Americans are spending more and more time alone, and more than a third reported experiencing “serious loneliness" in 2021. The director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development -- the longest study of human life ever conducted -- concluded in a new book that close personal relationships are the "one crucial factor [that] stands out for the consistency and power of its ties to physical health, mental health and longevity." A lack of those relationships can actually have an impact on political behavior and interest in extreme ideologies. In this installment of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast, Galen Druke speaks with the director of the Harvard study, Robert Waldinger, about the lessons his findings have for politics in America.
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Poll: 82% of Americans Want Redistricting Done by Independent Commission, Not Politicians
The NBC News poll, conducted from August 13 to September 1, surveyed respondents on a variety of topics, including President Donald Trump’s approval, the top issue for voters right now, and even what voters think about vaccines.
These things have been broadly covered in the press. But what has received less coverage now that the focus has shifted away from what is happening in Texas, California, Missouri, New York, and more is the threat mid-decade redistricting poses to voters.
The poll found that 82% of respondents said they want redistricting done by a nonpartisan commission, not the party in power. Even most members of the majority party in their state do not think politicians should be picking their voters.
For example, 71% of Republicans in GOP-controlled states say they would prefer redistricting done by a nonpartisan commission. Yet in the same week as the poll’s release, Missouri’s Republican-majority advanced their own mid-decade gerrymander.
This, of course, follows a new map approved in Texas, which is ground zero for this tit-for-tat redistricting fight. Texas did it, so California did it. Missouri is doing it, so New York or Maryland or Illinois may do it.
And yet, 88% of Democrats in states controlled by their party also prefer a nonpartisan redistricting commission over legislative-drawn maps. The No on Prop 50 campaign in California sent out the NBC News poll results over email.
Proposition 50 will be on a November 4 special election ballot, where voters can approve or reject a new congressional map drawn by the legislature.
If approved, the map could give the Democratic Party over 90% representation in the state’s congressional delegation.
Those responsible for the proposition, including Governor Gavin Newsom, know how their voters feel about legislative gerrymandering. He says he wants to see independent redistricting commissions used at a national level but insists that his party must “fight fire with fire.”
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In fact, Proposition 50 includes a section in its summary that says it “[e]stablishes state policy supporting use of fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide” – even as it will do exactly what most voters say they don’t want.
In other words, it will implement a partisan gerrymander approved by the Democratic majority in the legislature. It will sidestep the state’s independent redistricting commission, approved by voters in 2008 and 2010.
Prop 50 does not abolish the independent commission. It says the new congressional map will be in place until the commission redraws and approves new maps after the 2030 census. However, it is worth noting that this means 3 congressional election cycles under the new map.
Whether it is Texas or California, the question to ask is: What happens to the trust and confidence of the political minority when the majority says to them that on a whim, they will take away their opposition’s representation all but completely?
Texas’ maps will have to be struck down in court while California voters are left to wonder what happens the next time the Democratic majority decides they need to “fight fire with fire” again.
The answer to the question is: The partisan majority doesn’t care. When the system puts the self-serving interests of private political parties over meaningful and accountable representation, it all becomes a game to Republican and Democratic leaders.
“They did it, so we have to do it.” Then the other side will turn around and say, "They cheated first."
Even now, 82% of voters say they want politicians out of the business of choosing whose vote matters. Yet, Texas and California were only the beginning. More states are trying to expand the controlling party's majority in Congress or nullify the other side’s gains, completely ignoring what voters want.
Poll: 82% of Americans Want Redistricting Done by Independent Commission, Not Politicians was first published on IVN and re-published with permission.
Shawn Griffiths Is An Election Reform Expert And National Editor Of IVN.us.
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Pro-Palestine Protesters March in D.C. Amid Netanyahu Visit
“It’s a genocide, hurt people hurt people, and now they’re doing the same thing to the Palestinians,” said Robin Galbraith, a pro-Palestine protester. “It was good to see people leaving the U.N., but this administration still supports those who continue this.”
Patti Mohr, another protester, said she attended in reaction to Netanyahu’s visit.
“This is his [Netanyahu’s] fourth time here. I know that Trump announced his 20-point plan and a lot of countries have supported Trump on this,” Mohr said. “I’ve been to Israel and been to the West Bank, I’ve saw what they live through and to hear what its like to live without freedom.”
Mohr added, “It is because of our country that it’s happening. We’ve vetoed six resolutions in the Security Council, and we’ve given them so much money.”
The protest began on H Street and marched toward 17th Street near the Blair House, where Netanyahu was reportedly staying. Police presence was heavy, though the National Guard was present. Several streets were blocked, and the area around the White House was barricaded with tall gates in response to Netanyahu’s visit.
Representatives of Neturei Karta International, a Jewish community opposing Zionism, were also present. They held signs reading “Judaism demands freedom for Gaza and all Palestine” and “Authentic rabbis always opposed Zionism and the State of Israel.”
Representatives of the Neturei Karta International group at the Pro-Palestine protest in Washington D.C. on Sept. 30, 2025. Photo by Bridget Erin Craig/UPI
In an interview with UPI, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a longtime critic of Zionism, emphasized the religious and historical roots of his opposition.
“While Zionism was a movement of non-religious Jews, it was simply a transformation into a selfish, flawed goal to have a piece of land and not care about the Palestinian people,” Weiss said.
Weiss walked around sharing a booklet of historical photos documenting peaceful interactions between Jews and Palestinians, such as communities protecting each other’s places of worship and sheltering refugees.
“We have seen the culmination of what’s happening in Gaza.” Weiss said as he turned through the booklet. “We work with the people of Gaza, and we plead with world leaders.”
The protest briefly drew attention from The Fearless Tour, a conservative group that hosts debates on college campuses. They arrived with a sign reading “$100 if you can prove Israel is apartheid. Let’s talk,” and played songs including YMCA and God Bless the U.S.A. on a large speaker.
Fearless Debates commentators at the Pro-Palestine protest in Washington D.C. on Sept. 30, 2025. Photo by Bridget Erin Craig/UPI
Cam Higby, one of the Fearless Debates commentators, said “We started it to basically show the left that we’re not afraid to have discourse with people in the face of political violence … We hope to continue inspiring conversation among Americans left, right, and center.”
After their stop at University of Maryland on Sept. 29, they happened to be in Washington D.C. and showed up to the protest. In response to the premise of the protest, Higby said “It’s not genocide. When somebody attacks you, just like when Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11, you have a right to retaliate. People die in war. It’s unfortunate.”
Tensions between protesters and the conservative group were brief, with police stepping in to separate the two sides.
As the protest attendees began to disperse, Weiss shared his intentions for Neturei Karta’s presence. “We urge people, whatever you can, as much as you can, stand up… like apartheid, it was the grassroots who brought about the uncomfortableness of governments and brought an end to it,” he said.
Looking towards the future, Weiss added “One day, this will urge everybody: do what you can, be on the right side of history, and we hope and pray it should happen soon in our days.”
The protest ended after three hours.
Bridget Erin Craig is a recent graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, specializing in politics, policy, and foreign affairs.
