Complaints are piling up by the day in public school libraries across the country, as parents aim to ban books they consider inappropriate for children to read. According to the American Library Association, 273 books were challenged by censorship attempts during the 2020-21 school year. Many of the books in question tackle two complicated issues:…

The Supreme Court has turned to its ‘shadow docket’ more frequently and for bigger decisions. Between November 2020 and  September 2021, the Supreme Court used its shadow docket for emergency injunctions seven times. Steve Vladeck, the Charles Alan Wright Chair In Federal Courts at the University of Texas Law School testified as much to a…

States around the country are redrawing their Congressional maps in a once a decade process called redistricting, and it will impact which political party controls both the United States House of Representatives and State Houses for the next ten years. Adjusting the maps is a constitutional requirement designed to help reflect population changes over time. Every…

Celebrities have been leveraging their fame to amass political power for years. And Americans are warming to the celebrity-as-lawmaker concept now more than ever. According to a recent survey from Piplsay, more than half of Americans believe Hollywood stars can make good politicians “with the right attitude and support staff.” 58% of respondents said they’d support…

In one of the first steps in the nationwide redistricting process following the release of the 2020 Census data, the Republican-led Texas state legislature approved redrawn maps for its U.S. House districts late Monday night. Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign off on the changes but may face legal battles first. In a lawsuit filed…

A search for a Texas high school student ended with the student in custody Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly started shooting inside the school. The video above shows the scene of the shooting. Police identified the alleged shooter as 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins. The reported shooting happened Timberview High School in Arlington, which is part…

Three Democratic lawmakers gave deeply personal testimony about their own abortions in front of a Congressional committee Thursday. The hearing comes weeks after a Texas law took effect that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy with no exception for rape or incest. Other conservative states are considering similar measures. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri…

Gwen’s picks for Wednesday, September 1 include: Texas legislature passes controversial voting rights bill. Texas abortion law goes into effect. View Jimmie’s interview here.  President Biden meets with President Zelenskyy. Democratic lawmakers send President Biden letter on America’s hunger crisis.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered another special session for this weekend to pass a voting bill after Democrats left the state in protest. The announcement, which had been expected, puts new pressure on the more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who left Texas for Washington, D.C., on July 12 and have remained…

8/4 update: After receiving support from Former President Donald Trump, coal lobbyist Mike Carey won Tuesday’s special Republican primary in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. In the state’s 11th district, centrist Cuyahoga County Council member Shontel Brown defeated progressive Nina Turner and others in the Democratic special primary. —————————————————————————————————————————————————– Two special congressional primaries in Ohio set…