Explaining NC’s latest redistricting of Black Belt counties

Ahead of the 2026 Election, North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers — at the request of President Trump — have passed a new congressional map intended to squeeze out one more Republican seat in Congress. The new map will also make it more difficult for northeastern Black voters to elect their preferred candidate. In this episode, we break down what’s happening and how it’s playing out in the courts. We talk to Chistopher Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. Then, we hear from two of the plaintiffs on the lawsuit against state Republican lawmakers for the newest map: Bob Phillips from Common Cause and Dawn Daley-Mack of the Northampton County NAACP. This is the second part of a series on redistricting in eastern North Carolina. Listen to the first part here Send us Fan MailSupport the showwww.shoresides.org