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How Trump’s maps could backfire

6/18/202626 min

The president's push to redraw congressional maps to favor Republicans is making voters mad on both sides.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

State Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, speaking to demonstrators after the state's governor approved a new congressional map that will aid Republicans. Photo by Madison Thorn/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

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First 90 seconds
  1. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:00

    It's Today, Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram, and I'm joined by our senior reporter, Miles Bryan. What are you reporting on?

  2. Miles Bryan0:06

    Sean, I'm here to talk to you about redistricting.

  3. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:09

    A very popular trend in the United States right now.

  4. Miles Bryan0:11

    Yes. We're in the middle of a redistricting war, as you might have heard, Republicans versus Democrats.

  5. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:15

    I heard.

  6. Miles Bryan0:16

    But, but it's not always that simple.

  7. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:18

    Okay.

  8. Miles Bryan0:19

    Take Mike Beltron. He's a Puerto Rican guy, lives near Orlando. Republican lawmakers blew up the old congressional district he was in to make it harder for the Democrat to win.

  9. Speaker 3· Soundbite0:29

    I think it's a little messed up. I think they're trying to dilute the minority votes, especially the Hispanics.

  10. Miles Bryan0:35

    Okay, Sean, but who do you think he supported for president?

  11. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:38

    Uh, man, Florida, Florida man, Donald Trump.

  12. Miles Bryan0:41

    [laughs] You're supposed to say Kamala, but it was Trump.

  13. Speaker 3· Soundbite0:44

    I, I did vote for Trump. Yes, sir.

  14. Miles Bryan0:46

    The same guy who kicked the redistricting wars off. I went to Florida to report on the Trump voters who got the short end of the stick in redistricting, and I'm gonna tell you about it.

  15. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:53

    On Today, Explained from Vox.

  16. Speaker 3· Soundbite0:55

    Yes, sir.

  17. Sean Rameswaram· Host0:56

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