Texas Redistricting Standoff Is Over: Democrats Will Reportedly Return to State House

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The Texas Democrats who fled the state to avoid a redistricting vote have decided to return, according to multiple sources that spoke to KTRK-TV.

Republicans had threatened to cut off their paychecks and even vacate their seats if they did not return to allow a quorum and proceed with official business. Democrats have been trying to shut down the approval of a redistricting map that some say would give Republicans a five-seat advantage in the U.S. House.

The KTRK report said the fleeing Democrats believe they have accomplished their goals of bringing national awareness to the redistricting effort and stopping a first special session.

After KTRK reported the development, it received a statement from a spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Caucus.

“Members are still assessing their strategies going forward and are in a private meeting to make decisions about future plans currently,” the statement reads. (Read more from “Texas Redistricting Standoff Is Over: Democrats Will Reportedly Return to State House” HERE)

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Pentagon Reports Increase in Female Military Recruits Across All Branches

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The Pentagon says female enlistment numbers have risen in every branch of the U.S. armed forces during Fiscal Year 2025, countering claims that recruitment among women has declined.

According to Pentagon data, 23,985 women have enlisted so far this fiscal year, compared to 16,725 at the same point last year — an increase of about 7,260 recruits. Female recruitment is rising alongside overall enlistment, with the U.S. Army surpassing its annual goal in June, four months ahead of schedule.

The upward trend follows record-low recruitment in 2022. Officials say numbers began to improve in 2024, with the armed forces bringing in 12.5% more personnel than the previous year.

Defense officials attribute the increase to a variety of factors, including leadership and a focus on core military readiness. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has previously stated that the department’s current emphasis is on “war fighting” and mission preparedness.

Members of Congress with military backgrounds have also noted the trend. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), an Air Force veteran, said she believes the current administration’s priorities have played a role in renewed interest among both women and men in joining the military.

The Pentagon has not released projections for whether the momentum in female enlistment will continue through the end of the fiscal year.

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MULTI-GENDER BATHROOM? Parents Outraged Over High School’s New Layout

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When students return to Christiansburg High School for classes on Wednesday, they’ll find at least one large “open plan” gender-neutral and multiple-stall bathroom.

Parents are raising the alarm.

“I would have been mortified at that age,” Alecia Vaught, 49, who has two grandchildren at the southwestern Virginia school, told The Daily Signal about the bathroom situation.

The Daily Signal obtained photos of signs with symbols depicting a woman, a man, a half-man/half-woman, and a wheelchair. While the individual stalls have higher walls to increase privacy, the gender-neutral open concept means that teen boys and girls will share a handwashing space in view from the hallway.

While the architect in charge of the renovation plans defended the open bathroom as an attempt to prevent bullying and certain illicit activities, parents raised privacy concerns.

A Facebook user posted a photo of the bathroom in a Christiansburg High School Alumni group. (Read more from “MULTI-GENDER BATHROOM? Parents Outraged Over High School’s New Layout” HERE)

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California Bill Could Open “Legal Pathway” for Child Predators

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A bill moving through the California Legislature is sparking intense backlash from parental rights advocates who warn it could be exploited by child traffickers and other predators.

Assembly Bill 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, introduced by Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez (D–San Fernando), is being promoted as a way to help undocumented minors stay with a designated “caregiver” if their parents are detained. But opponents argue the bill’s broad language would allow almost any unrelated adult to assume control over a child’s care—without parental consent, court oversight, or background checks.

Attorney Erin Friday, president of Our Duty-USA, called AB 495 “a child trafficker’s and kidnapper’s dream bill,” noting that it requires only an affidavit and a form of ID to gain temporary parental authority. The bill allows a prospective caregiver to simply state they have “advised the parent(s)” or are “unable to contact the parent(s),” without needing a parent’s signature or a court seal.

Critics point out that the legislation applies to any child, regardless of immigration status, and permits the transfer of rights to individuals with no blood relation, including teachers, medical professionals, neighbors, or family friends. “We’re talking about a legal pathway for predators to operate in plain sight,” Friday warned.

Concerns also extend to medical authority. The bill grants caregivers power over a child’s schooling, residency, and healthcare—including mental health treatments. Opponents fear this could enable minors to receive gender transition services without parental knowledge, citing California’s 2022 SB 107 law, which already permits such treatments for minors from other states without parental consent.

Faith leaders have joined the opposition. Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills urged parents to consider leaving California if the measure passes. Gina Gleason, the church’s Real Impact ministry director, emphasized the urgency of public pushback, warning that Democrats’ supermajority makes passage likely unless citizens mobilize.

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Trump Seizes Control of D.C. Police, Deploys National Guard in Crime Crackdown

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In a dramatic move aimed at curbing Washington, D.C.’s soaring crime rates, President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is taking direct federal control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and activating the National Guard to restore order in the nation’s capital.

Speaking at a packed White House press conference, Trump said he was invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a rarely used authority that allows the president to assume control over the city’s police force. He called the day “Liberation Day” for residents of the capital.

“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump declared. “Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I’m placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.”

The president said a new leadership team would be introduced soon, describing them as “very good people” who are “tough” and experienced in restoring public safety.

In addition, Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to assist in law enforcement operations, vowing they would be allowed to “do their job properly.”

Not a Partisan Issue

Trump stressed that the decision was not politically motivated, noting that crime affects everyone in the city — including journalists covering his administration.

“I understand a lot of you tend to be on the liberal side,” Trump told reporters, “but you don’t want to get mugged and raped and shot and killed. You want to be able to leave your apartment or house and feel safe.”

He compared Washington’s murder rate to some of the most dangerous cities in the world, saying it now exceeds that of Bogotá, Colombia, and Mexico City.

“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs, roving mobs, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people,” Trump said. “We’re not going to let it happen anymore — just like we didn’t let it happen at our southern border.”

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Kim Davis Petitions Supreme Court to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

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Former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis — once jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — is again asking the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its 2015 landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

In a 90-page petition filed last month, Davis urged the Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, calling it a “legal fiction” and arguing that it violates the religious liberty of Americans who hold traditional beliefs about marriage.

Davis, 59, made national headlines in 2015 when she refused to issue a marriage license to David Ermold and David Moore, a gay couple in Rowan County, Kentucky, shortly after Obergefell was decided. Her refusal led to a five-day jail sentence, and in 2022 a federal jury found she had violated the couple’s constitutional right to marry. She was ordered to pay $100,000 in emotional damages, plus $260,000 in attorneys’ fees.

Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the conservative legal group Liberty Counsel, which represents Davis, said in a statement that the case shows “why the U.S. Supreme Court should overturn the wrongly decided Obergefell v. Hodges opinion.” He argued that the First Amendment should protect public officials from being forced to choose between “faith and livelihood.”

“If ever a case deserved review,” the petition states, “the first individual who was thrown in jail post-Obergefell for seeking accommodation for her religious beliefs should be it.” The filing claims Davis’s actions were protected by her First Amendment rights and that the damages awarded to the couple were based solely on “purported emotional distress.”

The petition also directly asks the Court to reconsider Obergefell and the “legal fiction of substantive due process” on which it was based.

William Powell, attorney for Ermold and Moore, dismissed Davis’s arguments, expressing confidence the Court will not take up the case. “Marriage equality is settled law,” Powell said, adding that the lower courts were correct in rejecting Davis’s legal claims.

This is not Davis’s first appeal to the nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court declined to hear her case in 2020, leaving the Obergefell ruling intact.

Nasty Dem Vs. Dem House Dogfight Set Up By Texas Redistricting

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A senior House Democrat scrambling to retain his seat in Congress amid Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting push is actively pressuring his younger left-wing colleague to not run against him — as the state’s proposed GOP-drawn map threatens to place the two Democrats in the same district.

Democratic Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett signaled Monday that he will seek his 17th term in Congress despite the prospect of a potential primary challenge from fellow Democratic Texas Rep. Greg Casar. The newly-drawn map would create only one safe blue seat in Austin, Texas, setting up a potential brutal primary contest that Doggett is trying to avoid by lobbying Casar to run for a neighboring seat that is solidly Republican.

“If this sorry Trump map for Texas is eventually approved, I remain hopeful that Congressman Casar will not abandon his reconfigured CD35 [35th congressional district], in which he is the only incumbent,” Doggett said in a statement Monday. “Without Greg’s power of incumbency and ability to attract support, this seat could be lost by a weaker Democratic nominee.”

“[I]f I am challenged in Austin, I stand ready to vigorously and forcefully defend my progressive pay-as-you-go record and my commitment to the only city I have ever called home,” Doggett continued. “Never give up, never give in!”

Texas Republicans are eyeing five pickup opportunities with the newly-proposed congressional map that would draw Doggett and Casar into the same Austin, Texas-based seat. The GOP-backed redistricting effort has been temporarily stalled following Democrats choosing to deny Republicans a quorum in the state House by departing the state for Democratic enclaves across the country. (Read more from “Nasty Dem Vs. Dem House Dogfight Set Up By Texas Redistricting” HERE)

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Instant Karma: Watch Two Chinese Ships Crash Into Each Other While Trying To Harass Neighbor’s Coast Guard

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Two Chinese ships collided with each other in the South China Sea on Monday while trying to harass the Philippines’ coast guard, video shows.

In a high-speed chase, the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 was pursuing the Philippine patrol ship BRP Suluan approximately 10.5 nautical miles east of the contentious Scarborough Shoal, deploying water its water cannon at one point, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Jay Tarriela. As the CCG vessel approached the boat, it collided with a larger Chinese Navy destroyer that attempted to intervene by positioning itself between the Philippine ship and the coast guard cutter.

“The CCG 3104 … performed a risky maneuver from the PCG vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA Navy warship. This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy,” the spokesman wrote.

Footage captured from aboard the Suluan documents the significant hull damage sustained by both Chinese vessels following the collision.

(Read more from “Instant Karma: Watch Two Chinese Ships Crash Into Each Other While Trying To Harass Neighbor’s Coast Guard” HERE)

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Harvard Scientist Warns Mystery Halloween Comet Could Be Alien Probe

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A prominent Harvard astrophysicist is urging world leaders to treat a recently discovered interstellar object as a matter of global priority, warning that time may be running short to prepare for potential contact with extraterrestrial technology.

Professor Avi Loeb, known for his outspoken views on UFOs and space anomalies, has raised alarms over comet 31/ATLAS — an unusual celestial body spotted in June that will pass near Earth on October 31. Loeb believes the object’s unusual characteristics warrant serious investigation and international coordination.

“This is the kind of thing that should be discussed at the highest levels,” Loeb said in a recent interview. “We make policies for threats like asteroids, climate change, and AI — but alien technology is rarely even on the agenda.”

Astronomers have noted that 31/ATLAS is larger than typical comets and appears to emit a light ahead of it rather than the usual glowing tail trailing behind. This anomaly has fueled speculation that the object may not be a standard comet at all, but potentially an artificial craft.

Loeb emphasized that if the object is confirmed to be alien in origin, its approach could have far-reaching consequences. “The response depends entirely on its nature and intent,” he explained. “It’s like having an unexpected visitor in your backyard — you need to figure out why they’re there before deciding how to respond.”

As Halloween draws closer and 31/ATLAS continues its approach, Loeb is calling for an international framework to handle potential first contact scenarios — a step he says humanity should take before it’s too late.

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Newsom Threatens to Redraw California’s Districts if GOP States Push Mid-Decade Maps

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned President Donald Trump that he will move to redraw California’s congressional maps if Republican-led states proceed with what he calls “hyper-partisan gerrymanders” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

In a letter posted Monday on X, Newsom urged Trump to convince governors in red states to abandon their mid-decade redistricting plans. “If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states,” Newsom wrote, adding that California would halt its own efforts if other states do the same.

The governor pointed out that California’s current districts were drawn by an independent citizens’ commission, a process in place for nearly 20 years, but argued the state “cannot stand idly by” if others change maps before the next census. His plan would largely depend on whether Texas and other GOP-led states carry out their proposed redistricting.

The political battle comes as Texas lawmakers advance new congressional maps after a Justice Department claim that current boundaries violate civil rights laws. In California, Newsom’s threat has sparked debate in the state legislature over whether to amend the state constitution to allow lawmakers — rather than the independent commission — to control redistricting. State officials estimate such a move could cost over $200 million.

Critics from both parties have pushed back. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) called the idea “uniquely corrupt,” while former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) — who helped establish the commission through voter initiatives in 2008 and 2010 — said dismantling it would undermine the system’s integrity.

Still, Newsom has backing from Democratic heavyweights, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who echoed his concerns about what she labeled a “rigged” election process in other states. Pelosi argued California should be prepared to act if Texas moves ahead with its plan.

However, not all Democrats are on board. Alex Lee (D-Milpitas) warned that abandoning the commission could “betray the party platform” and create a dangerous precedent.

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