The Vote Is a Weapon

US elections 2026: Your vote connects the fight over district maps to decisions about schools, healthcare, and your family’s future. So what’s at stake—and what can you do before November 3?In “The Vote Is a Weapon,” Rethinking Freedom host Aya Fubara Eneli examines Texas gerrymandering, voting rights, and the policy decisions shaping everyday life. She connects the headlines, examines the records, and makes the case for using your vote.IN THIS EPISODE:• Texas redistricting, racial gerrymandering challenges, and the Supreme Court’s role• Religion in public school classrooms• ICE enforcement and racial profiling concerns• DEI rollbacks and their impact on Black federal workers• Student loan limits and the stakes for HBCU families• Billionaire wealth, Medicaid, SNAP, and public health• The records and actions of Abbott, Patrick, Paxton, Buckley, and HicklandThese issues reach beyond any one community. Understanding who makes the decisions is the first step toward holding them accountable.💬 Which issue in this episode deserves more attention? Tell us in the comments.🔔 Subscribe to Rethinking Freedom for conversations about freedom, history, politics, and accountability.📲 Share this episode with three people and start a conversation.🔴 PREMIERES: Monday, September 7, 2026 at 7:00 AM Central Time📻 Also on KRGN 98.5 FM & KVBM 104.7 FM🗳️ TEXAS GENERAL ELECTION — NOVEMBER 3, 2026• October 5 — Last day to register to vote• October 19–30 — Early voting• October 23 — Deadline for your ballot-by-mail application to be RECEIVED, not postmarked• November 3 — Election Day; polls open 7 AM–7 PM local timeCheck the official resources below for registration, mail-ballot eligibility, voting locations, and local schedules.REGISTER & PLAN YOUR VOTEBell County voter registrationBell County ballot by mailBell County early votingBell County Election Day locationsTexas voter informationOfficial Texas election deadlinesRESEARCH CANDIDATES & ISSUESVOTE411BallotpediaThe Texas TribuneVOTING RIGHTS & COMMUNITY RESOURCESNAACPTexas NAACPBlack Voters Matter FundLawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under LawLULACElection Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTEKnow the records. Make your voting plan. Bring three people with you.#TexasElections2026 #VotingRights #RethinkingFreedomSupport the show