[rewind] Redrawing Democracy — North Carolina’s New Maps and the 2026 Midterms

North Carolina leads a new wave of gerrymandering battles ahead of the 2026 midterms. Laura Flanders revisits how redistricting there reveals the national struggle over democracy and fair representation.

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Description [original release date May 7, 2023] As the 2026 midterm elections approach, North Carolina has once again become ground zero in the fight over American democracy. In this re-release of “Deciding the Fate of Democracy in North Carolina,” Laura Flanders and her guests revisit how extreme gerrymandering has reshaped political power and voter representation in one of the nation’s key swing states.

North Carolina is now the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide push by both parties to lock in advantages before the next election. What’s at stake for democracy—not just in North Carolina, but across the country?

Tune in as Laura Flanders & Friends explore the local stories behind this national struggle, and what it reveals about the future of fair representation in America.

Guests:

Hilary Harris Klein: Senior Counsel of Voting Rights, Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Irving L. Joyner: Professor of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law

Serena Sebring: Executive Director, Blueprint NC

Josh Stein: Attorney General, North Carolina (note: He served as NC's A.G. 2017 to 2024.  Currently he is serving as the 76th governor of North Carolina since 2025.) 

Angela M. Thorpe: Executive Director, Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

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Full Show Notes are located HERE.  They include related episodes, articles, and more to dive deeper.

Music In the Middle:   "Wings" by Terry Callier courtesy of Mr. Bongo Records.  Additional music,  'Steppin' & 'Electric Car' by Podington Bear.  "Unsilenced" by Ketsa.  Original Sound Design by Jeannie Hopper.

RESOURCES:

Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:

•  The Forgotten Coup, January 6th & the Small Town Americans on the Frontlines of Democracy  Watch / Download Podcast

•  Community Safety in a Time of  Insurrection  Watch / Download Podcast

•  North Carolina:  Courageous Conversations in a Climate of Fear  Watch / Download Podcast

•  Lisa Graves:  The Extremist Revolutions & Democracy Hanging by a Thread  Watch / Download Podcast

•  Democratizing Democracy:  Redistricting by the People  Watch / Download Podcast

Related Articles and Resources:

•  North Carolinas Republicans Just Took Gerrymandering to a Whole New Level, by Laura Flanders, The Nation,  Read Here

•  Moore vs. Harper Explained, by Eliza Sweren-Becker & Ethan Herenstein, The Brennan Center, Read Here

•  North Carolina Supreme Court delivers three sweeping blows to voting rights, opinion.  by The Editorial Board, The News & Observer,  Read Here

•  What Happens to Moore v. Harper after the latest North Carolina Supreme Court decision in the partisan gerrymandering case?  by Derek Muller, ElectionLawBlog.org  Read Here

• The ‘Independent State Legislature Theory,’ Explained, by Ethan Herenstein & Thomas Wolf, The Brennan Center, read here

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