The approach to this year’s midterms has brought two hugely consequential changes to voting for Black Americans: the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, and redistricting. In the wake of those actions, efforts are underway to mobilize Black voters in the South.In Mississippi, the Senate battle is being seen as a sleeper race, and the Black Democrat running has a chance of flipping the seat, but state lawmakers are trying to redraw the maps and do away with their one majority Black district.Today, Emily Cochrane, a reporter covering the American South for The New York Times, addresses the implications for voters across the region — not just in the midterms, but for years to come.Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-cochrane" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Emily Cochrane</a>, a national reporter for The New York Times covering the American South.Background reading:&nbsp;<ul><li>Black Democratic candidates running in the South have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/politics/black-voters-democratic-candidates-south.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">implored Black voters to go to the polls in response to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act</a>.</li><li>High-profile Democrats across the country <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/us/politics/mississippi-hyde-smith-senate-election.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have some hope in Scott Colom’s bid for a seat in the Senate</a>.</li></ul>Photo: Anna Foley/The New York TimesFor more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.&nbsp;
For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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