The Political Battle Over Redistricting

The Real Clear Politics podcast episode explores the escalating political battle over redistricting in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. Hosts Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevin, and Carl Cannon discuss the recent Virginia referendum on redistricting, which passed but is now under legal challenge for using misleading language about 'restoring fairness'—a move critics call Orwellian. The conversation shifts to Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to push a new congressional map, sparking a heated exchange between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and DeSantis, with Jeffries threatening to campaign in Florida to 'neutralize' Republican gains. The panel debates whether such partisan gerrymandering is effective or merely symbolic, with Bevin skeptical that any map will significantly alter the outcome, given Democrats' projected gains in California and Virginia. The discussion then pivots to broader concerns about democratic integrity, with Carl Cannon calling the current state of redistricting 'disgusting and depressing' as both parties abandon pretenses of fairness. Later, guest Molly Hemingway joins to discuss her new book on Justice Samuel Alito, highlighting his principled stance on the rule of law, particularly in the aftermath of the Dobbs leak, where liberal justices allegedly slow-walked the decision amid death threats. Hemingway reveals internal court tensions, including the politicization of judicial appointments, unequal treatment of justices based on ideology, and the breakdown of collegial norms, painting a picture of a Supreme Court under unprecedented strain. The episode concludes with reflections on the erosion of judicial legitimacy and the growing politicization of the judiciary. Key takeaways include: 1) Redistricting has become a weaponized political tool with little regard for democratic fairness; 2) The Supreme Court’s internal dynamics are fracturing, with ideological divisions undermining collegiality; 3) The Dobbs leak and its aftermath revealed deep institutional dysfunction, including deliberate delays and threats to justices; 4) Judicial independence is under sustained attack from both political parties, with asymmetric consequences for conservative and liberal justices; 5) The politicization of the judiciary extends beyond the Supreme Court to lower courts and public perception; 6) The use of personal relationships—like golf and hunting—to build bridges among justices reflects a desperate attempt to maintain cohesion; 7) The lack of accountability for the Dobbs leak remains a glaring failure of institutional oversight; 8) The long-term health of American democracy depends on restoring trust in the judiciary and ending partisan gerrymandering.