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.

See stories by Miles Parks

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 political correspondent for NPR covering race, justice and politics. She has covered politics since 2010 for publications including Politico, CNN and The Associated Press. She got her start in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Mo., and also previously covered Congress for NPR.

See stories by Juana Summers