A federal court issued a shock ruling this week barring Texas from using its brand-new GOP gerrymander, but what does it all mean? We explore every nook and cranny of this stunning development on this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, including why Republicans walked into a trap they set for themselves and what might happen on appeal.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also chat with Patrick Brown, a veteran campaign operative and partner at Novel Strategies who wants Democratic candidates to rethink how they go about communicating with voters. Advocating for a holistic, “voter-centric” approach, Brown explains why it’s critical for campaigns to understand exactly how their target audience consumes media and engage accordingly. He also emphasizes the importance of “building an interesting place to be” for candidates eager to tap into the world of influencers.

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How should Democrats capitalize on their massive success at the ballot box last week as they seek to retake Congress next year? This week on The Downballot podcast, we’re talking with John Ray, senior director of polling at YouGov Blue, about a fascinating polling experiment our two organizations ran that points a way forward: make the midterms a referendum on the GOP. Ray dives deep into the new data to explain why—and homes in on one especially compelling finding about the most persuadable voters.

Also joining is political scientist Chris Galdieri, a professor at St. Anselm College and expert on the unusually volatile politics of swingy New Hampshire. Galdieri previews the state’s open Senate race and handicaps the suddenly feisty GOP primary. He also explores the fallout from Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s key role in ending the federal government shutdown—including how it might impact her own daughter’s House bid. And he answers the question, just how dead is the GOP’s push for mid-decade redistricting?

Voters had their first major chance to deliver a verdict on Donald Trump’s second term on Tuesday night, and they issued a rebuke astonishing in its depth and breadth. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard analyze the election from every angle: Just how far did Latino voters move away from the GOP? Why are regular folks so much more inclined to stand up to Trumpism than elite institutions? What does it mean for 2026? And much, much more!