u/BlueRibbonPac

This article is from before Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV May 7, 2026.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/05/04/rubio-pope-leo-xiv-vatican/89925491007/

There is speculation the Trump administration is negotiating for the Pope's agreement on U.S. intervention in Cuba.

https://www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/what-marco-rubio-actually-wants-from

Excerpts:

"Democratic lawmakers in the commonwealth notified the court they intend to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court."

"Democrats, led by House Speaker Don Scott and Attorney General Jay Jones, filed a motion late Friday afternoon asking the state supreme court to pause its ruling from taking effect while they appeal for an emergency hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court."

"The case before the court focused not on the shape of the new districts but rather on the process the General Assembly used to authorize them.

Because the state’s redistricting commission was established by a voter-approved constitutional amendment, lawmakers had to propose an amendment to redraw the districts. That required approval of a resolution in two separate legislative sessions, with a state election sandwiched in between, to place the amendment on the ballot.

The legislature’s initial approval of the amendment occurred last October, during early voting for the general election, before it concluded. The legislature’s second vote on the amendment occurred after a new legislative session began in January. Lawmakers also approved a separate bill in February laying out the new districts, subject to voter approval of the constitutional amendment."

"Judicial arguments focused on whether the legislature’s initial approval of the amendment came too late, because early voting already had begun."

"By the time lawmakers initially endorsed the amendment, voters already had cast more than 1.3 million ballots in the general election, about 40% of the total votes ultimately cast, the court said."

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-democrats-appeal-ruling-redistricting-us-supreme-court/4102136/