Imperfect Paradise: Prop 50: Is California’s redistricting push a threat to democracy or a defense of it?

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🗓️ 17 October 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

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Summary

Proposition 50 is part of a nationwide battle over control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Californians are being asked to take a side: Should the state be temporarily allowed to redraw congressional maps to counter the Trump administration and redistricting in Texas? LAist Civics & Democracy Correspondent Frank Stoltze and Civics & Democracy Engagement Producer Brianna Lee break down the arguments for and against ballot measure Prop. 50, and how the Nov. 4 special election could shape local and national politics for years to come.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for LAIS comes from the American French Film Festival, presenting 70 new French films and series premieres with English subtitles, beginning October 28th at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood.
0:12.3	More at T.A.T.A.F.F.org. Support comes from Pasadena Playhouse presenting Julia Masley's solo show, Ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, ha, ha,
0:21.4	where she turns the audience's problems into surreal side-splitting theater.
0:25.7	Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha is on stage at Pasadena Playhouse beginning October 15th.
0:31.1	Tickets at Pasadenaplayhouse.org.
0:33.9	Before we jump into today's episode, I wanted to share that we are going to be hearing from Larry Mantle, host of Airtalk and previous guests on Imperfect Paradise later throughout the episode.
0:43.8	We have a great mini interview about halfway through.
0:46.7	So stick around to hear from The Legend himself.
0:49.0	And I want us to also take care of a little bit of business right now as well.
0:53.1	We are in our fall
0:54.2	member drive and your support is more important than ever because of the cuts to federal
1:00.0	funding for public media. Donate to keep this service going strong at lAS.com slash
1:05.3	imperfect paradise and click on the yellow box.
1:11.8	You're listening to Imperfect Paradise. I'm Antonio Serejido. I am particularly excited about
1:17.9	today's episode because it deals with something that I've been really meaning to dig into
1:21.8	because it has huge implications, not just locally, but nationally. And as a California voter myself, like many of you
1:28.9	listeners, we can have a big impact with our vote. But it's been kind of hard to follow every
1:34.5	twist in turn when it comes to this issue. And I'm, of course, talking about Proposition 50.
1:39.7	A prop so important that there is a special election for it on November 4th.
1:45.8	This prop deals with redistricting.
1:50.8	And if you are like me, you've received a ballot in the mail and are starting to get inundated with texts and ads all about Proposition 50.
1:53.5	For democracy in all 50 states.
	...

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