Hello and welcome to this day in esoteric political history from Radiotopia.

My name is Jody Avergan.

This day, May 12, 2003, arrest warrants are put out for over 50 Texas state representatives

who have fled to Oklahoma.

Here's the story, the group of Democrats were trying to prevent a redistricting vote that would have given

Republicans more power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Texas House needs a certain number of legislators present in order to vote, so this group

of Democrats vowed not to appear.

But if they had stayed in Texas, they could have been compelled to show up,

so they fled to a hotel just across the border in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

And they camped out.

This story's got it all redistricting, hardball tactics,

a catchy nickname.

They were called The Killer D's, and of course, Cheap Hotels.

I'm joined, as always by Nicole Hammer of Columbia. Hello Nicky.

Hi Doty. And back with us is Harry Enten of CNN, a man for whom instructions to stay indoors all day,

order takeout, and not do anything.

Are really not much of a problem at all. Harry, welcome back to the show.

Shalomie, my homies.

So this story is just unreal and we'll get into some of the details of it,

but I don't know, Harry, I just want to get your thoughts,

does all the good stuff happen at the state level?

...