ER has documented the relatively subtle propaganda efforts of the right. But they’re pursuing a multi-pronged strategy for political power. Propaganda is the whisper in the ear; here’s the companion boot in the face:

DOJ’s accusations of racial discrimination are baseless. In 2011, both houses of the Texas Legislature were controlled by large Republican majorities, and their redistricting decisions were designed to increase the Republican Party’s electoral prospects at the expense of the Democrats.⁶ It is perfectly constitutional for a Republican-controlled legislature to make partisan districting decisions, even if there are incidental effects on minority voters who support Democratic candidates. See Hunt v. Cromartie, 526 U.S. 541, 551 (1999) (“[A] jurisdiction may engage in constitutional political gerrymandering, even if it so happens that the most loyal Democrats happen to be black Democrats and even if the State were conscious of that fact.”); League of United Latin Am. Citizens, Council No. 4434 v. Clements, 999 F.2d 831, 854 (5th Cir. 1993) (en banc) (“[Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act] is implicated only where Democrats lose because they are black, not where blacks lose because they are Democrats.”). The redistricting decisions of which DOJ complains were motivated by partisan rather than racial considerations, and the plaintiffs and DOJ have zero evidence to prove the contrary.

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6 See, e.g., Trial Tr. Vol. 4, 997:8–14 (testimony of Ryan Downton that the 2011 House
redistricting plan was drawn with the goal to reelect as many Republican members as
possible); Joint Ex. J-62 at 139:6–13 (testimony of Ryan Downton that the congressional plan
was intended to increase the number of Republican districts by three).

Texas Republican Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbot, page 28 in a legal filing in US District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.

Which is about as brazen a declaration of Republican ambitions and tactics as I’ve ever heard. In public. In a legal filing.

Gerrymandering as a defense against racism. Wow, maybe the GOP really is the “party of ideas”. If by “ideas” you mean corrupt schemes designed to undermine democracy in America and protect white privilege.