<p>April 22, 2026</p><p>Virginia voters support a constitutional amendment to temporarily redistrict the state, VA judge rules the amendment and the referendum were invalid, Virginia’s attorney general will challenge judge's decision, The partisan gerrymander race stated in Texas, Republicans are trying to excuse their partisan actions while jumping on Democrats for similar behavior, This pattern is not new, having played out before the Civil War, In 1856, northerners shocked southern leaders by calling them out for trying to destroy democracy, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks out about the importance of Democrats defending themselves, echoing that moment. </p><p>Watch today's recording here: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-">https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-</a></p><p>Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: <a target="_blank" href="https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe">https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe</a></p><p>You can also find me:</p><p>Bluesky: <a target="_blank" href="https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social">https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.social</a></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=en</a></p><p>Facebook: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/">https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/</a></p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson">https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson</a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Letters from an American at <a href="https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe</a>