Overview

• On Fox News’s The Will Cain Show, Rep. James Talarico accused Republicans of “rigging” congressional boundaries and was cut off when the host signaled time was up.
• Talarico posted on X that Cain refused to answer his questions and cut the interview short, prompting Cain to call him “dishonest” and mock his absence from Texas.
• The heated back-and-forth instantly went viral on social media, intensifying national scrutiny of the GOP’s off-cycle redistricting effort.
• Senate Republicans approved the new map on August 11, but the Texas House still lacks quorum after over 50 Democrats fled the state to block the vote.
• Democratic lawmakers say they will return to Texas after Friday’s special session ends, though Gov. Greg Abbott has warned he will call additional sessions and pursue fines and civil arrest warrants to compel their comeback.