Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov suggested Wednesday that co-host Jesse Watters was “correct” for the first time on “The Five” ― and it was no small issue.
Tarlov, the show’s resident liberal who was recently insulted by President Donald Trump, credited Watters for nailing the notion that Republicans began the gerrymandering fight in Trump’s second term. Last year, Trump ordered Texas to reshape districts in Republicans’ favor, prompting a fierce response from Democrats to redistrict California and now Virginia. Other states have pursued new district maps as well.
“Jessica, you guys have been gerrymandering for quite some time. You’re very good at it,” Watters began in a wise-guy tone. “Trump tried his hand at it, did it in Texas, got some good results. And then you guys have just been running the table. Can you stop? Can you slow down?”
“No,” Tarlov replied. “All gas, no brakes.”
“So the top 10 gerrymandered states in the country, only two of them are Democratically controlled by the way,” she continued. “So this isn’t really all about how we’re the evil gerrymandering force. But you are correct in your setup, which I think has never happened in recorded history, at least of me being on ‘The Five,’ that you guys were the ones who started it.”
Watters did not push back at the assertion, at least in the moment.
Trump’s push for states to redraw districts in the GOP’s favor has backfired somewhat, as HuffPost reported earlier. Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a redistricting plan that would likely flip four of five Republican seats in November. However, a push to redraw voting regions in Florida is pending.
