In this bonus episode, we speak with four members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus—Vinton Jones, Christian Manuel, Lauren Ashley Simmons, and Charlene Ward Johnson—who fled the state to block a racially driven gerrymander designed to give Republicans five more U.S. House seats at the expense of Black and Latino representation. They describe the personal and safety sacrifices of leaving home as well as the national stakes for democracy. They also call for resources and sustained investment in Texas Democrats, warning that what happens in Texas could shape the entire country’s political future.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices