This is Brian Lairor's Daily Politics podcast from WNYC Studios.

It's Friday, January 23rd.

I'm David First, WNYC Weekend Edition host, filling in for Brian today. We start with a battle over redistricting in New York.

This time, the focus is on the 11th congressional district in the state. That's the district

represented by Republican Nicole Maliatakis. It covers all of Staten Island and a portion of

Brooklyn on the other side of the

Verrazano Bridge. On Wednesday, a state judge in Manhattan ruled that the boundaries of this

House district are unconstitutional. He has ordered the New York Independent Redistricting Commission

to redraw the lines by February 6th. Redrawing the lines could result in another Democrat being elected to the House of Representatives in this year's midterm election, and that means it could help determine the House majority in 2027.

This legal battle is one of several high-profile fights over redistricting going on this year,

and this is all coming in the wake of President Trump and his allies,

urging state lawmakers to redraw their lines to give Republican candidates an advantage in November's midterm elections,

and Democrats in turn responding to that push.

So here, to bring us up to speed on the New York case and the larger national implications

is WNYC senior politics reporter Bridget Bergen.

She has been covering the story for Gothamist and Gothamist, excuse me, and is, of course,

a frequent guest host here on the

Brian Laird show. Welcome, Bridget.

Hey, David, great to be with you.

So, Bridget, just when we think the redistricting battle has been settled in New York, they pull

us back in again. Set the stage here, how many times have the latest New York congressional district lines been

re-litigated over the last several years? David, it sounds like such a simple question.

...