On Thursday, Democrats achieved two simultaneous judicial gains in the battle to redraw electoral districts, but with two different effects and timing.
In Missouri, the state Supreme Court invalidated a Republican map that was intended to be used in November's congressional elections, boosting Democrats' chances of retaining one of their two seats. As for Maryland, the court allowed a constitutional amendment to be presented to voters that could pave the way for the abolition of the only Republican seat in the state, but starting in the 2028 elections.
Missouri goes back to the old map
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the map approved by the Republican-majority Legislature last year had not gone into effect; Because its opponents submitted, on time, more than 300,000 signatures to subject it to a popular referendum.
Under the ruling, the November elections will be held according to the 2022 map, with voters deciding on the same day whether to approve the new map for future use. The new boundaries were designed to give Republicans a chance to win seven of the state's eight seats in the House of Representatives, instead of six, by dismantling parts of Kansas City's 5th District, which is represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver.
The court said that the right of citizens to request a referendum constitutes an essential part of the legislative process in the state, criticizing the delay of Missouri Republican Interior Secretary Denny Hoskins in deciding on the validity of the petition. It concluded that the 2022 map is the only one legally valid in the November elections.
But the decision caused electoral confusion; Because the primary elections in August were held according to the new Republican map, while the candidates will run in the general elections within different boundaries. State Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced her intention to resort to the US Supreme Court, and described the ruling as causing a “constitutional crisis,” but the limited time before ballots are printed limits the chances of changing course quickly.
Maryland...a fight postponed to 2028
In Maryland, the court did not adopt a new Democratic map, but rather allowed the inclusion of a “third question” on the November ballot regarding electoral district boundaries. If approved by voters, the amendment would confirm that state standards regarding district cohesion and geographic boundaries apply to local legislative districts, not necessarily to congressional districts.
This may give Democrats more space to redraw the map before the 2028 elections, and target the district represented by Republican Andy Harris, the only Republican member of the state’s eight-member delegation.
The court rejected Republican objections regarding legislative deadlines and procedures, but acknowledged that the original wording of the question was misleading, and ordered it replaced with more direct wording. Thus, it left the final decision to the voters, without giving Democrats an immediate electoral gain in the 2026 elections.
A new front in a national conflict
The two rulings cross the borders of the two states; They come as part of a national struggle to redraw districts, after President Donald Trump encouraged Republican-controlled states to amend their maps to enhance the party’s chances of maintaining a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
The Missouri ruling gives Democrats a direct benefit, by protecting Cleaver's seat from the Republican map during the upcoming elections, while the Maryland ruling provides a potential opportunity to offset some Republican gains later.
Therefore, it is not a matter of two equal victories. The first changes the rules of imminent elections, and the second allows for a political battle to be waged before voters in preparation for a map whose results may not appear before 2028. In both cases, the two courts confirm that the legislative councils do not have the final say in drawing districts. However, the rulings do not end the conflict. It moves him from the halls of legislation to the ballot boxes, and perhaps to the US Supreme Court, in a battle in which district boundaries have become an essential part of the competition for control of Congress.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head next week on a tour of Latin America that will include Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, whose leaders maintain close relations with President Donald Trump, according to what the State Department announced on Friday.
The tour, scheduled for Tuesday to Thursday, comes just days after Washington concluded a controversial agreement with Venezuela that gives the United States control over about a fifth of its massive oil reserves.
In recent months, Latin America has witnessed a wave of electoral victories for conservatives, with Kiko Fujimori assuming the presidency in Peru, and Abelardo de la Espriilla assuming the presidency in Colombia, two candidates who received Trump’s support.
The State Department said that the tour, during which Rubio will also meet right-wing Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, aims to "strengthen key American partnerships" and discuss increased cooperation in combating drug cartels and deepening trade relations.
Ministry spokesman Tommy Piggott said in a statement: “The Minister will emphasize throughout the tour the Trump administration’s commitment to a safe, prosperous, and democratic Western Hemisphere,” according to Agence France-Presse.
Washington clearly announced its intention to impose American hegemony in South America under the so-called “Donroe Doctrine,” a formula that Trump updated with the “Monroe Doctrine” dating back to the nineteenth century, which called on European colonial powers not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere.
In Colombia, Rubio will discuss US support for Bogotá's response to the repercussions of the devastating earthquake that struck the country last month, killing more than 330 people and displacing thousands, according to Pigot.
The Trump administration's relationship with the government of former leftist President Gustavo Petro was very bad, and it strongly welcomed de la Espriilla's victory in the elections.
Since taking office on August 7, the new president, with American support, has pursued a tough policy toward armed groups financed by drug trafficking.
Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine, and has seen a rise in violent clashes between rebel groups and gangs vying to control lucrative drug trafficking routes.
Colombia also joined the “Shield of the Americas,” an alliance created by Trump to combat drug cartels and which includes countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Ecuador and El Salvador. Rubio then heads to Ecuador.
Quito joined Washington in operations against boats that the two countries say are linked to the “Los Choneros” criminal gang active in the drug trade.
US Vice President J.D. Vance revealed the details of the diet he follows to lose weight, explaining that it relies mainly on foods rich in protein and sauerkraut, after he consulted US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on giving up sugar, according to the Telegraph.
Vance said on Thursday that he has been following this diet since the beginning of Lent, noting that his commitment to it comes as part of his attempt to exercise “a kind of self-control” during this period.
The Vice President added during a press conference at the White House: “I am a devout Christian,” explaining that fasting prompted him to think about giving up some habits, including eating sugar and using social media.
Vance explained how he was introduced to the diet, saying that on “Fat Tuesday” he told his wife that he was thinking about giving up sugar and social media.
He indicated that he contacted Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked for advice, and Kennedy told him about the “vital” diet.
“I eat a lot of protein-rich foods, and I eat a lot of sauerkraut...,” Vance told reporters.
He concluded his speech with a sarcastic piece of advice, saying: “So, my advice to you is: If you want to lose weight, call Bobby Kennedy, and if you want to enjoy what you eat, don’t call Bobby Kennedy.”
“Bio” diet
The "sauerkraut diet" is also known as the "biotic diet," and it recommends relying on fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and kimchi, to promote gut health, in addition to eating grass-fed meat.
Followers of this diet also abstain from consuming alcohol and ultra-processed foods, with the aim of reducing belly fat and lowering levels of inflammation.
In 2024, Vance revealed that he lost about 13.6 kilograms during the two years following his winning his seat in the Senate in 2022.
He said that this transformation came as a result of “improving his diet,” while at the same time denying the use of any medications to lose weight.
In April, President Donald Trump commented on Vance's weight loss during Easter brunch.
Trump said: “Where is J.D.? He lost weight. He got a little thinner. "I was looking for a plump man, and now I have found a perfect model."
