The GOP’s Texas Hold ‘Em

The Lincoln Project

Society & Culture, News Commentary, Government, Daily News, News, Politics

4.7 • 8.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Texas just went full throttle and dropped the wildest political heist of 2025 — a mid-decade redistricting blitz where Republicans rigged the map, Democrats fled the state, and cops chased lawmakers like it was a Netflix drama. Add in nationwide “Fight the Trump Takeover” protests and blue states plotting revenge, and you’ve got the biggest battle for Congress before 2026. Rick sits down with Texas Senators Carol Alvarado and Ronald Gutierrez to unpack what they are doing to resist this insanity. This episode breaks down the Texas gerrymander gone nuclear—and why it could decide whether Trump’s GOP keeps America on lockdown. • • • • • You can keep up with Senator Gutierrez @RolandForTexas on X, and Senator Alvarado @CarolforTexas on X. Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the Lincoln Project podcast. I am delighted to be joined today,
0:03.8	and I'm going to reintroduce them in a minute by two of the people in the state of Texas leading the fight
0:09.3	against Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton and Donald Trump's illegal Trump redistricting plan.
0:16.3	They are Senator Roland Gutierrez and Senator Carol Alvarado, both of whom have been trying to find ways to strategize to block this in the Senate, slow it down, break it up, drag it out.
0:30.5	We're going to talk to them today about how the fight's going, what the next moves are, and what the reaction across the country of these other states jumping into this, including California, will be.
0:41.3	We're recording this show on Thursday, August the 14th.
0:44.6	We normally try to keep them very close to the day they air, but because the story is breaking so quickly in Texas, we're redistricting.
0:51.3	We wanted to record it today.
0:53.1	We'll get it out as quick as we can,
0:54.4	but I want you to make sure that you understand we're recording it on Thursday, the 14th,
0:59.3	because by the time it airs, who knows what's going to blow up in the great state of Texas.
1:03.2	It's a fascinating subject right now, and it is one of the things that in all the other chaos,
1:09.4	it's so consequential that we make sure we focus on what they're
1:12.8	trying to do. The Republicans need a cheat code in 26. They need a way to break the will of the
1:18.9	people and select their own voters instead of voters selecting them. It's a big fight. It's an
1:24.1	important fight. I hope you enjoy this episode. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battleheartedly.
1:32.3	There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America.
1:40.9	Good night and good luck.
1:42.9	Hey folks, welcome back to the Lincoln Project podcast.
1:45.4	I'm your host, as always, Rick Wilson.
1:47.0	And the news out of Texas is really dominating the national political headlines this week.
1:51.4	And I am delighted to be joined by two state senators in the great state of Texas, Roland Gutierrez, and Carol Alvarado, both of whom are in the forefront of this fight in the in the state Senate.
	...

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