Putin and Trump Meet and Newsom Asks CA Voters to Block Trump & TX From Election Rigging 8/15/25

California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, is standing up to Trump with his Election Rigging Response Act. It’s an effort to counter Texas, which at Trump’s demand, drew up new congressional districts where voters would likely elect Republican representatives. The new Texas maps could also mean incumbent Democratic representatives could face each other in some districts. It’s an effort to keep the House under GOP control in the 2026 midterm elections. Governor Newsom is asking California voters to allow redrawn maps in to keep Republicans from unethically stealing Democratic seats. Newsom wants state lawmakers to allow a November ballot measure where voters would weigh in on his plan to temporarily change districts. We’ll talk redistricting and politics with Philip Bump. He is known for his work as a national columnist for The Washington Post and his coverage of politics for The Atlantic Wire. Bump’s book “The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America” looks at the upheaval in American politics and the U.S. economy. Find him at pbump.com Our segment “This Week in Politics” brings former ABC White House correspondent Jim Avila to the show to talk about current events. We’ll sprinkle in some Friday Fabulous Florida and add a dash of Culture Blaster Michael Snyder with movie and streaming reviews and it’s a perfect Friday.