Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show – "How Gerrymandering is DESTROYING America!"

Release Date: August 9, 2025

Introduction

In the August 9, 2025 episode of The Ben Shapiro Show titled "How Gerrymandering is DESTROYING America!", host Ben Shapiro delves deep into the controversial practice of gerrymandering and its profound impact on American politics. Addressing questions from subscribers, Shapiro unpacks the historical roots, current practices, and future implications of redistricting and apportionment, emphasizing the manipulation of electoral boundaries to favor political interests.

Understanding Gerrymandering and Redistricting

Historical Context

Ben Shapiro begins by tracing the origins of gerrymandering back to 1812, highlighting the actions of Elbridge Gerry, the Massachusetts governor who intentionally designed a congressional district resembling a salamander. This act of manipulating district boundaries to favor a particular party or group birthed the term "gerrymander."

"Gerrymandering really should be called gerrymandering. Elbridge Gerry was the Massachusetts governor, and he decided that he was going to draw the districts in a particular way." (00:50)

Constitutional Foundations

Shapiro explains the constitutional basis for congressional districts, which are determined by the U.S. Census. The number of districts per state is allocated based on population counts, intended to maintain fair representation across states. However, the drawing of district boundaries is often where partisan interests come into play.

"Under the Constitution of the United States, the number of congressional districts held by any particular state is dependent on the number of people counted in the U.S. census for that particular state." (01:10)

The Mechanics of Gerrymandering

Drawing District Lines

Shapiro outlines how district lines can be manipulated to skew political power. In a balanced scenario, a state's representation would mirror its political demographics. However, partisan gerrymandering can disproportionally amplify one party's seats over another, regardless of actual voter distribution.

"You can imagine a situation in which a state with a 50% Republican population and 50% Democrat population ends up with 50% Republicans, 50% Democrats. Or you can imagine... 90% Republicans and 10% Democrats." (01:45)

Historical Exploitation

The practice became rampant until the 1960s when the Supreme Court intervened. Shapiro discusses landmark cases that began to curb blatant gerrymandering, emphasizing the shift towards judicial oversight to ensure fair representation.

"In 1962, there is a ruling by the Supreme Court that says that judges can now review the drawing of these districts." (02:30)

Supreme Court Rulings and Legal Framework

One Person, One Vote

The 1964 Supreme Court decision established the "one person, one vote" principle, mandating that congressional districts must have roughly equal populations to ensure equitable representation.

"In 1964, there's another ruling, and this is the famous one man, one vote ruling..." (03:10)

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Shapiro explains how the Voting Rights Act introduced federal oversight, particularly in states with histories of racial discrimination, to prevent manipulation of district lines that dilute minority voting power.

"The Voting Rights Act of 1965... force the states to submit their maps, and then it's going to pre-clear those." (04:05)

Post-2013 Developments

He touches upon the 2013 court decision that eliminated the need for pre-clearance across specific states, allowing for continued political gerrymandering without federal oversight, provided it doesn't violate racial discrimination laws.

"By 2013, there’s no need for pre clearance for specific states... But courts can still oversee racial gerrymandering." (05:00)

Current Gerrymandering Practices and Controversies

Texas' Redistricting Efforts

Focusing on Texas, Shapiro discusses the state's legislature's attempt to redraw districts to potentially add up to five more congressional seats through partisan manipulation.

"What is happening in Texas right now is the Texas state legislature is looking at the maps, and they're saying there are probably a couple more seats..." (06:00)

Census Accuracy Issues

Shapiro critiques the 2020 Census, pointing out inaccuracies that have skewed congressional seat allocations, inadvertently benefiting states like New York and California over traditionally Republican states such as Texas and Florida.

"In 2020, they actually did do it wrong... Donald Trump could have won the 2024 election without winning any of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Michigan." (07:15)

Counting Illegal Immigrants

A significant portion of the discussion centers on whether illegal immigrants should be counted in the Census. Shapiro argues that their inclusion unfairly advantages states with high immigrant populations, diluting the voting power of lawful citizens.

"Should illegal immigrants be counted like... people who are born here, or people who pay taxes here... or should they be treated more like Indians not taxed?" (08:20)

He references the 14th Amendment and the legal debates surrounding the classification of individuals for census purposes.

"Under the 14th Amendment... All persons are to be counted... there's one exclusion: Indians not taxed." (09:00)

Implications for American Politics

Congressional Balance of Power

Shapiro warns of the extreme consequences if gerrymandering continues unchecked, such as significant shifts in congressional seats that could undermine democratic principles and exacerbate political polarization.

"If gerrymandering were taken to its ultimate extreme... it would radically throw off the balance of power in the Congress of the United States." (10:30)

Political Polarization

He posits that institutional distrust fosters an environment where both major parties aggressively pursue gerrymandering to maximize their seats, leading to heightened polarization and gridlock.

"The systems are not trusted. And once you lose institutional trust, the next thing that typically happens is that both sides start trying to exercise as much power as humanly possible." (11:45)

Conclusion

Ben Shapiro concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reforms to address gerrymandering. He advocates for measures that ensure fair representation, such as independent redistricting commissions and stricter judicial oversight, to preserve the integrity of American democracy.

"We need to restore trust in our electoral systems by ensuring that every vote truly counts and that district lines are drawn fairly, without partisan bias." (12:30)

Notable Quotes

• "Gerrymandering really should be called gerrymandering. Elbridge Gerry was the Massachusetts governor, and he decided that he was going to draw the districts in a particular way." – Ben Shapiro (00:50)

• "Under the Constitution of the United States, the number of congressional districts held by any particular state is dependent on the number of people counted in the U.S. census for that particular state." – Ben Shapiro (01:10)

• "In 1962, there is a ruling by the Supreme Court that says that judges can now review the drawing of these districts." – Ben Shapiro (02:30)

• "By 2013, there’s no need for pre clearance for specific states... But courts can still oversee racial gerrymandering." – Ben Shapiro (05:00)

• "Should illegal immigrants be counted like... people who are born here, or people who pay taxes here... or should they be treated more like Indians not taxed?" – Ben Shapiro (08:20)

• "If gerrymandering were taken to its ultimate extreme... it would radically throw off the balance of power in the Congress of the United States." – Ben Shapiro (10:30)

• "We need to restore trust in our electoral systems by ensuring that every vote truly counts and that district lines are drawn fairly, without partisan bias." – Ben Shapiro (12:30)

Final Thoughts

"The Ben Shapiro Show" episode on gerrymandering provides a comprehensive exploration of how redistricting practices undermine democratic representation in the United States. By dissecting historical precedents, legal frameworks, and current political maneuvers, Ben Shapiro underscores the critical need for electoral reforms to safeguard the principles of "one person, one vote."

Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript segments and are used to reference where in the transcript each quote or topic is discussed.