Democracy Forward Representative (8:49)

Go to trymiracle.com legalaf and use the.

Michael Popak (8:53)

Code legal AF to claim your free three piece towel set and save over 40% off. Again, that's trymiracle.com legalaf to treat yourself thank you Miracle Maid for sponsoring this episode. Now Democracy Forward. We have an exclusive letter here from them. They are not only are they a public interest group that's filed over 80 lawsuits against this administration just in the in the last six months, including two last week on the immigration rules, but they are also sent a pre suit letter to Abbott reminding him that he can't remove people. And we have the exclusive letter right here. Here's what Sky Perryman who just did a hot take with me, you can come over to Legal AF YouTube and catch it about two new lawsuits here. Here's what she wrote today, August 4th to Governor Abbott Governor Abbott, last night you issued a statement stating that you would remove Texas state lawmakers elected by their communities if they were not present today, Monday at a special session. It appears you called the special session. It appears that you are doing the bidding of interest outside of Texas, including President Trump who are seeking to prevent the fair representation of people in the state. All in bold. Now you are not a king. You have no authority to remove lawmakers elected by their communities in Texas from office. And then they say that there is a Texas supreme court case from 2021, which Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton knows because he cited it in his letter that enables quorum breaking as a tactic of the legislative minority. And these 50 Senate Democrats or Democrats are in the minority. And so they the decision by the lawmakers to represent their communities by refusing to participate in this special session today is, as the Texas Constitution recognizes, Sky Perryman continues, an official act, not the abandonment of a constitutional duty as your statement suggests. It is in fact the judgment of these lawmakers that their communities are best served by the quorum break, which is a prerogative that Texas lawmakers have the right to exercise. I mean, the minority in Texas, Republican or Democrat, have been doing quorum breaking since 1870, all the way up to 2021 and now this most recent time. And so what she reminds Abbott in this letter is that he doesn't have the ability to remove people for abandonment. They're going to have to go through a removal. They're going to have to go through a process through a court, and they will be opposed. This is what she ends the letter with on page two. What is happening in the state of Texas is not just a test for the rights of Texans, but one for the rights of everyone who wishes to live in a democracy in this nation. You and your allies have created an unprecedented political emergency for the people of Texas and across the nation, thousands of Texans have testified against and spoken out to oppose the hastily drawn redistricting maps which seek to make invisible and take the voices away from millions. While you have some power as a governor, you don't have the power to remove. Now this is a shot across the bow by Democracy Forward before they file their ultimate suit. So I think we're going to have a number of suits. We're going to have Paxson on behalf of Texas filing some sort of action to remove these 50 lawmakers. There's already a fine of $500 a day running since 2021. They stuck that into into new rules there. So there's going to be that case, that's probably going to be a state court case and that ultimately goes up to the Texas Supreme Court. Separately, I could see a federal lawsuit being filed by the lawmakers. The there's also an arrest warrant that's been issued by the sergeant of arms to bring them home, but he doesn't have the long arm of the law to go grab them. In Illinois, we have the clip of the arrest warrants being issued or authorized by the sergeant of arms in Texas. Let's run the clip.

Texas House Speaker (12:38)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. Mr. Speaker, I move that the sergeant of arms or officers appointed by her send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused to for the purpose of securing and maintaining their attendance under warrant of arrest if necessary. And this order to be continued beyond the adjournment of day session and until the further order of the House members.

Texas House Member (13:03)

You've heard the motion. This is a record vote. Clerk, ring the bell.

Michael Popak (13:07)

Saran voting aye.

Texas House Member (13:17)

Being 85 ayes and six nays. The motion prevails. The sergeant at arms and any officers appointed by her are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused for the purposes of securing and maintaining their attendance under warrant of arrest if necessary, until further order of the House.

Michael Popak (13:34)

So I think there's going to be a lawsuit about that arrest warrant and get back before a federal judge on that and back up to the United States Supreme Court. So there's a number of ways to. And then ultimately a substantive attack on the redistricting map as a violation of the Voting Rights act and a violation of the Constitution. Any and, and the, and the representative form of government that we have, this is the right thing. This is what defiance. People ask me, what does defiance look like? What does disobedience look like? What does good trouble look like? How do we resist the Trump administration? How do we call out their depravity? You're watching it 50 heroes for me right now. The procedurally, there'll be some ins and outs. You know, the speaker will call some procedural motions in Texas. Governor will squawk more about removal. There'll be another injunction hearing. The other question is, do these things work? They do. In many cases. It forces the majority who's trying to shove these maps or these rules or these, these pieces of legislation down people's throats to bargain, to negotiate, to compromise. Sometimes that does happen. Depends on the length of the time, especially if you can believe it. There was in Oregon, the Republicans walked out for six weeks, so there was no business for six weeks. Remember, quorum breaking means for, for as long as they're out, this body in Texas stops legislating, stops doing anything deliberative. They can't act without the quorum. So they're all back in their offices. This 30 day session is on ice, appropriately. So I think it's a bargaining tool. It's a negotiating tool. You might see some horse trading, no pun intended, in Texas between maybe we don't lose five seats, we lose one seat or whatever it is, but they got to stay out for as long as they can. But it's going to ultimately, ultimately be decided back in the court system and we'll be right there for it at the corner of Law and Politics here on the Midas Dutch network on Illegal af. I'm glad. I'm glad you're here with me. Come on over to Legal a f the YouTube channel. Hit the Free subscribe button there. If we can just get any part of our audience to match our subscribe our subscriber base to match our audience, this would be fantastic. We've had over 220 million people view our work in the last nine months. I'll take 1% of that in the subscriber base. Just takes a minute. Flick your finger, hit the subscriber button, come on over to Legal AF, the YouTube channel, and I'll post this Democracy Forward letter on the Legal AF substack. So until my next report, this is Michael Popak.

Democracy Forward Representative (16:15)

Can't get your fill of Legal af.

Michael Popak (16:16)

Me neither.

Democracy Forward Representative (16:17)

That's why we formed the Legal AF substack. Every time we mention something in a hot take, whether it's a court filing or a oral argument, come over to the substack. You'll find the court filing and the oral argument there, including a daily roundup that I do called wait for it Morning af.

Michael Popak (16:33)

What else?

Democracy Forward Representative (16:34)

All the other contributors from Legal A for there as well. We got some new reporting, we got interviews, we got ad free versions of the podcast and hot takes where Legal A F on substack. Come over now to free subscribe.

Liquid IV Representative (16:53)

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AMPM Representative (18:55)

It's got to be when I'm really craving it and it's convenient.

Liquid IV Representative (18:58)

Could you be more specific when it's cray venient?

AMPM Representative (19:00)

Okay, like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter available right down the street at a.m. p.m. Or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just a second at a.m. pM.

Liquid IV Representative (19:09)

I'm seeing a pattern here.

AMPM Representative (19:10)

Well yeah, we're talking about what I.

Liquid IV Representative (19:11)

Crave, which is anything from AM pm.

AMPM Representative (19:13)

What more could you want?

Bluehost Representative (19:15)

Stop by AMPM where the snacks and.

AMPM Representative (19:16)

Drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience AM PM Too much good stuff.

Liquid IV Representative (19:23)

Dreaming of blissful summer days and creamy Popsicles capture sun drenched memories with the Orange Vanilla Dream Hydration multiplier from Liquid IV. Just one stick and 16 ounces of water can help hydrate you better than water alone. Live your summer dream with Liquid IV Tear Pour Live more. Go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code INDIVULGE20 at checkout. Remember those endless summer days that felt like they just last forever? Sunrays kiss your skin. Grass tickles your toes as you bite into the creamy popsicle melting in your hand. Pure unbothered bliss. Capture more sun drenched memories with the Orange Vanilla Dream Hydration Multiplier from Liquid iv. This nostalgic vanilla flavor with notes of candied orange can help keep you hydrated while savoring your favorite golden hour moments. No matter how hot your summer gets, just one stick of liquid IV and 16 ounces of water hydrates you better than water alone. It's three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink with eight vitamins and nutrients for refreshing on the go. Hydration Live your summer dream with Liquid IV Tear Pour Live More go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code INDIVELGE20 at checkout. That's code INDIVELGE20@liquidiv.com.