[muawiyah]

The Democrats would be willing to give it up to the Republicans in this coming election if they could have three new states in the deal.

Remember, they have their analysts, and pollsters, and they know they are going to LOSE anyway. Nothing they can do about it so they're probably prepared to make a deal.

[txhurl]

I’m ignorant about new states, but is there NO mechanism for
‘the several states’ being able to approve/ratify a new state?

I mean, what if the RATS wanted to grant a leper colony, or a tiny island whose only industry is drug smuggling or money laundering or internet gambling?

What if we decided to make Bikini Island a state and had to incur massive responsibility for nuclear waste messing up coral reefs discovered afterwards?

The several states have no say, other than booting their reps who voted for it?

[Tzimisce]

Exactly.