Pure Politics Redistricting

Americans overwhelmingly oppose partisan gerrymandering in principle, with large bipartisan majorities saying congressional maps should not be drawn to favor one party and strongly supporting independent commissions over politicians controlling the process. However, attitudes become more partisan in practice, as many Democrats and Republicans support gerrymandering when it benefits their own side, revealing a tension between support for fairness and political self-interest, even as majorities say partisan redistricting is bad for democracy.

Then, Americans spent a record $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, nearly double what they spent in 2008, and the growth has been nearly uninterrupted for over a decade. The most common form of play is the scratch-off ticket, purchased by more than a third of American adults in the past year, followed closely by jackpot games like Powerball and Mega Millions. The median gambler wagers just $120 a year, but a small share of heavy players pulls the average to over $1,000, suggesting that for most Americans, lottery play is a modest, recurring habit rather than a serious financial strategy. States collect the difference between what players spend and what they win, directing those proceeds, now $34.5 billion annually, toward education, infrastructure, and public services. The lottery, in other words, is simultaneously one of the country's most popular forms of entertainment and one of its least examined public finance mechanisms. Most players lose. Most states depend on them doing so.

Finally, a fun fact for the unofficial start of summer this long holiday weekend. A question about vacations that leaves us a little confused about the answers offered.