## Democrats must gerrymander to save democracy

Authored by democracydocket.com

SIGN UP TODAY Get updates straight to your inbox — for free Join 350,000 readers who rely on our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest in voting, elections and democracy.

Democrats, I argued publicly, should respond by gerrymandering 15 to 20 seats in states they controlled.

Republicans made clear they would not be deterred by Democrats simply matching them seat for seat.

The only way to stop them was to make clear that Democrats will go further than they will — and mean it.

With mid-cycle redistricting the new normal, lines will be adjusted every two years to ensure that population shifts do not undo the gerrymander.

Minority communities will be dispersed and disempowered simply on the grounds that they are more likely to vote for Democrats.

Put simply: right now, Democrats must gerrymander to save democracy. »

### French teen charged in Singapore over a vending machine straw-licking video

Authored by apnews.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A French teen is facing mischief and public nuisance charges in Singapore after posting a video on social media of himself licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and then putting it back.

IJooz, the company operating the juice vending machine, filed a police report, and sanitized the dispenser while replacing all 500 straws in the machine.

Lawyers for the teen, who is studying in a French business school in Singapore, declined to comment on the case when contacted. »

### Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Devs Reveal Huge Battle Maps, Planets, and Region Scale

Authored by ign.com

In a livestream, David Petry, battle product owner, and Kevin McDowell, art director on Total War: Warhammer 40,000, ran through the region scale and visuals of planets, before showing off new battle maps.

Creative Assembly shows off the scale of the Total War: Warhammer 40,000 battle maps.

As a Warhammer 40,000 fan, everything Creative Assembly has shown off so far about Total War: Warhammer 40,000 looks hugely promising. »

### Germany says U.S. troop withdrawal 'anticipated', Spain and Italy could be next

Authored by npr.org

Germany says U.S. troop withdrawal 'anticipated', Spain and Italy could be next.

Pistorius added that if Germany was to remain a transatlantic partner, it must work to strengthen the European pillar within NATO.

Trump also indicated this week that he was also weighing troop reductions in Italy and Spain. »

### 42 House Democrats Join GOP in Passing Warrantless Mass Surveillance Bill

Authored by truthout.org

The House voted 235-191 in favor of the bill released last week by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.

However, 42 Democrats — including House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes (Conn.) — still joined most House Republicans in advancing the legislation.

“The 42 Democratic votes to advance Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump’s surveillance agenda are dangerous and shameful,” she declared. »

## In pictures

## Also in the news

#### Where is Renee Good’s killer? AOC outraged by ICE agent’s reinstatement

#### From OECD to emerging markets: fossil power’s global decline has begun

#### A giraffe orphan named Pips was rescued by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust last September after her mother was killed by lions in Kenya. The keepers call her "Pipsi." She knows her name and responds to it. Her best friend at the sanctuary is a zebra named Bombi.

#### US bypasses congress for military sales of $8.6 billion to Middle East

#### Florida Taco Bell Worker Opens Fire On Customers Over Drink Dispute: Police