The Great Political Realignment of 2026
5/16/202637 min
The Supreme Court’s recent decision on the Voting Rights Act has supercharged a redistricting frenzy in states across the country. The Times Opinion contributors Robert Siegel and E.J. Dionne and the SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur discuss the ruling’s implications for future elections. Ms. Isgur makes the case that voters are over reality TV politics and warns Democrats against embracing Trump-style candidates.
Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.
This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger with help from Derek Arthur. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin. Mixing by Pat McCusker. Video editing by Arpita Aneja and Kristen Williamson. The postproduction manager is Mike Puretz. Original music by Carole Sabouraud and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. The director of Opinion Video is Jonah M. Kessel. The deputy director of Opinion Shows is Alison Bruzek. The director of Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
[upbeat music] This is The Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times Opinion. You've heard the news. Here's what to make of it.
Robert Siegel· Host0:10
[upbeat music] Hi, I'm Robert Siegel, in conversation about politics with New York Times Opinion contributor E.J. Dionne. Hello, E.J.
E.J. Dionne Jr.· Guest0:26
Great to be with you.
Robert Siegel· Host0:27
And joining us for the first time, Sarah Isgur, editor of SCOTUSblog and also author of Last Branch Standing. Welcome.
Sarah Isgur· Guest0:34
Thanks for having me.
Robert Siegel· Host0:35
[upbeat music] Uh, there is lots on our plate. Uh, we seem to have reached an impasse with Iran. We're still blockading their ports. Uh, they're still controlling the Strait of Hormuz. For us, that's it from the Middle East this week. Instead, we're turning to the midterms. The Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act decision is already changing congressional maps in the South, and we'll look at how the parties are faring in primaries across the country, uh, and at two states that are heating up ahead of November. But, uh, despite the difficulties imposed by time zones, we're gonna start by taking note of President Trump's trip to China. E.J., uh, what's different between this China trip of President Trump's and the one that he made in his first administration?
E.J. Dionne Jr.· Guest1:18
Yeah, I think that if you look back to Trump in his first term, you would not have predicted that people fear he might sell out to China, where there is