During the opening ceremony of the WikiConference North America 2025 in New York City, a man with a gun jumped onstage and threatened self-harm, ultimately being apprehended by organizers. The man was reportedly wearing a sign identifying himself as an “anti-contact non-offending pedophile” and bearing a flag associated with “MAPs,” indicating a potential motive that is under investigation. Following the incident, all Friday events were canceled, with increased security measures planned for the remainder of the conference. The incident occurred at Civic Hall, where the annual event, which is designed for Wikipedia editors and volunteers, began on Thursday and will end on Sunday.
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A Utah judge has mandated the redrawing of the state’s congressional boundaries, deeming the Republican-controlled legislature’s actions unlawful. The original map, adopted in 2021, was found to have circumvented voter-approved safeguards against partisan gerrymandering by undermining an independent commission. New maps must be submitted by September 24, but appeals from Republican officials may delay the process until 2028. This ruling could shift the balance in Congress, creating uncertainty for the GOP, who previously held all of Utah’s congressional seats.
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In a surprising move, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a special election for November 4th, proposing a mid-decade redistricting plan. This announcement comes amidst ongoing redistricting efforts in several states, potentially favoring Republicans, and follows Newsom’s criticism of Republican redistricting strategies in Texas. Newsom’s plan, if approved by voters, would allow for redrawing congressional maps for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections before returning the process to the state’s independent redistricting commission. The governor framed this as a way to combat partisan gerrymandering and called for a national redistricting commission, a move that was immediately criticized by Republicans.
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John Q. Hosedrinker