Gerrymandering! with Nate Persily

Gerrymandering has become one of the defining battles in American democracy. Across the country, states are redrawing  political maps in increasingly aggressive ways, seeking to maximize partisan advantage and shape the outcome of future elections. What was once a process that largely occured once a decade has  become an escalating political arms race, with both parties searching for every possible advantage. The stakes extend far beyond district boundaries. Critics argue that extreme gerrymandering allows politiciens to choose their voters rather than voters choosing their politicians, weakening electoral competition and deepening political polarization.  In episode 15 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with Stanford Law School professor Nate Persily, one of the nation's leading experts on election law, voting rights, and redistricting. From Texas and California to Alabama, Louisiana, and Virginia, Persily explains how America arrived at this moment, why the courts have largely stepped back from policing partisan gerrymandering, and what the futuremay hold if the current redistricting wars continue. As states increasingly redraw the political map to their advantage, what happens when the rules of democracy themselves become part of the fight?