The Voting Wars Continue

What I've been reading

Hi there.

The storyline that will not end in the next few years is voting rights, and for the moment, Texas is taking centerstage on that issue. You may recall that Texas Democrats in the state legislature refused to show up at the state capitol for a vote on a voter suppression bill, denying the legislature the necessary quorum as the session ended. Since then, Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session to complete passage, but Democrats are once again denying a quorum, this time at risk of arrest, according to NBC News.

Now, there are two ways to think about their actions. On one hand, they’re protecting their constituents from effective disenfranchisement using the only tools at their disposal. On the other hand, they are directly obstructing the will of the majority in Texas, and they’re defying their own constitutional duties to do it.

It’s a philosophical question of sorts. Texas Democrats are, paradoxically, opposing majority rule in the name of democracy, and I still haven’t decided where I come down on that. Feel free to let me know what you think.

To be clear, I’m under no illusion about the fragility of our democracy. It’s very clear that most Republicans are no longer interested in democracy, preferring instead autocracy disguised by a sham electoral system. And, importantly, President Biden understands that point. According to the Associated Press, Biden is entering the fray with a major speech on voting rights in Philadelphia (the birthplace of American democracy) today. But an essay from Real Clear Politics calls for Biden to further clarify what’s at stake in the fight over voting rights.

As I said, this is a story that’s not going away. Nor should it.

In other news, it’s a messy news cycle for Democrats. The New York Times has revealed that the Obama Administration’s EPA made some objectively terrible decisions regarding fracking-related toxins. The Daily Beast points out that the Democratic frontrunner in next year’s Senate race in Ohio has already broken her promise not to take campaign contributions from lobbyists. And Axios shows how a left-wing group dedicated to fight dark money is, in fact, fueled by dark money.

Meanwhile, New York Magazine laments over how pundits get our hopes up regarding the possibility of a Trump prosecution. Slate profiles a conservative book publisher. Another NY Mag piece profiles New York gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy. Wired examines the world of autonomous military drones. And CNN warns that Republican support for the bipartisan infrastructure framework may already be waning.

Lastly, Kara Swisher’s latest NYT column argues that movie theaters are quickly becoming obsolete. But another NYT piece points out that recent releases have offered hope for the future of theaters. Cheers to that.

Thank you for caring enough to read.

Be safe. Drink water. You are loved.

Talk to you tomorrow.