June 13, 2026

2026 Elections

Bellwether Digest – April 20, 2026

pgnewser April 21, 2026 0

 

By STAFF

This digest covers political, world, cultural, market, and sci-tech news from April 18-20, 2026.

This digest contains the Global Outlook, Headlines Missed, and People Advance Digests.

TOP NEWS TAGS

  1. Iran War
  2. 2026 Elections
  3. Trump Deportations
  4. Ukraine War
  5. Trump Pope

GLOBAL OUTLOOK

  1. TRANSGENDER CARE FOR KIDS, SAYS DISTRICT JUDGE – United States District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai has ruled that the HHS’s declaration that gender-affirming care for children is unsafe and ineffective is unconstitutional. The judge sided with the 22 progressive-led states, which argued the federal government did not have the legal authority to make such a determination.
  2. META’S DOWNSIZING CONTINUEs – The parent company of Facebook, Meta, has announced plans to lay off nearly 10% of its total workforce, 8,000 positions, starting in early May 2026. These layoffs may not be the only layoffs, as more might be announced after May of this year.
  3. TRUMP DOWN BIGLY – President Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to 37% according to an NBC News poll. This is the lowest rating the poll has recorded during the President’s second term. His disapproval rating has hit 62%, with 50% now strongly disapproving.

HEADLINES MISSED

  1. FISA COURT QUASHES SPY TOOL, TRUMP DISSENTS – The Trump administration is fighting a FISA court ruling that prevents the government from specifically searching for individuals online who have merely contacted a foreigner. The administration is challenging the FISA court as the court’s existence comes up for renewal this April 30. The GOP-led House extended the program by unanimous consent vote during a late-night session.
  2. AI IS BECOMING A UTILITY – More and more Americans have begun making AI subscription services a part of their essential household budget. Since 2024, paid AI subscriptions have increased by 38%. The paid AI subscription service market is expected to exponentially expand over the next two years.
  3. RIOT BOTS AND THE CCP – China hopes to soon deploy robots to control future rioters. The People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) is already testing the possibility in preparation for a potential mass riot event.

PEOPLE ADVANCE

  1. CHARLIE KIRK HONORED WITH 1A PROTECTING LAWS – Kansas joins a growing list of states which passed laws honoring the late assassinated American activist Charlie Kirk. The laws have one thing in common, they both protect rights enumerated in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. These rights are the right to religious liberty and the right to freedom of speech.
  2. WOKE HEALTH PANEL NO MORE – RFK Jr. is vowing to replace the “woke” panel currently in charge of choosing what preventative care gets covered by Obamacare. Kennedy plans on replacing the current allegedly “woke” members of the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force, saying “We’re now bringing new members on who have a clear mission.”
  3. DIRT-POWERED BATTERIES – Researchers from Northwestern University have invented a fuel cell that is powered by microbes found in soil. Northwestern alumnus Bill Yen, who led the work, said of their proof-of-concept, “We need to find alternatives that can provide low amounts of energy to power a decentralized network of devices… we looked to soil microbial fuel cells, which use special microbes to break down soil and use that low amount of energy to power sensors. As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes to break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever.”

STORIES WE’RE WATCHING

  1. Donald Trump ‘planning shock nuclear retreat’ to end conflict with Iran– www.mirror.co.uk
  2. Republicans stare down a growing, neverending FISA crisis– www.politico.com
  3. Liberal Supreme Court Judges Delayed Dobbs Decision as Conservatives Faced Death Threats– www.lifenews.com
  4. WATCH: Massive Crowd Tries To Storm Wisconsin Research Facility, Police Respond– wltreport.com
  5. Trump’s Christian Advisers Tell Him ‘He Is God’– www.newsbusters.org
  6. Anchor babies account for nearly 10% of US births: report | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
  7. United States proposes record-high $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, marking largest increase since World War II – Defence Industry Europe
  8. Starmer orders inquiry into any security concerns over Mandelson’s tenure in US | Keir Starmer– www.theguardian.com
  9. Vance ‘grateful’ to Pope Leo for downplaying Trump rift, says media ‘gins up conflict’ | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
  10. 8 children killed in mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, police say – CBS News

 

ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama Claims Republicans Want to ‘Steal’ Seats, ‘Rig’ Election in Ad for Newsom’s Gerrymandering Proposal– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser October 15, 2025 0

Blurb:

Former President Barack Obama and California Governor Gavin Newsom are urging Californians to vote in favor of Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would replace the state’s independent redistricting system with a legislature-approved map projected to eliminate several Republican-held congressional districts.

On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X, “Listen to @barackobama,” sharing a new video featuring former President Barack Obama encouraging voters to support Proposition 50 in the state’s November 4 special election.

In the video, Obama says:

“California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on the ballot November 4. Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. With Prop 50, you can stop Republicans in their tracks. Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, which preserves Independent Redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide. Return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50.”

The ad marks Obama’s latest effort to promote Gov. Newsom’s redistricting plan, which would replace California’s independent redistricting commission — created by voters in 2008 — with a partisan-drawn map. According to previous Breitbart News reports, the proposal would reduce Republican-held seats in California’s congressional delegation from nine to five, even though roughly 40 percent of voters supported Republican candidates in the 2024 election.

Obama has described Newsom’s proposal as a “reasoned and measured approach,” writing on X in August, “Over the long term, we shouldn’t have political gerrymandering in America, just a fair fight between Republicans and Democrats based on who’s got better ideas. But since Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House and gerrymandering in the middle of a decade to try and maintain the House despite their unpopular policies, I have tremendous respect for how Governor Newsom has approached this. He’s put forward a smart, measured approach in California, designed to address a very particular problem at a very particular moment in time.”

At a fundraiser on Martha’s Vineyard, Obama praised the initiative further, saying, “We’re only going to do it if and when Texas and/or other Republican states begin to pull these maneuvers. Otherwise, this doesn’t go into effect.”

California Republicans have sued to stop Newsom’s plan, calling it unconstitutional and arguing it violates the 30-day public notice requirement for legislation. The California Supreme Court, however, ruled in August that the plan could proceed, allowing the governor to use a “gut and amend” tactic to fast-track the measure through the legislature.

The special election — estimated to cost $250 million — will ask voters to approve the new map and amend the state constitution to permit mid-decade redistricting. The Democratic National Committee has launched bilingual outreach campaigns in support of Prop 50 focusing on Latino voters, while major donors including billionaire Tom Steyer have funded multimillion-dollar ad campaigns promoting the initiative.

Polls indicate that a majority of Californians still favor retaining the state’s independent redistricting commission. A UC Berkeley–Politico survey found that 64 percent of voters prefer the current system, compared to 36 percent who support the governor’s proposed changes.

California’s redistricting fight is part of a broader national battle following Texas’s new “One Big Beautiful Map” which adds five Republican-leaning districts. Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder, through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, have pledged to counter GOP-led redistricting efforts, characterizing them as “an existential threat to our democracy.”



from www.breitbart.com

Kirk’s death reinvigorates Republicans’ redistricting race– www.politico.com

pgnewser September 15, 2025 0

Kirk’s death reinvigorates Republicans’ redistricting race– www.politico.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

President Donald Trump’s already brass-knuckled push for red-state redistricting is taking on an increasingly apocalyptic valence among MAGA stalwarts following the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Inside an Embassy Suites ballroom in suburban Indianapolis this weekend, Sen. Jim Banks’ inaugural Hoosier Leadership for America Summit drew hundreds of attendees who came to hear from next-generation MAGA figures ranging from Alex Bruesewitz, a top Trump adviser and longtime friend of Kirk’s, to GOP strategist Alex DeGrasse.

The summit marked the first official MAGA gathering since Kirk’s death and served as both a Kirk memorial and redistricting rally, unfolding amid an increased security footprint and ubiquitous police presence throughout the conference center.

Between musical interludes featuring Jason Aldean’s “Fly over States” and “Try That In a Small Town,” MAGA leaders spoke of “demons” at work behind the shooting of Kirk and the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska and “the righteous versus the wicked.” An attendee who posed a question to Banks wondered whether Kirk’s killing “lifted the veil between good and evil.”

“This isn’t a political battle anymore,” said Bruesewitz, who spoke to the crowd with visible emotion about his friendship with Kirk dating back to their teens, and recalled their last dinner together in South Korea just days ago. “It’s a spiritual battle.”

All of it presaged a coming national political hardening on the right with Kirk’s killing as the raison d’etre. More than any other issue at the conference, Kirk’s death seeped into the rationale for mid-decade redistricting.

Zohran Mamdani thinks NY voters are stupid with his latest defense of his past, radical, anti-American views– www.louderwithcrowder.com

pgnewser September 8, 2025 0

Zohran Mamdani thinks NY voters are stupid with his latest defense of his past, radical, anti-American views– www.louderwithcrowder.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Ever since Kamala Harris lost because voters held her responsible for the words that came out of her mouth, there has been a push on the left to ignore the words that came out of their candidates’ mouths before five minutes ago. Sure, every Democrat holds extremist views and is closed-minded and intolerant toward any opposing viewpoint. But they want you to think they’re not that as they try to get elected today. That’s what The Zohran expects New York City voters to believe.

Ignore everything he has done or said as an elected official in the city he is looking to become Mayor of. He’s evolved from a 29-year-old communist to a 33-year-old socialist.

THE ZOHRAN: My opponents would rather bring up positions I’ve held as an elected official than what I claim my positions are today.

JOURNALISMER: So what you’re saying is you’ve evolved?

THE ZOHRAN: Sure, go with that.

He’s going with the Kathy Hochul defense. Every Democrat said crazy things to pander a few years ago. You can’t hold that against him now that it’s clear all those positions have rendered Democrats toxic to the American people. Thankfully for The Zohran, he’s not running in America, but rather in New York City.

He has evolved from saying “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”

The Zohran no longer subscribes to a communist worldview. So when he, as an elected official, said he wants the government to buy up private properties and convert them into communes, we shouldn’t consider that as he runs for a position that would give him the power to do so. Also, according to “independent” “fact” “checkers,” there is no way of knowing what The Zohran means when he says “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”

Utah gerrymander struck down by judge in a win for voters– www.latimes.com

pgnewser September 8, 2025 0

Utah gerrymander struck down by judge in a win for voters– www.latimes.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

It’s been more than 60 years since Utah backed a Democrat for president. The state’s last Democratic U.S. senator left office nearly half a century ago and the last Utah Democrat to serve in the House lost his seat in 2020.

But, improbably enough, Utah has suddenly emerged as a rare Democratic bright spot in the red-vs.-blue redistricting wars.

Late last month, a judge tossed out the state’s slanted congressional lines and ordered Utah’s GOP-run Legislature to draw a new political map, ruling that lawmakers improperly thumbed their noses and overrode voters who created an independent redistricting commission to end gerrymandering.

It’s a welcome pushback against the growing pattern of lawmakers arrogantly ignoring voters and pursuing their preferred agenda. You don’t have to be a partisan to think that elections should matter and when voters express their will it should be honored.

Ed Dept ends ‘abusive’ Biden policy that funded left-wing work-study election jobs– www.thecollegefix.com

pgnewser September 8, 2025 0

Ed Dept ends ‘abusive’ Biden policy that funded left-wing work-study election jobs– www.thecollegefix.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Key Takeaways

  • The Trump Administration rescinded a policy allowing Federal Work-Study funds to be used for student election jobs.
  • The new guidance from the Education Department requires institutions to refrain from hiring individuals involved in political activities benefiting specific groups.
  • Critics say the Biden-era policy was an “abusive misuse” of tax dollars, meant to support Democrats.
  • The change comes after The College Fix found several work-study election jobs were connected to progressive organizations.

Conservative election integrity advocates praised the Trump administration for rescinding a Biden-era guidance that allowed Federal Work-Study funds to be used to employ students to perform election jobs.

The announcement came after The College Fix reported on multiple incidents of the work-study program being used to fund left-wing get-out-the-vote efforts.

Hans von Spakovsky, senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Edwin Meese Center, called the Biden-era work-study guidance an “abusive misuse” of tax dollars, intent on ensuring “liberal organizations supporting the Biden reelection effort and the Democrat Party were provided with interns … to enhance the party’s prospects of winning elections.”

Judge Forcing Utah to Draw New Congressional District Map for 2026– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser August 27, 2025 1

Source Link
Excerpt:

Utah 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson told Utah to redraw its congressional district map before the 2026 midterms.

The new map must “align with what voters approved in 2018.”

Utah has 30 days to submit four new maps that match Proposition 4.

Gibson will hold a conference with parties on Friday to discuss the next steps. A hearing on the proposed maps is scheduled for October.

Republicans could appeal Gibson’s decision, which would likely keep the current map until 2028.

Redistricting wars poised to ‘explode’ as California and Texas make their moves– www.politico.com

pgnewser August 27, 2025 1

Source Link
Excerpt:

The redistricting war is officially on.

After weeks of bluster from dueling governors and state lawmakers, California and Texas raced forward with parallel action this week to draw new congressional maps, setting into motion a national redistricting fight that could upend the midterms and determine control of the House.

Texas Republicans on Saturday passed a new map that will help the GOP flip as many as five House seats — a partisan play at the hand of President Donald Trump. On Thursday, California Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom preemptively agreed to send a retaliatory ballot measure to voters — the first step in potentially offsetting Texas’ maneuver by creating new Democratic-leaning seats.

Democrats morph into party of elite women: Pollster– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser August 27, 2025 0

Source Link
Excerpt:

Now, the Democratic Party is for elite, college-educated women angered by President Donald Trump and MAGA, such as the white-haired Virginia woman who went viral last week with a racist protest message against black GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

“As a party of mostly college-educated females, they’re drastically alienating everyone else,” Cygnal pollster Brent Buchanan said this week, alluding to his latest survey showing the Democratic image sinking, now twice as bad as the Republicans.

He suggested that it’s the issues the Democratic base is choosing that are driving away its core. For example, the base is angered at Trump’s efforts to boost safety in cities by deploying the National Guard, but others aren’t worked up about it.

“It’s college-educated women driving the ‘threats to democracy’ increase in ‘top priority,’” Buchanan said. “The Left has become an echo chamber out of touch with the majority of the country.”

California Supreme Court rejects GOP effort to halt Newsom’s redistricting push– thehill.com

pgnewser August 27, 2025 0

Source Link
Excerpt:

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by state Republican legislators seeking to halt Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) plan to redistrict California’s congressional map.

“Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8,” reads a brief order posted to the docket.

Newsom has hit back at Republican redistricting efforts in Texas by pushing for a special election this November to get voters’ approval on a more favorable House map for Democrats in California in time for the 2026 midterms.

The ruling paves the way for the California legislature to proceed with voting as soon as Thursday on a package that would set up the special election.

Democrats Will Get A New Map And Potentially A House Seat In Utah– www.politicususa.com

pgnewser August 27, 2025 1

Source Link
Excerpt:

As if Republicans didn’t have enough problems trying to hold on to the House majority, along comes Utah to give them a whole new problem.

Republicans once again tried to ignore the will of the people and the state’s constitution, and the matter went to court.

The Campaign Legal Center explained what happened:

The court determined that the Utah state legislature violated the people’s right to alter or reform their government when they repealed Proposition 4, or Prop 4 – a ballot initiative that aimed to prohibit partisan gerrymandering by establishing the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission and creating fair, neutral criteria and procedures for adopting district maps.

Prop 4, which was passed by Utah voters and unconstitutionally repealed by the legislature, is now the law again. The current gerrymandered congressional map passed by the legislature may not be used in future elections. The Utah state legislature now has a chance to pass a new, fair map that complies with Prop 4, and if it does not, the court will order a new map, which will be used for the 2026 election.