Trump Panics as His Supreme Court Blocks Use of MAGA Congress Maps at the Midterm
Sep 9, 2026 · 11m
Summary
Michael Popock reports on Justice Kavanaugh’s solo ruling upholding the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to keep the 2022 congressional map, rejecting a new gerrymandered map that would have created a 7-1 Republican advantage. The ruling stems from a successful petition by plaintiff Richard Van Glahn, who argued that Missouri law required a voter referendum for redistricting, a right Secretary of State Denny Hoskins improperly ignored. Popock highlights this as a significant pro-democracy data point, noting that even conservative justices recognize adequate state law bars federal interfere…
Topics discussed
Breaking news: Justice Kavanaugh rules on Missouri maps
Details on the referendum requirement and 2022 map
Political implications for House control and Democratic seats
Kavanaugh's solo decision and context of the ruling
Host introduction and location at AG conference
Overview of the Van Glahn lawsuit and plaintiff
The petition process and legislative redistricting
Missouri Constitution referendum provisions and Secretary's rejection
Clip: Secretary of State Hoskins defends his decision
Hoskins claims constitutional authority to reject petition
Host rebuts Hoskins' interpretation of state law
Legal analysis: Adequate and independent state ground
Introduction to interview with plaintiff Richard Van Glahn
Van Glahn confirms sufficient valid signatures were submitted
Questioning the Secretary's power to declare petition unconstitutional
Precedent check: Has a Secretary ever rejected a valid petition?
Timeline of obstruction and Supreme Court ruling on maps
Kavanaugh's view on federal interference and state authority
Broader context: Supreme Court and MAGA voting interference
Comparison with Trump's failed mail-in ballot challenge
Trump administration's new attack on mail-in voting logistics
Scale of mail-in voters and upcoming Supreme Court briefing
Prediction on the postal service voting case outcome
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