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Today, Explained

You voted. Does it matter?

Today, Explained

Vox

Politics, Daily News, News

4.310.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2026

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Democrats talk a lot about protecting democracy, but for most Americans, the system was written to exclude them a long time ago. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Photo by Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Newsflash, you can't think about this year's midterm elections or the coming presidential election without thinking about the maps.

0:07.6

I know things like gerrymandering can be boring and political gamesmanship can be confusing.

0:13.2

But understanding the maps and who gets political power in our country is vitally important to understanding the health of our democratic system. So who

0:22.7

actually has power in our democracy? And who has power in name only? Let's dig in.

0:32.0

Support for today's show comes from BetterHelp.

0:39.0

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that whatever you're going through,

0:44.0

you do not have to go through it alone.

0:46.6

BetterHelp can match you with the licensed therapist who will help you get through it.

0:51.3

Just fill out a short questionnaire to identify your needs and your preferences,

0:55.7

and if it's not the right fit, you can switch to a new one at any time. You don't have to be

1:01.1

on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. You can sign up and get 10%

1:07.3

off at betterhelp.com slash America Actually. That's betterhelp.com slash America Actually. That's better at BetterHelp.com slash America Actually.

1:11.5

That's BetterH-E-L-P.com slash America Actually.

1:18.4

Attention all passengers.

1:21.0

The Uber ride for Mark and Jamal's romantic weekend will depart in four minutes from Platform 6.

1:27.2

Your ride comes with a rolling countryside

1:29.4

sunset view and a table seat ideal for playing footsie beneath. Thank you for booking your

1:35.9

tickets on Uber. Trains on Uber. So here's one thing I never understood about the 2024 election. Why did Democrats spend so much time

1:47.2

saying they were going to protect democracy? Now, I get it. Donald Trump has tested every single

1:53.4

limit of our political system. And of course, the health of our democracy is an important goal.

1:58.7

But to say you're going to protect democracy implies that

2:02.1

democracy was working in the first place, or at least that it was working until Donald Trump came

...

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