THE MINGLE PROJECT: CNN SPECIAL PREMIERING TODAY AT 9 AM & 1 PM ET on CNN. Watch Here ▶ youtu.be/7_2Ra-DjV_4 What if America's biggest problem isn't politics—it's isolation? Michael Smerconish brings together leading thinkers, researchers, physicians, and social commentators to examine America's loneliness epidemic, growing polarization, and the disappearance of the shared experiences that once connected us. Drawing on decades of research and conversations with some of the nation's leading thinkers—including Robert Putnam @RobertDPutnam, Charles Murray @charlesmurray, David Wasserman @Redistrict, Scott Galloway @profgalloway, Debra Soh @DrDebraSoh, Tami Benton, and Ezekiel Emanuel @ZekeEmanuel — this special examines why Americans increasingly live, work, socialize, and even think apart from one another. The conversation starts now. Join us on YouTube.

Iowa is now the center of the political universe. Read our post-primary analysis: cookpolitical.com/analysis/2…

It would be disastrous for Dems to get locked out of a seat they redrew to be a safe pickup, #CA06. There’s still good reason believe Pan (D) will ultimately edge out Stansfield (R) for the second slot, but it’s the difference between a sure D pickup and an assured R hold.

🎯 Mark your calendars! @Redistrict and the CPR team goes live TONIGHT at 9m ET to talk primaries in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. Tune in on Substack: open.substack.com/live-strea…

How this age of extreme gerrymandering is transforming American politics — via @patrickdmarley @oliviacgeorge wapo.st/4dQQ4UG

April @CookPolitical Battleground District Survey, 25% of Rs & 23% of Indies said they liked Trump’s policies, but not behavior; trust R’s more than D’s on economy/culture issues. But, when Trump is center stage, the harder for substance to come through.

Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down a plan that would have redrawn the state’s congressional maps to benefit Democrats. In an opinion, a majority of the justices said a referendum passed by voters last month was unconstitutional. It’s a major setback for Democrats, as both parties wage a war of mid-decade redistricting. @IAmAmnaNawaz speaks to David Wasserman (@Redistrict) for more.

Seems like SCOVA's main holding is that, contrary to the Democratic lawyers' argument, an election starts when people start voting

Enormous setback for Dems as VA Supreme Court strikes down the referendum vote and therefore Dems’ 10D-1R gerrymander. Now best Dems can hope for is to pick up two seats under current map, not four.

New GOP friendly maps in AL/TN/LA/FL can help R’s a bit, but they can’t change the political environment. Even if those maps pass legal scrutiny AND Dem map in VA gets struck down, most realistic scenario is that R’s net 4-5 seats from redistricting. cookpolitical.com/analysis/h…

Something to consider as Republican states look to redraw their maps following Callais: unlike in TX or NC or FL, where there will still be Dems in the delegation or statewide, these states are considering getting rid of all of their Dem voices. That could give some pause…

We’re in uncharted waters now with a high degree of uncertainty. We don’t know how the SCOTUS standard will be applied going forward. But we do know that Southern states will take an aim at many Black-majority seats, most likely before 2028. Read our full thoughts on VRA here:

New @CookPolitical: Three big takeaways from the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision. cookpolitical.com/analysis/h…

Initial VRA thoughts — working this through on the fly. Louisiana and South Carolina are the most likely to draw out Dem seats. But both have their primaries very soon and the filing deadlines are long gone. Doubtful there’s enough time for new maps this year. (1/?)

It's nearly impossible to disentangle race and partisanship in the South, which is why this ruling could have such apocalyptic consequences for Black representation across the Deep South (more likely in '28 than '26).

And, for that “temporary’ pause in CA of non-partisan redistricting until 2030. Hard to believe that Dems in the state will not fight for partisan redistricting if Rs get rid of 5-7 Dem seats in the south in 2028

New @CookPolitical: DeSantis gerrymander targets four Dem seats, but not all are guaranteed GOP pickups in 2026 - and three FL GOP incumbents would remain at some risk. My full analysis: cookpolitical.com/analysis/h…

With our @CookPolitical rating changes following the Virginia referendum's passage, the median House seat is now getting dangerously close to Lean Democrat. That didn't even happen in 2018. Needless to say, Democrats are the clear favorites to win a House majority.