Explore " redistricting" with insightful episodes like "San Francisco will redraw its electoral districts", "Why Democrats Should Move To The Suburbs If They Want To Win More Legislative Seats", "The Woman Who Couldn’t Vote for Herself", "Extreme maps, extreme politics" and "Repairing Political Redistricting - Wendy K. Tam Cho" from podcasts like ""Civic", "Not Another Politics Podcast", "The Story with Charu", "Democracy Works" and "Human Centered"" and more!
This year the U.S. will go through its decennial redistricting process, which is resurfacing our national conversation around gerrymandering. But Stanford Professor of Political Science, Jonathan Rodden, says gerrymandering isn't the least of our problems when it comes to the politics of geography.
In his book, "Why Cities Lose", Rodden illustrates how we can still end up with minority majority rule, regardless of gerrymandering, due to the urban-rural divide. So, if the Democrats want to win more legislative seats, should they move to the suburbs?
Patsy Keever is a school teacher turned political servant. She was a county commissioner and state legislator in North Carolina for years.
In 2010 Keever ran for Congress. That year North Carolina’s political districts were so out of whack, her district was redrawn and gerrymandered to the point that she couldn’t vote for herself (even though she had lived in that district for decades).
In 2019 a 3 judge panel would rule that the state’s maps were so gerrymandered that it violated the state’s constitution. Republicans had drawn the maps to benefit the GOP with “surgical precision.”
The process of redistricting is confusing, here are some resources that explain what happened:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-carolinas-gop-drawn-map-is-struck-down-as-improper-gerrymander-11567552915 (The Wall Street Journal is a right leaning newspaper specializing in financial/economic reporting.)
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article193814154.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-carolina-gerrymandering/north-carolina-court-strikes-down-state-legislative-map-as-unconstitutional-gerrymander-idUSKCN1VO2MD
www.charukumarhia.com
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Despite ongoing threats of violence, the wheels of democracy continue to turn, and in 2021, that means redistricting. States will draw new electoral maps this year using data from the 2020 Census.
Our guest this week has spent the past decade covering attempts by politicians to draw those maps to their advantage in a practice known as gerrymandering. He's also covered the groups of citizens across the country who pushed back against them to win some major reforms that will make the process look different now than it did in 2010.
David Daley is a journalist and author of Unrigged: How Citizens are Battling Back to Save Democracy. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Slate, the Washington Post, and New York magazine. He is a senior fellow at FairVote, the former editor of Salon, and lives in Massachusetts.
Unrigged: How Americans are Battling Back to Save Democracy
Fair Districts PA on judicial gerrymandering
One state's fight for fair maps
Next-generation democracy: An interview with high school student Kyle Hynes, who won Pennsylvania's citizen mapmaking contest.
Familiarize yourself with Optimization Problems
"How to Quantify (and Fight) Gerrymandering” - Quanta Magazine
“Toward a Talismanic Redistricting Tool: A Computational Method for Identifying Extreme Redistricting Plans” - Wendy K. Tam Cho and Yan Y. Liu
Wendy’s reading recommendation “Deep Thinking” by Gary Kasparov"
Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University
Explore CASBS: website|Twitter|YouTube|LinkedIn|podcast|latest newsletter|signup|outreach
Human Centered
Producer: Mike Gaetani | Engineer & co-producer: Joe Monzel |
![[Swamp Stories] 5. A Gerrymandering Tale You Haven't Heard](https://www.podcastworld.io/podcast-images/the-x-ray-rop9qkb2.webp)
“Politicians should not choose their voters.” That simple statement is at the heart of why no reform issue has gained more crosspartisan momentum in recent years than getting rid of so-called gerrymandering. But both parties have years of work and millions of dollars invested in drawing districts that benefit one team more than the other.
Guests:
More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.
Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor of Public Policy Benjamin Schneer says the drawing of electoral districts is a complex and partisan process that often results in politicians picking their voters instead of the other way around. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Schneer's work explores political representation, elections, and ways to mitigate forces that distort the ability of citizens to communicate their desires to government. His recent research has focused on redistricting, the political process of redrawing state legislative and Congressional districts every 10 years following a Census (the next one will take place in 2020).
Schneer says the recent work by an independent redistricting commission in Arizona has shown that it is possible to make fair and competitive legislative districts without the Gerrymandering that can distort legislative democracy. But the fact that the Arizona process ended up being litigated in from of the US Supreme Court—twice—shows that the debate is heated and ongoing.
Schneer says his current project is working on systems that will allow for fairer results even in states where independent redistricting commissions aren’t politically feasible.
Abortion rights activist and comedy goddess Lizz Winstead (co-creator and original head writer of The Daily Show!) fangirls with us over Molly Ivins and stresses humor as an important tool of the revolution. We marry all you beautiful souls who showed up to speak out against gerrymandering this week, but we mourn the loss of far too many polling locations in Texas. Also, something weird is going on with Arnold Schwarzenegger & Eric Holder...
Do you live in a part of Texas where there's no Planned Parenthood? Well, noooo worries! From Abilene to Zavalla, Lubbock to Laredo, The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app will send birth control (just pills/rings/patches -- you can't DIY an IUD) or UTI treatments straight to your door or your nearest pharmacy. Plus, your meds come in a discreet package so no one has to know what you're up to.
The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app is available for free in the iOS and Android app stores. Visit https://www.ppgreatertx.org/pp-direct for more info.
Want to make sure The Rabble pod keeps coming? Help us pay for it! (We are making zero dollars on the pod and need your help to keep going.) ALSO, you get super fun perks when you pitch in to help us cover our costs (secret parties, GIF chats, even a prayer candle with your face on it!).
Go to https://www.patreon.com/rousertx NOW NOW NOW NOW!
Also, spread the joy of Ann Richards and The Rabble all across Texas on T-shirts, stickers, mugs, or whatevs: https://rouser.threadless.com/
Lizz Winstead, co-creator and original head writer of The Daily Show, co-founder of Air America Radio, and founder of Abortion Access Front
Lizz Winstead on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizzwinstead
Abortion Access Front on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbortionFront
Abortion Access Front on the web: https://www.aafront.org/
Abortion AF’s Do Re #MeToo events:
Join us in Austin on September 17: https://www.aafront.org/event/do-re-metoo-austin-a-night-of-sexist-songs-sung-by-righteous-feminists/
Austin show: https://www.facebook.com/events/469357400313136/
Austin activism opportunity: https://www.facebook.com/events/2304706419859813/
Houston show happening September 21:
https://www.aafront.org/event/abortion-af-the-tour-in-houston/
“Lizz Free or Die” - Lizz Winstead’s memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Lizz-Free-Die-Essays-Winstead/dp/1594631425
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RouserTX
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rousertx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RouserTX?lang=en
Subscribe to our Friday newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/
Take the Common Cause End Gerrymandering Pledge (with Eric Holder and Arnold Schwarzenegger)
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/take-the-end-gerrymandering-pledge/?source=takeactionpanel&_ga=2.10617396.1029334617.1568220729-399485775.1568220729
Tell Your Reps to End Gerrymandering
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/fair-maps-for-texas
Citizen Training on Redistricting (Tarrant County) with Texas Redistricting and the Black Women’s PAC on Sept. 28
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citizen-training-on-redistricting-tickets-71682489255?fbclid=IwAR1psfaPS1i_-PSs4j98Sv2WoITXFjA9S3iU5oq_4RbHPkhYnBk0mqnmVEk
Join us at the Anne McAfee Awards Sunday, September 22 at Hotel Ella in Austin! We're being honored as one of the Travis County Democratic Party's three "organizations of the year." (Cue waterfall tears emojis.) Brunch followed by mimosas next to the pool? Yes please! https://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/2019-anne-mcafee-awards/
The Highwomen: https://thehighwomen.com/
Poll showing Warren moving up in Texas:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/09/11/joe-biden-leads-democratic-presidential-race-in-two-new-texas-polls-as-beto-o-rourke-lags/
2016 presidential election results in Texas:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election_in_Texas
Texas is no longer safe for Trump:
https://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/univision-news-poll-democrats-surge-in-texas-no-longer-a-safe-state-for-trump-in-2020
Texas Tribune article by Alexa Ura, “How a decade of voting rights fights led to fewer redistricting safeguards for Texas voters of color”: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/10/texas-enters-2021-redistricting-fewer-safeguards-voters-color/
The first chance we have to flip a Republican seat in the Texas House is SOON - in November there is a special election to fill retiring republican John Zerwas’s seat in district 28. There is only one Democrat running and she by all accounts is awesome -- Eliz Markowitz: https://www.eliz4tx.com/
The League of Women Voters has a great primer on redistricting and how you can get involved, including advice for preparing testimony: https://my.lwv.org/texas/public-input-hearings
Mapmaker: They Gerrymandering Board Game: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/this-family-created-a-gerrymandering-board-game-arnold-schwarzenegger-was-pumped/2019/05/03/c102c6bc-651d-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html?noredirect=on
Leadership Conference Education Fund Report on Polling Place Closures:
https://civilrights.org/democracy-diverted/
Texas Leads in Polling Place Closures Since 2013:
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-polling-place-closures/
More about Shelby v. Holder:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_County_v._Holder
Get Involved with Texas Civil Rights Project:
https://texascivilrightsproject.org/get-involved/
"Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins": https://www.mollyivinsfilm.com/
Heart cells beating in a petri dish: https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-grow-beating-human-heart-tissue-stem-cells-1207100
Your Primary Playlist is your definitive guide to the 2020 presidential primary, explained by the women who know it best. Every week join Host Emily Tisch Sussman, a veteran of political campaigns and issue advocacy, to talk issue by issue, candidate by candidate for a comprehensive primer on what you need to know to feel informed and ready to cast your ballot. Emily and guests will also grant behind-the-scenes access to the activism, movements, people, and research driving the conversation.
Your Primary Playlist is produced by Wonder Media Network.
How do we have productive conversations about politics with people who disagree with us? Especially with the people closest to us? We invited founder of Citizen Discourse, Karen Gross, to give us some tips. Plus, happy birthday to the matron saint of The Rabble, Ann Richards! And we learn about some dirty tricks Texas Republicans are pulling to try and hang onto power.
Do you live in a part of Texas where there's no Planned Parenthood? Well, noooo worries! From Abilene to Zavalla, Lubbock to Laredo, The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app will send birth control (pills/rings/patches) or UTI treatments straight to your door or your nearest pharmacy. Plus, your meds come in a discreet white envelope so your Baylor sorority sisters or super Baptist parents will have no idea what's coming in your mailbox... cuz what comes in your box is your own biz.
The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app is available for free in the iOS and Android stores. Visit https://www.ppgreatertx.org/pp-direct for more info.
Want to make sure The Rabble pod keeps coming? Help us pay for it! (We are making zero dollars on the pod and need your help to keep going.) ALSO, you get super fun perks when you pitch in to help us cover our costs (secret parties, GIF chats, even a prayer candle with your face on it!).
Go to https://www.patreon.com/rousertx NOW NOW NOW NOW!
Also, spread the joy of Ann Richards and The Rabble all across Texas on T-shirts, stickers, mugs, or whatevs: https://rouser.threadless.com/
Karen Gross, founder of Citizen Discourse
https://citizendiscourse.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CtznDiscourse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citizendiscourse/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RouserTX
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rousertx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RouserTX?lang=en
Subscribe to our Friday newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/
The TX Lege is hosting public hearings on redistricting in Austin on Sept 10 and San Antonio on Sept 12. Commit to either showing up or writing your House rep before these meetings!
Does that sound horrifying? Don’t worry. The League of Women Voters hosted a community forum and training to get folks ready to testify.
League of Women Voters Community Forum recording/training: https://mobile.twitter.com/NOWCastSA/status/1165290701527093248?fbclid=IwAR32PCES87nMsjx1gxbBr4ALuz80A2_CfaSIghyoxigDjEZXMdAYcg0aZA0
Next week, the ACLU of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project are also hosting a digital meet-up to go over Redistricting 101 and how you can make your voice heard.
WHAT: One Person, One Vote: Redistricting 101
WHEN: Wednesday, September 4th – 6:30PM-7:15PM
WHERE: Link will be sent on registration
REGISTER: https://action.aclu.org/webform/redistrict-webinar
Because we know that if you’re listening to this pod you love voting, we want you to know that we need your vote! The Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin 2019 Poll is out. Will you exercise your right to vote by finding your ballot at austinchronicle.com, filling out your info, jumping to the “politics & media” section and nominating The Rabble for Best Local Podcast?
https://www.austinchronicle.com/vote-best-of-austin/
Brass knuckles are legal now: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/28/brass-knuckles-now-legal-texas/
Go see ANN at Zach Scott Theater: https://tickets.zachtheatre.org/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=8071
Recommended reading - Ann Richards autobiography, “Straight From the Heart”: https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Heart-Ann-Richards/dp/1476750580
El Paso shooting victims might get special visas:
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/27/el-paso-shooting-victims-might-get-special-visas/
More about the Las Americas “Crime Victims Program” helping El Paso shooting victims from Mexico secure U visas: https://las-americas.org/crime-victims
Dems slam Engage Texas PAC for setting up at driver's license offices
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article234425742.html
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/08/27/texas-democrat-cries-foul-gop-registering-voters-drivers-license-offices
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/31/engage-texas-raises-nearly-10-million-register-new-republican-voters/
Jolt’s Voter Deputy Registrar class (Tacos!): Sat. Sept. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 12-12:30: strategy + best practices workshop http://bit.ly/2zcSlX6
The 2018 Texas Civic Health Index:
https://moody.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2018-Texas_Civic_Health_Index.pdf
Citizen Discourse:
https://citizendiscourse.org/
The Kindness Contract: https://citizendiscourse.org/kindness-contract/
Reformed White Nationalist Christian Picciolini’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6HZqQKhok
Atlantic interview with reformed White Nationalist Christian Picciolini: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/08/conversation-christian-picciolini/595543/
On isolation as the driving factor in addiction: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADKtFvmK_zfHR0Wq2gTSWNDLXT7nawW0avQkryhTbaGaOpUc_40sATFck3bonNiV6JVap_wkHpYU7pTh9efpNuBLIu13mhnU66W0ClhY_QhKToFDfYkCImtp4AenTh8LQBTNwlFW6CSGb0zdlACHc8Qo0j_1HycDezuehhw5nqSo
On this episode of The Open Mind, we're delighted to welcome two leading organizers in the movement to rebuild and preserve American democracy. Ethan Todras-Whitehill is the cofounder and executive director of Swing Left. Prior to the election of Trump, he was a writer, journalist, and teacher. After the 2016 election, he decided to step off the sidelines and become more politically active. He started Swing Left to make it easier for others to do the same. Last year, Swing Left successfully mobilized a grassroots army to take back the House.
Catherine Vaughan is the chief strategy officer of Swing Left. She was previously the CEO and cofounder of Flippable, an organization to support candidates running for state office. Flippable supported 80 percent of all flips accomplished in their target chambers in 2018 and directed 91 percent of funds toward races decided by less than 10 points. This year Swing Left recently unveiled it's Super State Strategy for 2020 designed to organize progressive victories across the White House, the US Senate and state houses by focusing on 11 so-called Super States, volunteers and donors can multiply their impact up and down the ballot. And I might add that now Flippable is a part of Swing Left. You guys are working together towards those collective goals.
On this episode of The Open Mind, we're delighted to welcome two leading organizers in the movement to rebuild and preserve American democracy. Ethan Todras-Whitehill is the cofounder and executive director of Swing Left. Prior to the election of Trump, he was a writer, journalist, and teacher. After the 2016 election, he decided to step off the sidelines and become more politically active. He started Swing Left to make it easier for others to do the same. Last year, Swing Left successfully mobilized a grassroots army to take back the House.
Catherine Vaughan is the chief strategy officer of Swing Left. She was previously the CEO and cofounder of Flippable, an organization to support candidates running for state office. Flippable supported 80 percent of all flips accomplished in their target chambers in 2018 and directed 91 percent of funds toward races decided by less than 10 points. This year Swing Left recently unveiled it's Super State Strategy for 2020 designed to organize progressive victories across the White House, the US Senate and state houses by focusing on 11 so-called Super States, volunteers and donors can multiply their impact up and down the ballot. And I might add that now Flippable is a part of Swing Left. You guys are working together towards those collective goals.
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