Elbridge Gerry Goes Full Salamander episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 12, 2025 · 32 MIN

Elbridge Gerry Goes Full Salamander

from Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show · host Dave Bowman

On this episode ofBill Mick Live, it’s Tuesday, which means Dave Does History—and today, we’re taking on one of the most infamous political tricks in American history: gerrymandering. The term was coined on February 11, 1812, when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed off on a redistricting plan that reshaped voting districts to benefit his party. A satirical cartoonist noticed that one district looked like a salamander, and just like that—the “Gerry-mander” was born.But there’s more to Gerry than just a political scandal. He was a Founding Father, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and even served as Vice President. So how did his name get tied to a practice both sides love to hate? And more importantly—is gerrymandering actually the problem, or is low voter engagement the real issue?Join Dave Bowman and Bill Mick as they break down the history, controversy, and lasting impact of gerrymandering—past, present, and future. Listen now!

On this episode ofBill Mick Live, it’s Tuesday, which means Dave Does History—and today, we’re taking on one of the most infamous political tricks in American history: gerrymandering. The term was coined on February 11, 1812, when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed off on a redistricting plan that reshaped voting districts to benefit his party. A satirical cartoonist noticed that one district looked like a salamander, and just like that—the “Gerry-mander” was born.But there’s more to Gerry than just a political scandal. He was a Founding Father, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and even served as Vice President. So how did his name get tied to a practice both sides love to hate? And more importantly—is gerrymandering actually the problem, or is low voter engagement the real issue?Join Dave Bowman and Bill Mick as they break down the history, controversy, and lasting impact of gerrymandering—past, present, and future. Listen now!

NOW PLAYING

Elbridge Gerry Goes Full Salamander

0:00 32:21

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show?

This episode is 32 minutes long.

When was this Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show episode published?

This episode was published on February 12, 2025.

What is this episode about?

On this episode ofBill Mick Live, it’s Tuesday, which means Dave Does History—and today, we’re taking on one of the most infamous political tricks in American history: gerrymandering. The term was coined on February 11, 1812, when Massachusetts...

Can I download this Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!