Today I spoke with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker about one of the more dramatic political standoffs in recent memory. Dozens of Texas Democratic lawmakers have fled their state seeking refuge in Illinois — and Pritzker isn't just offering shelter. He's offering safe harbor.
The Texas Democrats are fighting to prevent what Pritzker calls the "theft" of five congressional districts — Democratic held seats that would be stripped from Black and brown communities and handed to Republicans in an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting power grab.
Governor Pritzker said these lawmakers face real physical danger, including a bomb threat at their hotel. He's deployed state police protection and made a striking promise: He will protect them even from FBI agents if federal authorities intervene.
"Donald Trump is pouring gasoline on the fire," Pritzker told me.
The governor compared this moment to 1930s Germany's democratic collapse, declaring Americans must ask: "Who are you? And what do you stand for?"
We also discuss Illinois redistricting, Democrats’ will to fight, and his viral Lake Michigan walks. It’s worth your time.
This is the latest in a series of interviews I’ve conducted with senior Democrats across the country, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and California Sen. Alex Padilla.
Below, we cover the escalating national battle over control of Congress; RFK’s latest anti-vaccine move that threatens to harm millions and undermine national security; how Trump’s landmark tariffs against India will impact you; ICE’s rapid expansion; a mysterious shooting at a Georgia army base; and a landmark investment in women’s health.
State v. State Showdown
Battle Lines: The stakes are rising in the standoff between Texas Republicans and more than 50 Democrats who fled the state to prevent the GOP from taking up to five House seats. Yesterday Trump argued Republicans are “entitled” to those seats. The majority of those lawmakers are seeking refuge in Illinois; overnight a bomb threat was called into the hotel where some of them are staying. Nothing was found and everyone is safe. But Illinois Gov. Pritzker warned that Trump’s escalating rhetoric is putting Texas Democrats in physical danger. (Need a refresher on the redistricting moves? Catch up with our explainer here.)
Threats: Texas Republicans are turning up the pressure. House Speaker Dustin Burrows wants the Democrats who fled arrested, and signed civil arrest warrants. (Experts point out that the arrest warrants are not enforceable outside Texas). Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he’s pushing to remove the Democrats from the legislature by having the courts declare their seats vacant. Gov. Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to remove Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office.
What That Means: Experts say this is an empty threat. “Quorum breaking is enabled in the Texas constitution,” one expert noted. Despite this, the GOP is holding a “Quorum-Busting Campaign Bootcamp” later this month to train people interested in running for “any one” of the state House seats currently held by absent Democrats.
Going National: Yesterday Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) asked the FBI to take “any appropriate steps” to help force the Democrats back. Trump said the FBI “may have to” get involved. Gov. Pritzker told me today he will not allow the FBI to take any of them, and argued the agency has no authority to do so. Hear more in our interview at the top of this newsletter.
What’s Next: The current Texas special session can last up to 30 days, so will end on August 19. Will the lawmakers stay out of state for another fortnight? Will they flee again if Abbott calls a new special session?
Doubling Down: Both parties are preparing to implement similar gerrymandered maps in other states in what could become an all-out political war across the country. “There are no rules anymore, apparently” JB Pritzker said yesterday. “There is no unilateral disarmament,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued the day before, “when we’re in the middle of an all-out assault by Donald Trump.” Hear more from my interview with him here.
Blue States: California may let voters decide whether the state should redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms to flip up to five seats that are currently held by Republicans. As Governor Pritzker indicated, Illinois is also considering a new map, but hasn’t decided if they’ll go there. Maryland lawmakers just introduced legislation that would allow the state to redistrict if another state did so. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing for a redistricting that would potentially give Democrats three extra seats, but not until after the midterms. She’s become one of the Democrats’ outspoken voices in this fight, saying she’s “sick and tired of being pushed around” and of “fighting this fight with my hand tied behind my back.” Hear more in my interview with her here.
Red States: Vice President JD Vance will go to Indiana tomorrow to push local lawmakers to redraw their voting map, which could earn the GOP two extra seats. Other red states are threatening to follow suit.
Other Breaking News
MAHA, not mRNA: Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr cancelled $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines. This technology was used to rapidly create the COVID vaccines, which prevented almost 20 million excess deaths during their first year of use. It’s also being used to develop treatments for heart disease, autoimmune diseases, influenza, and more — and can even be used to create personalized cancer vaccines. “We’re weakening our frontline defense against fast-moving pathogens,” one flu expert warned, “a huge strategic failure that will be measured in lives lost during times of crisis.” HHS says it will now favor other types of vaccines, including one century-old technique that was partially abandoned in the 1990s for causing fevers and seizures in patients — and which RFK himself has previously criticized.
National Defense: While traditional vaccines can take years or decades to develop, mRNA technology can be quickly adapted to new threats in just months. As such, it’s a “national security asset,” one pandemic preparedness expert said, that deters “other nations from using certain biological agents.”
Putin Penalties: White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Russia’s President Vladimir Putin today. Trump claimed “great progress” was made during the meeting. Hours earlier, he doubled tariffs on goods from India to 50% as punishment for the country purchasing Russian oil — the first time he’s imposed penalties related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Everyone agrees this war must come to a close,” Trump claimed. He reportedly plans to meet with Putin as early as next week.
Tensions: India refuses to stop buying Russian oil, calling it necessary and accusing the US of hypocrisy. Indian officials today announced right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China — the world’s largest purchaser of Russian oil, ahead of India — for the first time in over seven years. Putin is also reportedly considering a visit to India.
What This Means For You: About 55% of India’s exports will be affected by the new tariff. You might start paying more for gemstones, jewellery, medical appliances, clothing, and textiles.
Face the Music: Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) barely made it 30 seconds into his introduction at a town hall on Monday before the crowd began booing. What followed was a chaotic hour in which audience members repeatedly shouted “liar” as Flood attempted to defend the GOP’s policies. “You do not get free healthcare,” Flood lectured the booing audience. (He enjoys heavily subsidized health care, including access to “free or low-cost care” at the Office of the Attending Physician and “free medical outpatient care” at military facilities in DC.) Is this a sign of townhalls to come during the long August recess?
Cash Reward: ICE yesterday announced, and then quickly revoked, a cash bonus for agents who deported people quickly. This follows immigration agents detaining an 18-year-old US citizen last month who happened to be recording a video, which captured agents telling him “you’ve got no rights here,” bragging about using a stun gun on another man present, and joking: “You can smell that … $30,000 bonus.”
Bulking Up: The agency today announced it is removing age limits for new hires to allow “even more patriots … to join.” Last week it announced it had issued over 1,000 “tentative job offers,” which include a $50,000 signing bonus and student loan forgiveness.
Eyewitness: A former corrections officer at Alligator Alcatraz told NBC she witnessed “inhumane” conditions in the detention facility. She described the cages used to hold inmates as looking like “an oversized kennel.… They have no sunlight. There’s no clock.… They have no access to showers.” When it rains, she said, water pours inside, and mosquitos make life even more miserable. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said this week the facility will serve as a model for migrant detention centers around the country, including sites under construction in Arizona, Nebraska, and Louisiana. Journalists have been unable to get access to report on conditions firsthand.
Royal Succession: Trump suggested yesterday that Vice President JD Vance will “most likely” be his successor, potentially running with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Lockdown: An army sergeant shot five soldiers this morning in Fort Stewart, an army base in Georgia, before being apprehended. The 28-year-old shooter’s motive is currently unclear. All five soldiers are in stable condition.
News That Doesn’t Suck
Open the Floodgates: The Gates Foundation announced Monday it will spend $2.5 billion on women’s health through the end of the decade. “Women’s health remains underfunded, under-researched, and overlooked,” the organization noted. Research suggests women spend 25% more time in poor health versus men. That adds up to some 75 million years of life lost. But in 2020, just 5% of global research and development funding was allocated to women’s health research — most of it dedicated to women’s cancers and fertility. But there are plenty of health conditions that disproportionately affect women, or affect women in different ways to men. The Gates Foundation’s funding will support R&D in areas such as menstrual health, obstetric care (i.e., related to childbirth), STI prevention, contraceptive innovation, maternal health, and more. “Closing these gaps is essential for the health and prosperity of women, their families, and communities,” the organization noted. It will likely bring major economic benefits, too; according to one estimate, every dollar invested in women’s health generates up to $3 in economic growth.
