How one Supreme Court decision could shift political power for decades

This episode of Apple News Today explores the profound implications of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Louisiana v. Calais, which significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act by narrowing its application to racial gerrymandering. The ruling, decided 6-3, now requires civil rights groups to prove intentional racial discrimination rather than just showing discriminatory effects—making it far harder to challenge maps that dilute the voting power of Black and minority voters. Host Sam Sanders speaks with Adam Serwer of The Atlantic, who traces the history of voting rights from Reconstruction through Jim Crow, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and its erosion via the 2013 Shelby County decision. Serwer emphasizes how the VRA transformed American democracy by enabling Black political representation and voter participation, especially in the South. Now, with federal preclearance gone and the new standard in place, Republican-led states like Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama are rapidly redrawing districts to eliminate majority-Black congressional seats. The episode also examines how both parties are engaging in aggressive gerrymandering, undermining democratic accountability. Serwer warns that the Court’s actions are not just legal rulings but political ones, with full awareness of their consequences, and suggests institutional reforms—like expanding the Court or reauthorizing the VRA—could restore balance. The overarching theme is that race remains central to American democracy, and the dismantling of civil rights protections risks reversing decades of progress. Key takeaways include: 1) The Voting Rights Act’s preclearance requirement, once vital for protecting minority voters, is now effectively nullified; 2) Proving intentional discrimination is nearly impossible in practice, even when maps have clear discriminatory effects; 3) Both Democrats and Republicans are now engaging in extreme gerrymandering, eroding competitive elections; 4) The Supreme Court’s recent decisions reflect a deliberate, long-term strategy to roll back civil rights protections; 5) Historical precedent shows Congress can reform the Court or restore voting rights through legislative action; 6) The erosion of the VRA threatens to disenfranchise millions and reshape political power for decades; 7) Democracy depends on competitive elections and responsive representation, both of which are now under threat; 8) The fight over voting rights is not just legal—it’s a battle over who gets to be part of American democracy.