With two Democratic state representatives leaving their party last week, neither Democrats nor Republicans have an outright majority in the Maine State House –– making it the first legislature in the country where political independents control the balance of power.

The chamber is now comprised of 75 Democrats, 71 Republicans, and 5 independents.

Free speech protests continue to pop up on campuses across the United States, and everyone is getting a say on the issue, even former President Barack Obama.

You may or may not yet feel strongly about this. No matter where you stand, though, now is the time to get some context. What is "harm," and what kinds of speech should still be protected even if it is harmful? Time to ReConsider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLire2M5MLw

Chaos, protests, and threats of violence marked the ending of the 85th Texas legislative session. Emotions reached the boiling point over a statewide ban on sanctuary cities passed by the Texas Legislature, and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

https://twitter.com/James_Barragan/status/869232443705917444

The legal battle against the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) entered a new chapter this week. Plaintiffs in Level the Playing Field, et. al. v. FEC recently filed a second complaint, arguing that the FEC continues to ignore a "mountain of evidence" against the debate commission, and is acting "arbitrarily and capriciously and contrary to law."

Democrat Rob Quist was defeated by Republican Greg Gianforte Thursday night in a special election for Montana’s at-large congressional seat, a state President Donald Trump won by 20 points in November. A progressive movement largely inspired by Bernie Sanders, however, rallied to bring Thursday's race within single digits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5czwUzzLlM

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, May 29, 2017 -- The Illinois House unanimously passed Senate Bill 1933 to create automatic voter registration (AVR) on Monday, to applause from backers in the Just Democracy Illinois coalition of civic and voting rights groups.

Ranked Choice Voting headed for the dustbin this week? (Huge update over the weekend.)

I’ve written two previous posts about Ranked Choice Voting, here and here, and things were looking pretty good for it – up until a few weeks ago.

Recorded audio and three eyewitness accounts of a Republican candidate physically assaulting a reporter with a "body slam" and punches isn't enough for voters in the red state of Montana to abandon him. That is what happened in Thursday's special election for the state's at-large U.S. House seat -- an election that can only be described as surreal.

ALSO SEE: No Holds Barred: Montana Election Gets Wild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAHGsyt2kZA&t=2m43s

Debbie Wasserman Schultz was caught on tape earlier this week threatening the D.C. Capitol Police chief with "consequences" if his department did not return equipment that was part of an ongoing investigation into Pakistani staffer, Imran Awan.