Texas state lawmakers board a bus following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. The group of Democratic lawmakers left the state so a quorum could not be reached during a special session called to redistrict the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Scott Olson/Getty Images
Texas state lawmakers board a bus following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. The group of Democratic lawmakers left the state so a quorum could not be reached during a special session called to redistrict the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Fights over Congressional maps never used to be this intense. On Tuesday, Texas Republicans voted to issue civil arrest warrants for Democrats who fled the state.
The GOP is trying to redraw house districts, and the proposed new map could give Republicans as many as five more House seats. That change could easily decide control of Congress.
This fight is rippling out to other states too with President Trump urging Republicans to follow the lead of Texas. And Democratic governors saying they might follow the same path.
Trump can be this transparent because there are no federal restrictions on redrawing districts for purely partisan gain. The Supreme Court said so in 2019.
Gerrymandering has been part of U.S. politics for hundreds of years. How did it become a blood sport?
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This episode was produced by Mallory Yu and Connor Donevan
It was edited by Courtney Dorning.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
