The Supreme Court's gerrymaxxing
5/4/202626 min
States are already making changes to their election maps after the Supreme Court decided to unleash a new era of partisan gerrymandering. And just in time for the midterms! This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Activists protesting gerrymandering outside the Supreme Court. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSean Rameswaram· Host0:00
By now you've surely heard that the Supreme Court just gutted the Voting Rights Act. [upbeat music] Vox's Supreme Court correspondent Ian Millhiser says there's two ways of looking at this decision from our highest court.
Ian Millhiser· Guest0:10
The more cynical answer is just that this is the most conservative Supreme Court we have had since at least the 1930s. It is, you know, also the most partisan court that we've had ever. And, like, the makeup of the justices matters here. We have six justices now who just disagree with the Voting Rights Act.
Sean Rameswaram· Host0:29
And less cynical, Ian?
Ian Millhiser· Guest0:31
The slightly less cynical answer here is that the Republican justices' view is that, and I mean there's, there's not nothing to this view, is that America is less racist in 2026 than it was in 1965.
Sean Rameswaram· Host0:48
Either way, the states are already gerrymandering in response, and just six months before our midterm elections. The Supreme Court's gerrymaxing on Today Explained. Support for Today Explained comes from BetterHelp. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, that's what May stands for. A reminder that whatever you're going through, you don't have to go through it alone. There's a therapist out there who's equipped to help you through it. You can give therapy a try. BetterHelp makes it simple to connect with a licensed therapist online by doing the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Listeners can get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/explained. That's better H-E-L-P .com/explained.