The Republican governor of Texas is asking that state's Supreme Court to remove the legislature's top Democrat after Democrats left the state to block proposed changes to its congressional map.

And Democrats in blue states are threatening to redraw their own maps if Texas moves forward.

William Brangham is here with how this is all unfolding as the country marks a voting rights milestone, William.

That's right, Jeff. Today is the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which ended the era of Jim Crow voting laws that blocked black Americans from exercising their right to cast a ballot.

But 60 years after its signing, there is renewed effort to give parties greater control over the

process by giving politicians more ability to pick their voters.

Joining us now are Tony Plahetsky of the Austin American statesman and Rick Hassan,

Professor of Law and Political Science at UCLA, and author of A Real Right to Vote.

Gentlemen, thank you both so much for being here.

Tony, I want to start with you first with what's happening in Texas.

Democrats have fled the state to try to stop the Republicans from redrawing these new maps,

which they argue would unfairly tilt the state's congressional districts to the Republicans from redrawing these new maps, which they argue would unfairly tilt the

state's congressional districts to the Republicans. You went with some of those fleeing Democrats

to Illinois. What is your sense about how long those Democrats can hold out?

William, they say they are deeply committed to remaining outside of Texas, outside the state lines, until at least August 19th.

That is an important day because that is the last day of the 30-day special session that was called by Governor Greg Abbott.

This was one of the number of things on the agenda, a number of items,

including William flood relief. Keep in mind that, of course, Texas had those devastating

July 4th floods. And Democrats say that that is what should be taking precedent over any of

the other issues on that legislative agenda.

In terms of what happens after August 19th, that is one thing that they say they are continuing to examine among themselves,

because it's important to note that the governor could easily call another special session.

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