Gerrymandering as a Political Weapon
- Jen McMillin
- Aug 1
- 5 min read
Welcome to Sunshine Strategies Radio!
I’m Jen McMillin.
Every week, we shine a light on what’s really happening in our communities, our country, and our democracy. We make sense of the headlines in a way families can understand, and we talk about how ordinary people—just like you and me—can build a better future, right where we are.
Because democracy isn’t just something we vote for every four years. It’s something we practice every day.
🎙️ Podcast Segment: “Lines That Break Us”
When I founded Sunshine Strategies, I had a simple but powerful goal: to be physically present in the communities I serve.
Now, that may sound small—but it’s not. It means long drives. Worn tires. Coffee in small-town gas stations. Sitting at picnic tables in the middle of farm fields or at public libraries on a rainy Tuesday.
But it also means something deeper: trust.
Because no matter how good your ideas are, if you don’t show up—really show up—people won’t believe you’re in it for them.
President Abraham Lincoln knew this instinctively. Long before he became president, he traveled the old 8th Judicial Circuit here in Illinois. He didn’t just argue cases—he stayed in inns, ate at local tables, and listened. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept him tethered to the lives of everyday people. And it shaped how he thought about justice, law, and leadership.
That kind of contact—that direct tether between public service and the people it’s meant to serve—is what makes a representative democracy breathe.
But here’s the hard truth:
We’ve been cutting that tether, quietly and deliberately, for decades. And the knife we’ve used is called gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is what happens when politicians draw district maps to protect their own power—not to represent real communities. It's not just about funny-looking lines on a map. It’s about silencing voices. It’s about making some votes matter more than others. And it’s become a bipartisan addiction.
For years, it was the Republican Party leading the charge—especially after the 2010 Census and their REDMAP campaign. They locked in maps so skewed that entire states were functionally immune to the will of the people. But now? The Democratic Party is playing the same game.
Right now, in Illinois, where I live, and in California, where others look to for progress, we’re watching Democrats do the very thing they once condemned. They’re using redistricting as a political weapon—not a tool of fairness or service. And when both major parties treat maps as war strategies, the casualty is trust in democracy itself.
So what does this mean?
I’m not here to argue with the tactics at this point. I really believe we’re in a cold civil war in which the political parties are our armies.
However.
It means we have to take the pen back when we, the peopl,e regain control of our country from those messing it up.
After this current war is over, we need independent redistricting commissions, made up of citizens, not career politicians. We need maps that reflect how people actually live—who their neighbors are, where they send their kids to school, where they go for groceries—not just how they vote.
And most of all, we need to remember that democracy doesn’t happen behind closed doors. It happens in the open, where people can see each other, argue, agree, and move forward together.
I don’t drive all these miles just because I like cornfields and county fairs. I do it because I believe—like Lincoln did—that democracy is relational. It’s built face-to-face, story by story, mile by mile. And when we sever the link between people and power, we lose not just representation—we lose the Republic.
🎙️ Opening
And now, here's your trusted weekly news roundup for national developments, state updates, and local central Illinois stories from July 25 through August 1, 2025.
🏛️ National News
1. U.S.–EU Trade Deal Reached
On July 27, the U.S. and European Union announced a major trade agreement featuring 15% reciprocal tariffs and a $600 billion investment commitment. The deal aims to resolve rising trade tensions and boost cooperation across sectors like energy, auto, and tech (https://www.25newsnow.com, The Guardian).
2. Trump Administration Trade & Regulatory Push
President Trump is pushing sweeping new tariffs on multiple trading partners as of July 31, expanding his economic agenda. At the same time, his DoGE agency is pursuing AI-based deregulation, cutting half of federal regulations. This comes alongside disputes over renovation cost estimates at the Fed (Wikipedia).
3. U.S. National Debt & Economic Warnings
Experts warn of a dangerous debt spiral in the U.S.—interest payments are approaching Social Security spending levels, and fiscal year 2025 saw a new $3.4 trillion budget proposal. These trends could mean future tax hikes, spending cuts, or default risks (Vox).
🏙️ Illinois‑State News
1. Governor Pritzker Emerges on Redistricting
On July 25, Governor JB Pritzker stepped into the national redistricting debate, criticizing Texas GOP efforts and signaling Illinois Democrats may redraw maps mid-decade to prepare for 2026. Though Illinois can't gain seats, Illinois may reshape its districts strategically (Axios).
2. Workforce Union Leadership Loss
The national president emeritus of AFGE, Bobby Harnage, a major public-sector union, passed away this week. His leadership focused on protecting federal and D.C. workers’ rights during periods of transformation—this may impact ongoing labor negotiations in state government (AFL-CIO).
🏘️ Central Illinois Local News
1. Central Illinois Emergency Expo Cancelled
The Central Illinois Emergency Expo, scheduled for July 30 at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, was cancelled due to severe weather. Organizers confirmed it won't be rescheduled in 2025, disappointing public safety outreach efforts (peoriacounty.gov).
2. Smoky Skies & Cooler Weather
Much of central Illinois experienced continued smoke—but slightly cooler temperatures—as wildfire haze drifted across the region. While visible air quality alerts were issued for neighboring states, local health officials remind residents to monitor kids with asthma and reduce outdoor activity when needed (https://www.25newsnow.com).
✅ Wrap‑Up & Why It Matters
National: Families should watch how the new trade deal and economic trends might influence prices, jobs, and inflation in coming months.
State: Illinois political decisions—like redistricting and union developments—may affect representation and public services.
Local: Traffic safety, cancellation of preparedness events, and air quality concerns impact daily life in central Illinois.
📣 Thank you!
“That’s your Sunshine Strategies Radio news briefing for the week ending August 1, 2025. Stay tuned next week for updates from around the state and across the country. Have a safe and informed week!”