A partisan move by Texas to redraw its congressional maps in the middle of the decade to secure five more GOP seats in the U.S. House set off a clamor to replicate the effort in statehouses controlled by both parties.

So far, though, only California has taken steps toward redistricting.

Changing congressional maps in a bid to ensure one party’s victory over another — called gerrymandering — has typically been done more furtively. But President Donald Trump’s call for Texas to redraw the maps to better ensure that Republicans retain control of the House in the 2026 elections has blown the lid off the practice.

Here is a rundown of what states are doing.

Texas kicked it off, then Democrats left the state

Democratic lawmakers who left Texas have scuttled a special session on redistricting but appear set to end their standoff after nearly two weeks.

The Republican majority adjourned their special session Friday morning in Austin. Gov. Greg Abbott was expected to quickly call another, and Democrats have said they will return to Texas provided California Democrats move forward with their own new maps.

Past efforts by Democrats to abscond and deny Republicans a quorum similarly only delayed the passage of bills, but didn’t quash them. Abbott has said he will keep calling new special sessions, if necessary.

State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat from Houston, told The Associated Press this week that their protest was about raising awareness.

“They may still pass these maps, but we’re going to do everything we can to awaken America,” he said.

California Democrats propose retaliation

In response to Texas, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state will move forward with redrawing congressional maps aimed at putting five more Democrats into the U.S. House.

The proposed maps, which are expected to be released Friday, are an attempt to counterbalance Texas’ and Trump’s plan to add five Republican seats.

Newsom has been outspoken about retaliating if Texas’s redistricting takes effect, telling Trump this week in a letter that the president was “playing with fire.”

Unlike Texas, however, California has an independent commission that handles redistricting after the census each decade, which is typically when districts are reshaped to account for population shifts. Any changes would first need the approval of state lawmakers and voters.

State lawmakers plan to officially declare a special election next week.

Missouri Republicans take steps toward redistricting

At Trump’s urging and partly in response to California’s threats, Missouri’s Republican majority is preparing for a special session on congressional redistricting

A document obtained by The Associated Press shows the state Senate has received a $46,000 invoice for software licenses and staff training for redistricting.

While Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe hasn’t officially announced a special session, Republican House Majority Leader Alex Riley told the AP it is “pretty likely” to happen. Riley added that he has had discussions with White House staff about it.

Republicans hold six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats. The party could target a Democratic-held district in Kansas City to pick up another seat.

In justifying the redistricting, Missouri Republicans accused neighboring Illinois of rigging its maps and pointed to a draft proposal circulating in California.

New York Democrats try to change state law

New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that changes the political maps only after every census. But state Democrats introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said that if Texas proceeds, “we must do the same.”

But the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the 2028 elections. That is because the proposal would require an amendment to the state constitution, a change that would have to pass the Legislature twice and be approved by voters.

Wisconsin Democrats take a different tack

While Republicans control the Legislature, Democrats turned to the courts to try to force a redrawing of congressional district boundary lines before the 2026 midterms.

Two lawsuits were filed in July after the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court — without explanation — previously declined to hear challenges directly.

Maryland Democrats promise a response to Texas

Maryland House Majority Leader David Moon, a Democrat, says he will sponsor legislation to trigger redistricting if Texas or any other state holds redistricting ahead of the census.

Florida’s governor hints at support for redistricting

Republican state House Speaker Daniel Perez said his chamber will take up redistricting this year through a special committee. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has told the public to “stay tuned” and has reiterated his support for the state joining the redistricting fray.

Ohio must redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms

A law in Republican-led Ohio requires new political maps before the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP holds 10 of its 15 House seats already and could try to expand that edge.

Indiana’s governor spoke with the vice president

Vice President JD Vance said he spoke with Republican Gov. Mike Braun last week, as the redistricting melee intensified, but both politicians remained mum about the discussions.

Braun, who would have to call a special session to draw new maps, has said he expects a “broad conversation” with legislative leaders on the move’s constitutionality and said no commitments have been made.

Republicans face more limited possibilities of squeezing out another GOP seat in Indiana. Republican U.S. representatives outnumber Democrats 7-2 in the state already.

Kansas Republicans haven’t ruled out redistricting

Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson didn’t rule out trying to redraw the state’s four congressional districts, one of which is held by the state’s sole Democrat House representative.

The Legislature’s GOP-supermajority could do so early next year, which would put the new lines in place before the June 1 candidate filing deadline.

August 15, 2025

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Sophie Rain, the 20-year-old OnlyFans star who claims to have made more than $80 million on the platform, had the internet buzzing Thursday night when she called into MrBeast’s TeamWater charity livestream and gave $1 million to the cause.

The YouTube goliath, which is streaming alongside Adin Ross and xQc, was seemingly left speechless when Rain made the announcement.

“I’ve been wanting to donate,” Rain said over the call. “I’m just not sure how to, so I’m glad you called me because I want to donate $1 million, is what I want to donate.”

MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, replied with both hands over his mouth and eyes wide with shock: “You sure?!” Rain replied resolutely, “I am 100% sure. This is an awesome cause. I appreciate everything you do and you’re just an amazing person, and I just want to support this because it’s awesome.”

TeamWater’s Global Goal

The #TeamWater initiative, a collaboration between MrBeast and other content creator Mark Rober, aims to raise $40 million in August to provide clean water to millions of individuals worldwide.

More than 3,000 influencers have committed to the cause, and as of morning on Friday, MrBeast’s stream alone had generated over $10 million in pledge commitments toward its target of $12 million. Overall across the campaign, donations totaled $29.3 million.

Rain’s $1 million pledge puts her in the top 20 donor charts, together with large gifts from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin ($2.25 million), Kick.com ($2 million), Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke ($1.5 million), and a $2 million matching fund made by Google and YouTube.

Sophie Rain’s Controversial Fortune

Rain, who lives in Miami, boasts more than 500,000 OnlyFans subscribers and 20 million on her other social media platforms. She has shared on X that the adult-content empire she began in July 2023 has generated $80.1 million in earnings, which bought a private plane, seven luxury cars, and a $2.7 million farmhouse on 20 acres.

In a sarcastic post after the pledge, Rain replied to detractors: “call it dirty money, but i still donated $1m more than you did ????‍♀️ thank you for the opportunity #TeamWater.”

Her Message on Giving Back

In a release through her reps, Rain framed the donation as only one aspect of a larger good: “Access to clean water is something that we all take for granted, but to millions of others, it’s an ongoing struggle. This donation is my way of using my platform for something that counts. I wanted to give back in something that would have immediate and tangible effect.”

She continued, “Not everybody can donate a million dollars, and that’s okay. Even a little bit can change one’s life. If my donation inspires other people to do something, then it’s worth every penny.”

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It must be nice to be Halle Berry. Not only has she long been considered one of the most beautiful people in the world, she also still manages to be the topic of conversation even for people who have been out of her life for over two decades. Such is the case for Berry’s ex-husband, former Major League Baseball All-Star and multiple World Series’ champ, David Justice, who despite being a rich-and-famous professional athlete is still more famously known for being married to Halle Berry in the early 1990s than his own career. 

That infamous marriage came up as part of a wide-ranging discussion with Justice on the “All The Smoke” podcast. In his defense, there’s no conversation with the 59-year-old Justice that doesn’t include some discussion about Berry and what it was like being a part of what was—at the time—such a high profile relationship. Justice initially acknowledged that, maybe, their relationship could have gone the distance if they’d done some work. 

“We probably could have made it if I knew about therapy. If we knew about therapy, we probably could have made it. And we never had any major issues like that. It’s just that I was young and had only been in, honestly, one real relationship before her. My knowledge and my understanding, my wisdom around relationships just wasn’t vast.” Good start there, Dave. But then he said the things. 

“So, in my mind I’m thinking a wife at that time should cook, clean, you know. And then I’m thinking okay if we have kids, you know, is this the woman I want to have kids with and build a family with?  At that time as a young guy she don’t cook, don’t clean, don’t really seem, like, motherly, and then we start having issues.”

You never know who’s paying attention to these interviews, but as it turns out, Halle Berry was paying attention to that one. Or at least somebody from her team made sure that Berry got the parts about her from the interview because on her 59th birthday—today—while celebrating with family and such, she made a little time to let off a not-so-stray shot at Justice’s comments about her. 

In a carousel of images posted to her Instagram account are pictures of Berry in various states of joy and celebration, including a shot of she and longtime partner Van Hunt, a card labeled “Mom” on it  complete with a caption that reads, “Phew…! Cooking, cleaning and mothering”

I guess she saw the interview. Nothing like a little not-so-subtle nod to a life lived many years ago that didn’t suit while enjoying being a partner and a mother decades later, celebrating the good life on your birthday. 

Happy 59th birthday, Halle Berry!

August 15, 2025

25

Vans handed SZA the creative keys, and she’s taking the brand for a drive into new, unapologetically cool territory. The five-time Grammy winner, record-breaking chart topper, and all-around cultural force has become Vans’ new Artistic Director in a multi-year creative partnership that’s anything but business as usual. This is not another “collab drop.” This is SZA planting her flag in sneaker culture and saying Let’s mix it up.

From Stage Queen to Sneaker Boss

Vans is crowning her one of the most powerful music and style influencers alive, and it’s hard to argue. SZA’s kingdom is founded on rule-breaking from her genre-defying hits to her bold, norm-defying aesthetic. As Artistic Director, she’s diving in headfirst to rethink campaigns, create exclusive products, and infuse every piece with her fearless, dreamy, “you can’t box me in” energy.

“In Vans, I feel free!” SZA gushes. “I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years, they’ve always had an ethos I connect with. As Artistic Director, my mission is to show that joy, community, creativity, and fashion are all still intersectional… They stand where I stand, and I’m honored to invite a whole bunch of people to stand Off the Wall with us. ❤️”

Translation? She’s here to make sneakers feel like art, friendship, and rebellion simultaneously.

Debut Campaign: A Love Letter to Becoming

Chapter one of this partnership drops with a brand anthem so lush and dreamy you might almost forget it’s an advertisement, technically. Directed and shot by Sophie Jones, styled by Alejandra Hernandez, the campaign explores vulnerability, self-reflection, and personal style like they’re the hottest new trends on the planet because under SZA’s direction, they kind of are.

Dead center is one of her all-time favorite kicks: the Vans Knu Skool in Black/White. Born in 1997 as the chunky, renegade cousin of the Old Skool™, the Knu Skool features a puffed-up tongue, 3D Sidestripe, and jumbo laces that scream late-90s skate energy. And, yes, you can grab them now at some Vans retailers or Vans.com before they, naturally, sell out.

SZA’s Reign Is Bigger Than Music

This sneaker push comes as SZA is already at her peak in the midst of her cultural takeover. She’s tallied more than 70 billion streams worldwide, won 77 awards, and had her SOS album spend 117 weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart, a record-breaking streak that’s almost difficult to fathom. Her recent Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar wasn’t just a hit. It was the highest-grossing duo tour of all time.

And because she obviously doesn’t believe in sleep, she also made her feature film debut this year in One of Them Days, which opened at No. 1 in the box office. Basically, she’s not only winning. She’s sweeping every category.

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