How to end the partisan redistricting wars
Summary
Brian Lehrer discusses the rules for drawing congressional district lines with Dan Vicuña, who explains how the Rucho v. Common Cause and Louisiana v. Kelly Supreme Court rulings have enabled partisan gerrymandering and weakened minority voting protections. The conversation covers the impact of these decisions on the 2025 midterms, the debate over independent redistricting commissions, and listener questions regarding New Jersey’s political landscape and potential congressional expansion.
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest background
Explaining the Rucho v. Common Cause ruling
Why redistricting is a safeguard for rights
Voters choosing representatives vs. politicians
Impact of Louisiana v. Kelly on minority voting
Partisan overlap and real-world effects in the South
Listener question: Algorithmic vs. human redistricting
Listener question: Increasing the size of Congress
Comparison with other countries' independent processes
New Jersey redistricting and the risk of tit-for-tat
Listener question: Electoral College and district lines
Assessing the outcome of this year's redistricting wars
Closing remarks and show credits
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