Texas and California advance in their reshaping of the national political landscape

By Miles Parks,

Ashley Lopez, Juana Summers

Published August 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM EDT

President Trump initiated a redistricting arms race when he urged Texas to redraw its congressional map to boost Republicans. It's part of a broader trend of Trump pushing the limits of democracy when it comes to consolidating power.

Miles Parks

Miles Parks is a reporter on NPR's Washington Desk. He covers voting and elections, and also reports on breaking news.

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Ashley Lopez

Ashley Lopez is a political correspondent for NPR based in Austin, Texas. She joined NPR in May 2022. Prior to NPR, Lopez spent more than six years as a health care and politics reporter for KUT, Austin's public radio station. Before that, she was a political reporter for NPR Member stations in Florida and Kentucky. Lopez is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and grew up in Miami, Florida.

Juana Summers

Juana Summers is a co-host of NPR's All Things Considered, alongside Ailsa Chang, Ari Shapiro and Mary Louise Kelly. She joined All Things Considered in June 2022.

See stories by Juana Summers