text: GERRYMANDERING FEARS UNFOUNDED: Analysis of the states’ redistricting process has not resulted in a Republican-biased Congressional landscape, according to a Cook Political Report study. With the completed redistricting, Democrats would gain four additional districts, based on 2020 results. Redistricting observers note that Republicans do control the process for 187 seats versus 75 for Democrats, but the new political maps “look like a wash.” Only Democrat-led states have “unabashedly” redrawn maps in Illinois, New Mexico, and Oregon. (AC: Threats of gerrymandered districts continue to be a political talking point for Far Left politicians pushing “voting reform” measures in D.C. Politicians are likely to claim renewed voter suppression and lack of representation in their ongoing quest to federalize elections. Expect ongoing “democracy in crisis” claims as justification for abolishing the Senate filibuster in the run-up to this year’s midterms. Passage of current proposals could hamper Congressional election certification with widespread claims of voter suppression at the state level, going back up to 25 years. – D.M.)NORTH KOREA FIRES POSSIBLE HYPERSONIC MISSILE TOWARD JAPAN: The South Korean and Japanese military said North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, “We find it truly regrettable that North Korea has continued to fire missiles from last year.” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs believe the missile launched from Jagang Province and traveled approximately 500km before falling into the sea. U.S. officials decried the test and called for a return to diplomacy while affirming security cooperation agreements with Japan and South Korea. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said North Korea may have tested a hypersonic missile or a nuclear-capable KN-23 missile with a highly maneuverable and lower-trajectory flight path. (AC: This missile test was likely an ongoing project with North Korea’s development of medium range weapon systems. Given that there has been little friction between North Korea and the U.S. and South Korea since 2019 the test was unlikely an effort at saber rattling. – M