There's a broader principle at stake that has to do with whether or not our democracy

can be manipulated by those who are already in power to entrench themselves further,

or whether we're going to have a system that allows the people to decide who's going to represent them.

Hi, again, everybody. It's five o'clock in New York. Former President Barack Obama spelling out

in very clear terms, the very high stakes in the fight against Donald Trump's efforts to pressure

states to redraw their congressional maps and essentially secure more house seats for Republicans

before voters go to the polls in the 26 midterm elections. Yesterday, President Obama spoke with

California Governor Gavin Newsom, ahead of that state's vote on Prop 50. Prop 50, if it passes,

would allow for a new map where Democrats in California could pick up

five more seats. Listen to a little bit more of President Obama's message to volunteer

supporting that ballot measure.

The problem that we are seeing right now is that our current president and his administration is explicitly saying that we want to change the rules of the game midstream in order to insulate ourselves from the people's judgment.

They want to change around the maps, not the way it's

always been done every 10 years after a census. They want to do it before any election in which

they're worried they might lose as a consequence of California's actions,

we have a chance at least to create a level playing field in the upcoming midterm elections.

Part of what you're doing right now is not just helping to get Prop 50 passed.

You're also helping to emboldened and encourage people across the

country who maybe have been a little discouraged, but know that democracy is worth fighting for.

We're seeing that fight for democracy spread, as the New York Times is now reporting that

Democrats in Virginia are planning to redraw their maps, quote, Democrats are planning the

first step toward redrawing congressional maps, a move that could give their party two or

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