Stephen Colbert Goes on the Attack: The Showdown with Gov. Pritzker Over Gerrymandering!
The Gloves Come Off: Stephen Colbert Takes Down Democratic Governor JB Pritzker Over Illinois' Gerrymandering Scandal
In a shocking turn of events, late-night host and outspoken Trump critic Stephen Colbert put his guest, Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, on the hot seat over the state's bizarrely drawn congressional maps. The governor, who has been touted as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, was caught off guard by Colbert's tough questioning.
The drama went down on Tuesday during an episode of Colbert's show, where he grilled Pritzker about Illinois' gerrymandered districts. It all started when the governor offered refuge to Texas Democrats fleeing their state over a plan to redraw its own electoral boundaries. But what seemed like a noble gesture quickly turned into a minefield for Pritzker.
Colbert, known for his quick wit and sharp tongue, pulled out a graphic of Illinois' congressional districts while discussing Texas Republicans' controversial plan to gerrymander the state's voting maps in their favor. "If you are considering doing a little more redrawing in Illinois, you already have some crazy districts in Illinois," Colbert said with a smirk.
He then pointed to District 17, which looks like a puzzle piece gone wrong. "Take a look at this. Look at [District] 17 here. It does that, then it comes up here, and it sneaks around there and goes all the way up here and then goes right over there like that," Colbert said, outlining the oddly shaped voting district.
Pritzker attempted to laugh off the jab, joking that a kindergarten class must have drawn up the map. But Colbert wasn't having it. He showed another graphic, this one highlighting the irregular shape of yet another district. "It's like a stinger on a scorpion," he joked.
The tension was palpable as Pritzker tried to shift the focus to Texas Republicans' redistricting efforts. "So because all states to a certain extent do this, why is what Texas [is] doing particularly egregious in this case?" Colbert pressed.
Pritzker's response was telling: "They are literally obliterating districts that were written according to the Voting Rights Act." He then made a veiled reference to Trump's influence on the Texas Republicans' plan. "And they're doing it at the behest of Donald Trump, and they're doing it mid-decade," Pritzker said.
Colbert wasn't buying it. "That is extraordinarily rare," he said, his voice laced with skepticism. "And the way they are doing it is taking voting rights away from black and brown people."
The exchange was a stark reminder that even Democratic governors can be held accountable for their actions. Pritzker's attempts to downplay Illinois' gerrymandering scandal only seemed to make things worse.
As the conversation drew to a close, Colbert delivered the final blow: "So this is going to end up in court if they are actually able to do it." The warning was clear: those who play with fire will get burned.
Thescholarlynote.com reported that the exchange between Colbert and Pritzker left many viewers stunned. "It's not often you see a governor getting roasted like that on national TV," said one viewer. "But someone had to hold him accountable for Illinois' gerrymandered districts."
In the end, it was clear that Colbert had done his homework. He exposed Pritzker's attempts to downplay the issue and forced him to confront the reality of Illinois' voting maps.
As the dust settles on this dramatic exchange, one thing is certain: the debate over gerrymandering will only continue to heat up in the coming months. And with Colbert on the case, you can bet that those responsible for these shenanigans will be held accountable.