In a way, it's revelatory -- they tore off their white hoods and disowned their claim of Christianity and pluralism, totally repudiating their oaths to uphold the Constitution and the values in the Declaration of Independence. They no longer can make any kind of valid claim to be representing us in any way.
Indeed! No longer with the weasel words … except pretending (somehow) that it has nothing to do with skin color! And all in the name of the most corrupt, most venal, certainly dumbest president in U.S. history. Even Benito Mussolini was more charming.
Agreed. The cruelty and stupidity are the point. And it will only backfire when medical professionals don't want to come there. It will also backfire when tourists don't come (even school groups). Why would someone go there for college/university if they couldn't tour there and perform in high school as part of a choir/band/orchestra?
Agreed! The most tragic part of the chosen Washington leadership is the reality that the prejudices of too many American citizens approve these racist men and women! It is like, now at last I can say what I really believe regarding "White Supremacy" and get away with it!
These are dangerous times for "freedom". We have great citizens in this country and we are great because of EACH PERSON NO MATTER THE COLOR OF SKIN GIVEN TO EACH ONE OF US BY OUR GREAT CREATOR!!! As within the song I was taught in my Sunday School class as a little girl at the Methodist Church in Smithfield, NC, "Red and Yellow, Black and White, ALL ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS (GOD'S) sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."
Why are we being distracted from governing and caring for ALL the people of this country? I never hear a word about our children and ways to support and prepare them for a successful future by providing them with the best education possible. We need to support our teachers!!!!
We as citizens who love our fellow men and women within this country must stand up for one another and FIGHT for one another. I believe that we are stronger together and that includes having the freedoms we have due to bravery, blood, sweat and tears, love and the sacrifices of our greatest leaders.....of all colors!!!!
Daily prices on basics, food, shelter, heating/cooling, rent, fuel for vehicles, repairs, electricity, are all increasing while President Trump spends money on things that are NOT necessities, such as ballrooms and adding color to a pool????....starting UNNECESSARY conflicts in which our brave men and women have died or been severely injured!!!!
President Trump started the war in Iran without going to Congress for approval! Human lives on both sides have been lost unnecessarily!!! Billions of dollars are being thrown away. These dollars came from hard working Americans...from their blood, sweat and tears!!!! Our "President" does not care, does not think of the citizens, the soldiers, the dollars being thrown away. He does not know how to stop the fighting.
Trump's focus is on himself and where he and his equally greedy sons can find another billion to haul into their coffers!!! We as American citizens are watching this take place in front of us....nothing is hidden!!!! We MUST DO SOMETHING BEFORE OUR COUNTRY IS NO MORE!!!!
I do not see leaders "waiting in line behind Trump" who have a true love for this country and her people, her lands and rivers, the air we breath, the education of our children as a first value. I only see the desire for power and ways to line their own pockets!!!!
Agreed! What kind of people would exchange democracy and affordability for the chance to shout the n-word aloud again? How has this country regressed when the rest of the world progresses?
I think Trump needs a new gold statue. Something fitting. In the likeness of Philadelphia's Rocky statue. Perhaps with the "America First" motto at the bottom.
I’ve seen a picture of the gold statue that had all kinds of stuff on it – – strong of toilet paper, dirty diapers at the base. Not sure if it was AI generated or real. Hopefully, if AI, it gave some people some ideas.
Joyce, it must break your heart to see this happening, especially in your own state. Thank you for laying it out so well for the rest of us. Now, go hug Pickles
I live in Virginia and I thought long and hard before voting on the redistricting issue. I hadn't comfortably made up my mind until I read one of the Letters To The Editor in my local paper. Two gentlemen were arguing in print about the relative justifications for voting yes or no, until one of them ended with this:
"Republicans may feel that this kind of "management" is normal. Democrats do not. Gerrymandering stinks to us just as much as it does to ya'll - perhaps more - but this is not business-as-usual. This is a meltdown. Breaking glass is not generally advisable, but a man in a burning house will not hesitate to hurl a chair through a window."
I'm pretty informed about what is going on in Texas; enough to know that Governor Abbott and his cronies, in direct response to Trump, started this whole ridiculous mess.
As an old Northern native, I cannot understand why anyone, North or South, would want to relive the struggles of the 1960's. My memories of riots and segregation are too vivid. But here we are, with a Supreme Court from a bizarre world when it comes to simple rights and fairness.
I do not wish to live in the same society with those who would destroy the civil rights gains of 50-60 years ago. I want to live in peace with my neighbors and fellow citizens, of all races, nationalities and religions. THAT is what America should be, not this gerrymandering to deny people representation.
Georgia is the only Southern state where analysts explicitly warn that aggressive post‑"Callais" redraws could backfire on the party formerly known as Republican by diluting its own suburban margins. Georgia’s rapid demographic change — especially in Cobb, Gwinnett, and South Fulton — makes over‑cracking* minority and AAPI voters particularly risky. Georgia has the South’s fastest‑shifting suburbs, and the temptation to overreach is explicitly documented. Alabama is not as volatile as Georgia, but "Callais" removes the Section 2 guardrail that previously prevented Republicans from cracking AL‑02 and AL‑07. If the party formerly known as Republican attempts to dismantle AL‑02 or AL‑07 too aggressively, it risks creating a new marginal district in the Montgomery–Mobile corridor. The Alabama geography is racially polarized, but not as demographically stable as Louisiana; over‑cracking could unintentionally create a swing seat. Other states and dummymander** risk: Mississippi — moderate risk (MS‑02 cracking danger); South Carolina — targeted risk (SC‑06 could destabilize SC‑01); Tennessee — low risk (Memphis too concentrated); Kentucky — low risk (Louisville crackable but risky);Louisiana — no real dummymander risk (risk is legal, not electoral).
*Cracking is the deliberate drawing of district lines to divide a politically or racially cohesive community into several districts, ensuring their votes are diluted and cannot form a majority anywhere.
**A dummymander is when a party draws districts to maximize its advantage, but in doing so spreads its voters too thin. That creates many fragile, narrow‑margin districts. When political conditions shift — like a wave election, demographic change, or turnout surge — those districts flip, wiping out the intended advantage. Considering polling and other indicators of deep, broad-based dissatisfaction with the party in power, this could play out big time for the midterms and local elections as well. Maps that look safe on paper can readily collapse under real‑world voter shifts.
Dale, a masterful explanation that even non-Southerners can understand, thank you for that. Well done. And I love that you called them the “ party formerly known as Republicans”! I have been saying lately that they should all just be known as MAGA, because in my opinion there is no Republican Party left.
The only solution to the redistricting problem is legislative. The Constitution gives Congress the power to enact legislation requiring states to use independent commissions to redistrict; it could also limit states to one redistricting per decade. Common Cause has been pushing this for a long time, and from time to time the Democrats have introduced legislation requiring independent commissions, but thus far it has gotten nowhere.
If they would just do the job they swore an oath to do, they might not have any worries. The GOP has been so busy kissing up to Felon47 they apparently forgot they were elected by people and everything they have and have not done has HURT those people. No matter how they manipulate the boundaries, they won't cancel out the harm they have done to their constituents.
When it comes down to it,total white Christian control of this country, not of the de facto variety and preferably Protestant in nature, is the goal now and has always been the goal of the South. There is no new South. It is the old South doing and saying the same things that it has since this country was founded.
At one time they were Democrats obstructing progress and now they are Republicans. The rest of us keep wishin', hopin', and prayin' that they will change. They won't. It is baked into the culture. They have to be overwhelmed and soon.
I think the red majority of the South must inevitably be overwhelmed by the non-red majority of the United States of America. But it could take a long time! Meanwhile, I think the attempts to foist Christian dominionism on the rest of the country is much sooner doomed to failure.
Well said, thanks. My only addition to Joyce's excellent appraisal is that the redrawing of majority-minority opportunity districts would have happened with or without Trump. He and his justices are the accelerant, but as you say the white Southerners in power have always acted this way. They absolutely hate Black people.
They blame black people for the loss of the olde south.....not ever themselves.
R E Lee warned about setting up monuments, and not letting things settle down and heal. John S Mosby,of Mosby's raiders a crack cavalry division, rejoined the union and became ambassador to Hawaii. The senate and house saw many black reps. After Lincoln's murder, Johnson pulled the army out of the south too soon and we are living with the results to this day and apparently beyond...
Thank you for your coverage of this racist regression in our southern states. As a former Asst USAtty I’m upset that more leaders are not speaking out and calling this what it is- white nationalism, white supremacy. It’s disgusting and shameful. Americans need to vote against these MAGA Republicans like people did in Hungary to get rid of Orban.
I find it astounding that republicunts so blatantly declare they are all racist crooks! What happened to the ‘land of free and home of the brave’? Was it all just lipstick on a very alive white pig? The return of the confederate south in the USA clarifies that all the lipstick in the world won’t make the USA the beacon of freedom and democracy that it claimed for itself since the civil war. The US in its 250th year is revealed as the fraud it has always been it seems. Time for the rest of the world to reflect back to the pariah that the American hegemony is over. No amount of military power and bullying will bring it back. Time to turn our back toward our own best interests - which are to avoid anything ‘made in the USA’. Sadly for the US an economic and strategic depression is coming. The ROW will suffer of course. But the correction will do the US a favour. Humility has never been the US way. Stand by for a big slice of humble pie delivered cold. With salt instead of sugar. Betraying your friends has consequences.
I find myself wondering how it is that republicans no longer think about governing, or coming up with new ideas, or helping the people they are supposed to serve. It's like the party at some point developed wholesale amnesia about governing, and the reason for elections. Which makes me wonder why they run for office, a process that generally takes a lot of work.
Apparently the money is doled out to candidates who unquestioningly support Trump, even despite the disasters he is bringing down on the public. Maybe a guarantee of "MAGA" (i.e. Trump) money is enough.
Very interesting thought. I'm sure the RNC has come up with ideas over the years because I think the issue started before trump, just not as obvious or thorough.
This "Trump" worship is a set up by men who are controlling the puppet (ie Trump) for the opportunities of stealing from this country and robbing this globe blind.
Trump is the useful tool, the shiny, sparkling object that gets the attention of his followers. In the end, his followers will realize he is a fake....no one of substance....they have been "taken in", deceived as by a sparkling object which they thought was real but is only a fake...a distraction.
The real "hoods" in high places are taking their money and hiding it, while this currently useful "tool" holds the office of President of the USA.
The states are doing exactly what it was expected they’d do but it’s the six white hooded justices of this current supreme court that, by their collection of decisions, have turned the south completely on its racist head and turned loose the delight and thrill of those who can’t wait to wipe out the voices of those with primarily black skin; to make them irrelevant. Their actions have been beyond reprehensible and certainly in no way good for this country.
Having grown up in the Jim Crow South, I always assumed that this kind of gerrymandering would be the work of southerners, but it turns out that a Supreme Court of "Yankees" has done the job. And one of them is a Black man. I worry that their next move may be districts all over the nation where there is no clear white majority.
Here in St Petersburg, FL we've been shifted from District 14 to District 16. Our primaries are in August so there may be enough time to figure out what to do with that, but then the redistricting is being challenged, the election officials have been ordered to retain the earlier maps and we have no idea what to do next. So after 45 days in District 16, we may find ourselves back in 14.
How can anyone run a primary when the folks they are talking to may turn out to live in someone else's district. Who should we support? Both? All?
It's nuts.
What is best for the country is certainly not high in the Republican scheme of things.
But we will figure it out and will prevail in November and then the Republicans will realize that diluting their 14 point lead districts to 10 points doesn't work too well when we Dems get 12 point margins.
I hope I have the terminology right. Help me if I don't.
I would share a parallel thought to Harold Johnson II. It's that here we are in 2026 discovering that though Lee surrendered to Grant April 9. 1865, we still wallow once again, despite all the heroes of the centuries long fight for civil rights, baldly confronted by the reality that 161 years later we still are enmeshed in the reality that the Civil War is not even close to being over. HCR's book on who won that conflict stands affirmed. The stain, and horrors, and shame of slavery still lives in the attitudes and the soul of a region of America unleashed by the appalling autocratic cult of Trump and an uncivil underground tunnel of horror that still seeps its bias and hatred and political slime upward to the very heart of the political light that Abraham Lincoln captured in the 272 words of his Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in 1863.
So the obvious question is whether, with the demise of the Glorious Leader, which will happen sooner or later, the great coalition of white supremacists and Evangelicals in the South and a few other states (Indiana, Idaho, et al.) will break up and lose its momentum. After all, we really did succeed in the 1960s, even if the opponents of democracy redoubled their efforts to impose one-party control over the populace.
It is stunning: To tear apart this country for the sake of a deluded racist … who only wants the world to admire his genius. White superiority indeed.
a whole mess of deluded racists...
Messing wholly up … it’s unholy!
In a way, it's revelatory -- they tore off their white hoods and disowned their claim of Christianity and pluralism, totally repudiating their oaths to uphold the Constitution and the values in the Declaration of Independence. They no longer can make any kind of valid claim to be representing us in any way.
Indeed! No longer with the weasel words … except pretending (somehow) that it has nothing to do with skin color! And all in the name of the most corrupt, most venal, certainly dumbest president in U.S. history. Even Benito Mussolini was more charming.
It seems to be in the name of money…
Ummm, “no taxation without representation?”
They whished they wuz in that land of cotton......
"Alabama got me so upset, Tennessee make me lose my rest and everybody knows about Mississippi GODDAMN!!!"
Agreed. The cruelty and stupidity are the point. And it will only backfire when medical professionals don't want to come there. It will also backfire when tourists don't come (even school groups). Why would someone go there for college/university if they couldn't tour there and perform in high school as part of a choir/band/orchestra?
David J. Sharp,
Agreed! The most tragic part of the chosen Washington leadership is the reality that the prejudices of too many American citizens approve these racist men and women! It is like, now at last I can say what I really believe regarding "White Supremacy" and get away with it!
These are dangerous times for "freedom". We have great citizens in this country and we are great because of EACH PERSON NO MATTER THE COLOR OF SKIN GIVEN TO EACH ONE OF US BY OUR GREAT CREATOR!!! As within the song I was taught in my Sunday School class as a little girl at the Methodist Church in Smithfield, NC, "Red and Yellow, Black and White, ALL ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS (GOD'S) sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."
Why are we being distracted from governing and caring for ALL the people of this country? I never hear a word about our children and ways to support and prepare them for a successful future by providing them with the best education possible. We need to support our teachers!!!!
We as citizens who love our fellow men and women within this country must stand up for one another and FIGHT for one another. I believe that we are stronger together and that includes having the freedoms we have due to bravery, blood, sweat and tears, love and the sacrifices of our greatest leaders.....of all colors!!!!
Daily prices on basics, food, shelter, heating/cooling, rent, fuel for vehicles, repairs, electricity, are all increasing while President Trump spends money on things that are NOT necessities, such as ballrooms and adding color to a pool????....starting UNNECESSARY conflicts in which our brave men and women have died or been severely injured!!!!
President Trump started the war in Iran without going to Congress for approval! Human lives on both sides have been lost unnecessarily!!! Billions of dollars are being thrown away. These dollars came from hard working Americans...from their blood, sweat and tears!!!! Our "President" does not care, does not think of the citizens, the soldiers, the dollars being thrown away. He does not know how to stop the fighting.
Trump's focus is on himself and where he and his equally greedy sons can find another billion to haul into their coffers!!! We as American citizens are watching this take place in front of us....nothing is hidden!!!! We MUST DO SOMETHING BEFORE OUR COUNTRY IS NO MORE!!!!
I do not see leaders "waiting in line behind Trump" who have a true love for this country and her people, her lands and rivers, the air we breath, the education of our children as a first value. I only see the desire for power and ways to line their own pockets!!!!
We will reap what we allow to be sown!!!!
Agreed! What kind of people would exchange democracy and affordability for the chance to shout the n-word aloud again? How has this country regressed when the rest of the world progresses?
I think Trump needs a new gold statue. Something fitting. In the likeness of Philadelphia's Rocky statue. Perhaps with the "America First" motto at the bottom.
I’ve seen a picture of the gold statue that had all kinds of stuff on it – – strong of toilet paper, dirty diapers at the base. Not sure if it was AI generated or real. Hopefully, if AI, it gave some people some ideas.
Fitting.
Delusional malignant narcisist with dementia - WTF are we (present company excluded) doing - MAGA-OTTS!!!!
MAGA-idiots … and willingly so.
Money and dominance, that age-old song.
Joyce, it must break your heart to see this happening, especially in your own state. Thank you for laying it out so well for the rest of us. Now, go hug Pickles
I live in Virginia and I thought long and hard before voting on the redistricting issue. I hadn't comfortably made up my mind until I read one of the Letters To The Editor in my local paper. Two gentlemen were arguing in print about the relative justifications for voting yes or no, until one of them ended with this:
"Republicans may feel that this kind of "management" is normal. Democrats do not. Gerrymandering stinks to us just as much as it does to ya'll - perhaps more - but this is not business-as-usual. This is a meltdown. Breaking glass is not generally advisable, but a man in a burning house will not hesitate to hurl a chair through a window."
I voted "yes".
After which a fire truck showed... up spraying gasoline.
At least you had the option to vote. I live in Texas where our state constitution doesn’t allow it.
I'm pretty informed about what is going on in Texas; enough to know that Governor Abbott and his cronies, in direct response to Trump, started this whole ridiculous mess.
Yes, in Texas we are "governed" by an "Unholy Trinity," thoroughly disgusting.
Prof JOYce is a BOSS!! I would champion for her any day....ANY DAY!!!
As an old Northern native, I cannot understand why anyone, North or South, would want to relive the struggles of the 1960's. My memories of riots and segregation are too vivid. But here we are, with a Supreme Court from a bizarre world when it comes to simple rights and fairness.
I do not wish to live in the same society with those who would destroy the civil rights gains of 50-60 years ago. I want to live in peace with my neighbors and fellow citizens, of all races, nationalities and religions. THAT is what America should be, not this gerrymandering to deny people representation.
Georgia is the only Southern state where analysts explicitly warn that aggressive post‑"Callais" redraws could backfire on the party formerly known as Republican by diluting its own suburban margins. Georgia’s rapid demographic change — especially in Cobb, Gwinnett, and South Fulton — makes over‑cracking* minority and AAPI voters particularly risky. Georgia has the South’s fastest‑shifting suburbs, and the temptation to overreach is explicitly documented. Alabama is not as volatile as Georgia, but "Callais" removes the Section 2 guardrail that previously prevented Republicans from cracking AL‑02 and AL‑07. If the party formerly known as Republican attempts to dismantle AL‑02 or AL‑07 too aggressively, it risks creating a new marginal district in the Montgomery–Mobile corridor. The Alabama geography is racially polarized, but not as demographically stable as Louisiana; over‑cracking could unintentionally create a swing seat. Other states and dummymander** risk: Mississippi — moderate risk (MS‑02 cracking danger); South Carolina — targeted risk (SC‑06 could destabilize SC‑01); Tennessee — low risk (Memphis too concentrated); Kentucky — low risk (Louisville crackable but risky);Louisiana — no real dummymander risk (risk is legal, not electoral).
*Cracking is the deliberate drawing of district lines to divide a politically or racially cohesive community into several districts, ensuring their votes are diluted and cannot form a majority anywhere.
**A dummymander is when a party draws districts to maximize its advantage, but in doing so spreads its voters too thin. That creates many fragile, narrow‑margin districts. When political conditions shift — like a wave election, demographic change, or turnout surge — those districts flip, wiping out the intended advantage. Considering polling and other indicators of deep, broad-based dissatisfaction with the party in power, this could play out big time for the midterms and local elections as well. Maps that look safe on paper can readily collapse under real‑world voter shifts.
Dale, a masterful explanation that even non-Southerners can understand, thank you for that. Well done. And I love that you called them the “ party formerly known as Republicans”! I have been saying lately that they should all just be known as MAGA, because in my opinion there is no Republican Party left.
The only solution to the redistricting problem is legislative. The Constitution gives Congress the power to enact legislation requiring states to use independent commissions to redistrict; it could also limit states to one redistricting per decade. Common Cause has been pushing this for a long time, and from time to time the Democrats have introduced legislation requiring independent commissions, but thus far it has gotten nowhere.
This is so sensible. Makes me crazy it is not even on the table.
This redistricting / gerrymandering thing is outrageous!
Rather than focusing on that focus on “Republicans are afraid they can’t win elections on the merits of their governance and policies.”
You hit the nail on the head, republicans are afraid.
COWARD MAGA-OTTS!!!
If they would just do the job they swore an oath to do, they might not have any worries. The GOP has been so busy kissing up to Felon47 they apparently forgot they were elected by people and everything they have and have not done has HURT those people. No matter how they manipulate the boundaries, they won't cancel out the harm they have done to their constituents.
When it comes down to it,total white Christian control of this country, not of the de facto variety and preferably Protestant in nature, is the goal now and has always been the goal of the South. There is no new South. It is the old South doing and saying the same things that it has since this country was founded.
At one time they were Democrats obstructing progress and now they are Republicans. The rest of us keep wishin', hopin', and prayin' that they will change. They won't. It is baked into the culture. They have to be overwhelmed and soon.
I think that is an accurate description of the state of things.
I think the red majority of the South must inevitably be overwhelmed by the non-red majority of the United States of America. But it could take a long time! Meanwhile, I think the attempts to foist Christian dominionism on the rest of the country is much sooner doomed to failure.
Well said, thanks. My only addition to Joyce's excellent appraisal is that the redrawing of majority-minority opportunity districts would have happened with or without Trump. He and his justices are the accelerant, but as you say the white Southerners in power have always acted this way. They absolutely hate Black people.
They blame black people for the loss of the olde south.....not ever themselves.
R E Lee warned about setting up monuments, and not letting things settle down and heal. John S Mosby,of Mosby's raiders a crack cavalry division, rejoined the union and became ambassador to Hawaii. The senate and house saw many black reps. After Lincoln's murder, Johnson pulled the army out of the south too soon and we are living with the results to this day and apparently beyond...
I am hoping for a natural intervention .....a couple of lightning bolts here and there!!!
I’m so nauseous from reading and hearing about this gerrymandering blitz. And his unpopularity is not going to stop. He remains a disgrace
Thank you for your coverage of this racist regression in our southern states. As a former Asst USAtty I’m upset that more leaders are not speaking out and calling this what it is- white nationalism, white supremacy. It’s disgusting and shameful. Americans need to vote against these MAGA Republicans like people did in Hungary to get rid of Orban.
So grateful for your wisdom and perspective, Joyce.
Thank you….
I find it astounding that republicunts so blatantly declare they are all racist crooks! What happened to the ‘land of free and home of the brave’? Was it all just lipstick on a very alive white pig? The return of the confederate south in the USA clarifies that all the lipstick in the world won’t make the USA the beacon of freedom and democracy that it claimed for itself since the civil war. The US in its 250th year is revealed as the fraud it has always been it seems. Time for the rest of the world to reflect back to the pariah that the American hegemony is over. No amount of military power and bullying will bring it back. Time to turn our back toward our own best interests - which are to avoid anything ‘made in the USA’. Sadly for the US an economic and strategic depression is coming. The ROW will suffer of course. But the correction will do the US a favour. Humility has never been the US way. Stand by for a big slice of humble pie delivered cold. With salt instead of sugar. Betraying your friends has consequences.
I think they are Republidicks.
I think I shall start using your adjective.
That's a good one, Pam!
I prefer "Republicants".
I like that better than Braden’s original term, and I like it better than mine too!
Add Repugnicans, Rethuglicans.
ROW ?
I find myself wondering how it is that republicans no longer think about governing, or coming up with new ideas, or helping the people they are supposed to serve. It's like the party at some point developed wholesale amnesia about governing, and the reason for elections. Which makes me wonder why they run for office, a process that generally takes a lot of work.
Apparently the money is doled out to candidates who unquestioningly support Trump, even despite the disasters he is bringing down on the public. Maybe a guarantee of "MAGA" (i.e. Trump) money is enough.
Very interesting thought. I'm sure the RNC has come up with ideas over the years because I think the issue started before trump, just not as obvious or thorough.
Nevoustrumpezpas,
This "Trump" worship is a set up by men who are controlling the puppet (ie Trump) for the opportunities of stealing from this country and robbing this globe blind.
Trump is the useful tool, the shiny, sparkling object that gets the attention of his followers. In the end, his followers will realize he is a fake....no one of substance....they have been "taken in", deceived as by a sparkling object which they thought was real but is only a fake...a distraction.
The real "hoods" in high places are taking their money and hiding it, while this currently useful "tool" holds the office of President of the USA.
This is my observed opinion.
it is to impose their religion and crap thoughts on all
Vraiment, quel dommage. C U at the next NK session.
Thank you, Joyce. I will say a prayer for you.
God help us all.
The states are doing exactly what it was expected they’d do but it’s the six white hooded justices of this current supreme court that, by their collection of decisions, have turned the south completely on its racist head and turned loose the delight and thrill of those who can’t wait to wipe out the voices of those with primarily black skin; to make them irrelevant. Their actions have been beyond reprehensible and certainly in no way good for this country.
Having grown up in the Jim Crow South, I always assumed that this kind of gerrymandering would be the work of southerners, but it turns out that a Supreme Court of "Yankees" has done the job. And one of them is a Black man. I worry that their next move may be districts all over the nation where there is no clear white majority.
Follow the $$$
Here in St Petersburg, FL we've been shifted from District 14 to District 16. Our primaries are in August so there may be enough time to figure out what to do with that, but then the redistricting is being challenged, the election officials have been ordered to retain the earlier maps and we have no idea what to do next. So after 45 days in District 16, we may find ourselves back in 14.
How can anyone run a primary when the folks they are talking to may turn out to live in someone else's district. Who should we support? Both? All?
It's nuts.
What is best for the country is certainly not high in the Republican scheme of things.
But we will figure it out and will prevail in November and then the Republicans will realize that diluting their 14 point lead districts to 10 points doesn't work too well when we Dems get 12 point margins.
I hope I have the terminology right. Help me if I don't.
John
I would share a parallel thought to Harold Johnson II. It's that here we are in 2026 discovering that though Lee surrendered to Grant April 9. 1865, we still wallow once again, despite all the heroes of the centuries long fight for civil rights, baldly confronted by the reality that 161 years later we still are enmeshed in the reality that the Civil War is not even close to being over. HCR's book on who won that conflict stands affirmed. The stain, and horrors, and shame of slavery still lives in the attitudes and the soul of a region of America unleashed by the appalling autocratic cult of Trump and an uncivil underground tunnel of horror that still seeps its bias and hatred and political slime upward to the very heart of the political light that Abraham Lincoln captured in the 272 words of his Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in 1863.
So the obvious question is whether, with the demise of the Glorious Leader, which will happen sooner or later, the great coalition of white supremacists and Evangelicals in the South and a few other states (Indiana, Idaho, et al.) will break up and lose its momentum. After all, we really did succeed in the 1960s, even if the opponents of democracy redoubled their efforts to impose one-party control over the populace.
Hendrik Gideonse,
I too am mourning that these sins have crawled out into the open once more from the dark places of our worst failings of the human heart and mind.
What a waste, when our efforts should be the lifting up of one another as human beings.
We help all when we help one.