Obama breaks silence on Gavin Newsom's latest plan to take on Trump

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

er President Barack Obama speaks at the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum, Dec. 5, 2024, in Chicago.
Former President Barack Obama is backing California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to combat President Donald Trump’s redistricting plan in Texas.

The Texas House approved a new map on Wednesday to create more GOP-leaning seats in the state after a weeks-long battle with the state’s Democratic Party. After Texas unveiled its plan to add more Republican seats, Newsom vowed to respond by creating more Democratic-leaning seats in California.

Obama slammed “political gerrymandering” in a statement shared to social media platform X on Wednesday, but commended Newsom for fighting back against Texas Republicans.

“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,” Obama said in a statement.

Link to tweet

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/obama-breaks-silence-gavin-newsom-161304338.html

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. MaddowBlog-'A responsible approach': Obama backs Democratic response to Republican hardball

Under normal circumstances, the former president would not back a Democratic plan for mid-decade redistricting. But these are not normal circumstances.

'A responsible approach': Obama backs Democratic response to Republican hardball #TexasRedistricting www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo... via @msnbc

— 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗱 (@photoframd.bsky.social) 2025-08-21T21:17:21.889Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/-responsible-approach-obama-backs-democratic-response-republican-redis-rcna226263

That effort, which is being spearheaded by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, has now received an endorsement from the party’s most popular and most influential voice. NBC News reported:

Former President Barack Obama is backing California’s plan to counter mid-decade redistricting efforts by Republicans in Texas. At a fundraising event Tuesday night for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, Obama said the Democratic Party needs to ‘respond effectively’ to Republican attempts to gerrymander.

“I’ve had to wrestle with my preference, which would be that we don’t have political gerrymandering, but what I also know is that if we don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy,” Obama said at the event.

The former Democratic president, speaking of Newsom’s plan, added, “I think that approach is a smart, measured approach, designed to address a very particular problem in a very particular moment in time.”....

In other words, this isn’t about persuading like-minded legislators, it’s about persuading voters in a statewide campaign. Given Obama’s stature, his public support matters as the broader electoral effort moves forward.

But stepping back, even if Californians approve a redrawn map in response to Texas’ scheme, it appears increasingly likely that other states will soon pursue similar tactics. The White House, fearing a possible voter backlash in the 2026 midterm elections, has also been leaning heavily on states like Indiana and Missouri to launch mid-decade redistricting gambits of their own, and according to the president, his efforts are paying off. A related effort in Florida also appears on track. Watch this space.

[misanthrope]

2. Good for him!

When the most visible proponent of "the high road" passes out praise like this, you know the moment is crucial.