California Gov. Newsom plans partisan redistricting election amid Trump GOP efforts

California Governor Gavin Newsom has adopted a combative social media style that mimics President Donald Trump's signature all-caps, bombastic messaging, using it to rally Democrats and challenge Trump's policies, particularly on redistricting. Newsom's aggressive tactics include a special election to redraw California’s congressional maps in response to GOP-led mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas, which Trump supports to maintain a Republican House majority. This approach has energized Democrats by injecting urgency and confrontational energy into the party's strategy, with some praising Newsom for matching Trump's intensity. However, Newsom's partisan redistricting plan has drawn criticism for replicating the very gerrymandering tactics it aims to counter, raising concerns about fairness and the undermining of independent voting power. Meanwhile, cultural satire targeting Trump and his administration, such as by "South Park," continues to provoke strong reactions from Trump allies and officials. Overall, Newsom's blending of policy and provocative social media tactics highlights a new era of political communication and conflict in the ongoing struggle between Democratic and Republican forces.