a 2015 Paris trip and a 2017 visit to his Caribbean island, The Journal reported. Goldman has said Ruemmler’s ties to Epstein were professional and related to her work at Latham. But Latham has said Epstein wasn’t a client. The Post has sought comment from Goldman, Latham and the White House. Ruemmler didn’t respond to requests for comment.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/14/business/goldman-sachs-stands-by-kathy-ruemmler-after-she-bashed-trump-in-jeffrey-epstein-emails/
ESPN reports Donald Trump wants new Commanders stadium named after him
It seemed a little odd that President Donald Trump decided to attend a Washington Commanders home game this week as they hosted the Detroit Lions. The government is currently in the second month of a shutdown, and Trump’s approval ratings are tanking. But now, we may know what’s really behind the move.
On Friday, Trump’s White House announced his weekend plans through Pat McAfee, who was able to share the news exclusively on his ESPN show. Then, on Saturday, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Adam Schefter reported that Trump wants the new Washington Commanders stadium planned for Washington, DC, to be named after him.
The previous Commanders stadium in DC was named after Robert F. Kennedy Sr., whose son is currently Trump’s vaccine-denying head of Health and Human Services. Instead of denying the report, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and a White House source made it clear to ESPN that they expect the naming to happen.
President Donald Trump wants the Washington Commanders to name their planned $3.7 billion stadium after him, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN. A senior White House source revealed there have been back-channel communications with a member of the Commanders’ ownership group, led by Josh Harris, to express Trump’s desire for the domed stadium in the nation’s capital to bear his name.
The new stadium is being built on the old RFK Stadium site, which served as the team’s home from 1961 to 1996. While Leavitt declined to answer additional questions, the senior White House source told ESPN: “It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen.”
This request is actually modest compared to some of Trump’s previous ambitions, such as his infamous demolition of parts of the White House to add a ballroom, his persistent campaign to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and his desire to have his likeness carved into Mount Rushmore.
Interestingly, instead of pursuing a typical naming rights deal tied to the Trump brand, it is reportedly expected that the stadium naming would be done as a tribute to honor Trump and “all of his Trumpiness.”
Donald Trump has made several appearances at sporting events during his second term in office. However, none of these visits had been immediately linked to an effort to secure a stadium named after him—until now.
Trump’s expansive executive power in Washington and beyond continues to be tested by the day. But according to ESPN, the ultimate decision on the stadium’s name will rest with the DC City Council and the National Park Service.
https://awfulannouncing.com/news/espn-donald-trump-commanders-stadium.html
JUST IN: Senate to Meet on Friday Amid Deal to Reopen the Government – Trump Doubles Down on Filibuster Termination Demands, Says the Democrats Would “Immediately do it”
Senate Republicans are reportedly working to reach a deal with Senate Democrats to reopen the government on Friday. The proposed agreement would involve amendments to the continuing resolution, including three full-year appropriations bills. These bills are seemingly set to expire after the next midterm election, where Democrats aim to reclaim the Senate majority.
The government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history on Wednesday, entering its 35th day. The previous record was 34 days, set during President Trump’s first term. Now, Republicans are attempting to bring Democrats to the negotiating table and secure the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster, offering a plan more favorable to their agenda.
However, President Trump has repeatedly urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, and to reopen the government immediately.
According to Politico, the plan is to bring up the House-passed continuing resolution—previously rejected by Democrats—and amend it with a new expiration date, very likely in January, along with a negotiated package of three full-year spending bills. Senate Majority Whip John Thune believes the deal could gain enough Democratic support to advance, though the outcome is uncertain.
Finalizing the deal may take several days due to procedural hurdles and objections from senators. In preparation, Senate GOP leaders are ready to keep lawmakers in Washington to pressure a resolution to the record-breaking shutdown. When asked if the Senate would remain in session through the weekend, Majority Whip John Barrasso replied, “yes.”
On the other side, Senate Democrats held a lengthy lunch meeting on Thursday to discuss their shutdown strategy. Though no resolution was reached immediately, several Democrats indicated ongoing discussions within the caucus. According to CBS News, Senate Republicans hope moderate Democrats involved in negotiations throughout the week will be persuaded by the appropriations bills and a promised vote on extending health care subsidies.
Negotiations with Democrats—likely involving concessions that the Republican base may oppose—would be unnecessary if Republicans chose to eliminate the filibuster. Despite having full control of the federal government, Republicans have so far refused to wield that power to end the shutdown.
At an Oval Office press conference on Thursday, President Trump renewed his calls for Republicans to discontinue the filibuster. This came a day after he urged GOP senators at a breakfast meeting to terminate the procedure. Trump emphasized that ending the filibuster would allow the Senate to swiftly pass election integrity laws, including voter ID requirements and one-day voting, along with legislation on border security, tax cuts, and more—items Democrats oppose.
“What the Democrats will do is they’re going to make Puerto Rico a state, they’re going to make DC a state, they’re going to pack the court, they’re going to end up with more electoral votes, they’re going to end up with four senators because of the two states, and they’re going to do this, 100%,” Trump stated. “So if they’re going to do it, I would do it. I would do it before them.”
Trump also said:
> “I think it’s time for them to end the filibuster and just put everybody back to work. Vote in voter ID, vote in no mail-in voting except for military, far away military and people that are very sick. I’d like to see one day voting. I’d like to see not 65 days of voting from all over the place. I’d like to clean up the elections; the border, we’ve done a great job. We have a great, strong border now. I’d like to see new rules on immigration that can be fair and good. Rules that you’d never get, rules that they’re never going to get. There’s so many things we could put in, including tax cuts that we could get, and we could do it all ourselves. But to do that, you have to end the filibuster.”
Trump criticized Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for blocking past efforts to change filibuster rules, saying, “They would have done it, except Manchin and Sinema got in their way.”
As reported by The Gateway Pundit, on Wednesday, Trump hosted Republican senators for breakfast, urging them to end the filibuster, reopen the government, and pass laws to “fix our country and our elections.” However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other senators have publicly opposed ending the filibuster. “It’s just not happening,” Thune said, making the 50 votes necessary to terminate the filibuster unlikely.
The ongoing negotiations and political tension underscore the complexities in resolving the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. As both parties weigh their strategies, the nation watches closely for a resolution to the stalemate.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/just-senate-meet-friday-amid-deal-reopen-government/
‘Bad for business’: CEO suing Trump in Supreme Court rails against ‘unlawful’ policy
The Supreme Court is preparing to hear a lawsuit brought by Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg against President Donald Trump regarding the latter’s unilateral use of emergency powers to impose tariffs.
Woldenberg is challenging Trump’s invocation of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act of 1977, arguing that using it to slap tariffs on imported goods without Congressional approval is “unlawful.” Speaking to MSNBC on Tuesday, he described the tariffs as an “asphyxiating tax” costing his company millions of dollars each year and hindering its ability to make sound business decisions.
“The size of the problem and the size of the implications meant that we had to take action to defend ourselves. I think that the case is actually pretty simple,” Woldenberg said. “The government brags that it’s $50 billion a month in proceeds. That’s just not bearable. And they’ve also promised that this is permanent. So we either choose to pay a tax we believe is unlawful, or we challenge it and ask the court to review it and decide.”
Woldenberg and his legal team are pushing for a prompt decision following Wednesday’s oral arguments. He highlighted the financial impact the tariffs have had on his company, noting that in 2024 their tariff-related expenses were zero, but in 2025 they are expected to spike to approximately $14 million, with costs potentially doubling in 2026.
“We’re behaving the way someone would behave if they had a sudden and irreversible expense of $14 million,” he explained. “We’re hiring fewer people. We’re spending less money on capital expenditures. We’re developing fewer products. We’re reducing our marketing spend. It’s bad for business because it’s diverting us from exercising our business judgment, which is how we got this far and what we want to do going forward.”
Woldenberg also criticized the administration’s accounting of the tariffs’ effects. “I think that the math that the administration is showing is a one-sided equation. They don’t really care to think about the costs,” he said. “They contend that there are advantages that I think are principally negotiating advantages. But many of the problems that they say they’ve solved were problems that are a result of high tariffs.”
Watch the segment below:
https://www.rawstory.com/bad-for-business-ceo-suing-trump-in-supreme-court-rails-against-unlawful-policy/
California voters take up Democrats’ push for new congressional maps that could shape House control
By JONATHAN J. COOPER, MICHAEL R. BLOOD and TRÂN NGUYỄN, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The national battle to control the U.S. House shifts to California on Tuesday as voters consider a Democratic proposal that could erase as many as five Republican districts and blunt President Donald Trump’s moves to safeguard his party’s lock on Washington power.
The outcome will reverberate into next year’s midterm elections and beyond, with Democrats hoping a victory will set the stage for the party to regain control of the House in 2026. A shift in the majority would imperil Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his term at a time of deep partisan divisions over immigration, health care, and the future direction of the nation.
“God help us if we lose in California,” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
Democrats need to gain just three seats in the 2026 elections to take control of the House. Heavily Democratic California and its 52 congressional districts represent by far the Democrats’ best opportunity in an unprecedented state-by-state redistricting battle, which started when Texas Republicans heeded Trump’s demand that they redraw their boundaries to help the GOP retain its House majority.
Democrats hold 43 of the state’s seats and hope to boost that number to 48. Trump is fighting not just the Democrats but history. Midterm elections typically punish the party in the White House, but four GOP-led states so far have adopted new district maps to pack more Republican voters into key districts.
### Measure Supported by Newsom, Obama
California’s Proposition 50 asks voters to suspend House maps drawn by an independent commission and replace them with rejiggered districts adopted by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Those new districts would be in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.
The recast districts aim to dilute Republican voters’ power, in one case by uniting rural, conservative-leaning parts of far northern California with Marin County, a famously liberal coastal stronghold across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.
The measure has been spearheaded by Newsom, who has thrown the weight of his political operation behind it in a major test of his mettle ahead of a potential 2028 presidential campaign. Former President Barack Obama has urged voters to pass it as well.
Newsom has sought to nationalize the campaign, depicting the proposal as a counterweight to all things Trump.
“Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years,” Obama said in one ad. “You can stop Republicans in their tracks.”
### Critics Say Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right
Critics urge Californians to reject what they call a Democratic power grab, even if they have misgivings about Trump’s moves in Republican-led states.
Among the most prominent critics is Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie star and former Republican governor who pushed for the creation of the independent commission, which voters approved in 2008 and 2010.
“It makes no sense to fight Trump by becoming him,” Schwarzenegger said in September, arguing that the proposal would “take the power away from the people.”
After an early burst of TV advertising, opponents of the plan have struggled to raise cash in a state with some of the nation’s most expensive media markets. Data compiled by advertising tracker AdImpact last week showed Democrats and other supporters with over $5 million in ad buys booked on broadcast TV, cable, and radio.
But opponents had virtually no time reserved, though the data didn’t include some popular streaming services like Hulu and YouTube or mail advertising. Total spending on broadcast and cable ads topped $100 million, with more than two-thirds of it coming from supporters. Newsom told people to stop donating in the race’s final weeks.
Trump, who overwhelmingly lost California in his three presidential campaigns, largely stayed out of the fray. A week before the election, he urged voters in a social media post not to vote early or by mail — messaging that conflicted with that of top Republicans in the state who urged people to get their ballots in as soon as possible.
### The National House Map Is in Flux
Democrats hope to pick up as many as five seats in California if voters approve the new boundaries, offsetting the five that Republicans hope to pick up through their new Texas maps. Republicans also expect to gain one seat each from new maps in Missouri and North Carolina, and potentially two more in Ohio.
Congressional district boundaries are typically redrawn every 10 years to reflect population shifts documented in the census. Mid-decade redistricting is unusual, absent a court order finding fault with the maps in place.
Five other GOP-led states are also considering new maps: Kansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, and Nebraska. On the Democratic side, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Virginia have proposals to redraw maps, but major hurdles remain.
A court has ordered new boundaries be drawn in Utah, where all four House districts are represented by Republicans, but it remains to be seen if the state will approve a map that makes any of them winnable for Democrats.
Cooper reported from Phoenix and Nguyen from Sacramento, California.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/04/election-2025-california-prop-50/