Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have strategically left Texas to thwart Republicans’ latest effort to further gerrymander the Congressional map ahead of next year’s midterm elections. While facing bomb threats at their hotels to threats from President Trump to sic the FBI on them, Texas Democrats have so far succeeded in preventing a vote, but how far are they willing to go to win this fight? In this exclusive interview, recorded at the 2025 Netroots conference in New Orleans, LA, TRNN editor-in-chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke about the national stakes of the political showdown in Texas, and about what Democrats are and aren’t willing to do to prove to working people that they’re actually going to fight back against MAGA authoritarianism.

Credits:
Kayla Rivara, Rosette Sewali, Maximillian Alvarez
Post-Production: David Hebden

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Beto O’Rourke Interview: Will Dems actually fight MAGA, or sell working people out?