Episode
The Death of the Competitive Congressional District
55:26
Published: Fri Mar 04 2022
Description
This episode contains strong language.After winning his House seat in the 2018 midterm elections, Representative Dan Crenshaw, a Republican of Texas, seemed to have found a sweet spot between full-blown Trumpism and the anti-Trump wing of the party.But after Jan. 6, and ahead of this year’s midterms, more extreme factions of the Republican Party have cast him less as a vision for the future and more as a symbol of what needs snuffing out.The once-in-a-decade redistricting process gives those factions a structural advantage. On the ground in Texas, we explore the impact of redistricting and speak to Mr. Crenshaw about the state of his party.Guest: Shane Goldmacher, a national political reporter for The New York Times.Have you lost a loved one during the pandemic? The Daily is working on a special episode memorializing those we have lost to the coronavirus. If you would like to share their name on the episode, please RECORD A VOICE MEMO and send it to us at [email protected]. You can find more information and specific instructions here.Background reading: Competitive districts are disappearing in Texas and beyond. Consider the case of a once-rising Republican star, Dan Crenshaw, in the Houston suburbs.Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, subscribe to our newsletter. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.Â
Chapters
Time's political correspondent Shane Goldmacher provides insight into the first primaries of the 2022 midterms, on The Daily podcast, while SNL's Pete Davidson's past joke about War Veteran candidate Dan Crenshaw is revisited on Weekend Update.
00:00 - 01:44 (01:44)
Summary
Time's political correspondent Shane Goldmacher provides insight into the first primaries of the 2022 midterms, on The Daily podcast, while SNL's Pete Davidson's past joke about War Veteran candidate Dan Crenshaw is revisited on Weekend Update.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
Dan Crenshaw, Republican Congressman and former Navy SEAL, faces criticism from both sides of the political spectrum in a changing Republican Party.
01:44 - 06:37 (04:53)
Summary
Dan Crenshaw, Republican Congressman and former Navy SEAL, faces criticism from both sides of the political spectrum in a changing Republican Party. However, he has garnered bipartisan support for his service and sacrifice to the country.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
The only real threat that strong conservative candidates like Dan Crenshaw face is from the far-right, which has resulted in Republican mainstreamers endorsing far-right candidates to prevent losing to the extreme right.
06:37 - 12:19 (05:42)
Summary
The only real threat that strong conservative candidates like Dan Crenshaw face is from the far-right, which has resulted in Republican mainstreamers endorsing far-right candidates to prevent losing to the extreme right. This shift in political battles towards far-right ideals can cause the entire political conversation to lean towards the right or left, and further away from the center.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
Constituents of Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw expressed their concerns about his voting records and his failure to vote in line with their wishes.
12:19 - 14:27 (02:07)
Summary
Constituents of Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw expressed their concerns about his voting records and his failure to vote in line with their wishes.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
The host draws a comparison between today's Republican politics and the duck analogy where if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck, stating that if politicians talk like a rhino, are friends with rhinos, and receive money from rhinos, they're probably rhinos.
14:27 - 20:03 (05:36)
Summary
The host draws a comparison between today's Republican politics and the duck analogy where if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck, stating that if politicians talk like a rhino, are friends with rhinos, and receive money from rhinos, they're probably rhinos.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
Representative Crenshaw of the GOP recently accused members of the party of being taken over by performance artists and grifters, leading to public disagreements within the party, particularly with the House Freedom Caucus.
20:03 - 25:52 (05:49)
Summary
Representative Crenshaw of the GOP recently accused members of the party of being taken over by performance artists and grifters, leading to public disagreements within the party, particularly with the House Freedom Caucus.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
Christian Collins is campaigning for a district in Houston centered on Trump's support and spreading the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolen.
25:52 - 30:50 (04:57)
Summary
Christian Collins is campaigning for a district in Houston centered on Trump's support and spreading the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolen.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene talks about her rise to the Republican Party, labeling herself as a conservative, and her present position in the party.
30:50 - 35:45 (04:54)
Summary
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene talks about her rise to the Republican Party, labeling herself as a conservative, and her present position in the party.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
The speaker discusses taking on part of the base of the Republican Party and challenging belief systems within the party such as the idea that the 2020 election was stolen, while acknowledging that this pathway is not easy or safe.
35:45 - 40:20 (04:35)
Summary
The speaker discusses taking on part of the base of the Republican Party and challenging belief systems within the party such as the idea that the 2020 election was stolen, while acknowledging that this pathway is not easy or safe.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
A conversation about the effects of redistricting on political behavior and assessing whether members of Congress who switched from moderate districts to highly politicized districts have become more radical in their views.
40:20 - 46:14 (05:53)
Summary
A conversation about the effects of redistricting on political behavior and assessing whether members of Congress who switched from moderate districts to highly politicized districts have become more radical in their views.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
The person being interviewed discusses how the term "rhino" was used to describe a particular politician and how they were mentioned frequently at a conservative rally attended by Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn.
46:14 - 51:09 (04:55)
Summary
The person being interviewed discusses how the term "rhino" was used to describe a particular politician and how they were mentioned frequently at a conservative rally attended by Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn.
EpisodeThe Death of the Competitive Congressional District
PodcastThe Daily
The establishment wing of the Republican Party secured two decisive wins in primary races in Ohio and Texas, indicating that even in traditionally red districts, voters may not choose the most right-wing candidates.
51:10 - 55:19 (04:08)
Summary
The establishment wing of the Republican Party secured two decisive wins in primary races in Ohio and Texas, indicating that even in traditionally red districts, voters may not choose the most right-wing candidates.