Surveillance and Intimidation of Elected Officials

With a vote of 88 ayes and 52 nays, the Texas House passed a controversial new election map on Wednesday night. If approved in the state Senate, the redrawn lines would create five new congressional districts that lean heavily red.

The Texas House vote comes a few weeks after Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to stall the GOP effort. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened the lawmakers with lawsuits and arrests.

So, they returned with a plan.  

Guest host Ava Wallace talks with politics reporter Maeve Reston about how Texas Republicans were able to gain this advantage – and how blue states are responding with redistricting plans of their own. 

Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to Thomas Lu, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, and Noah Bierman. 

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