On Tuesday’s episode of The Story with Martha MacCallum on Fox News, sparks flew between liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov and conservative firebrand Tomi Lahren during a heated segment on the Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas. As Democrats continue their well-worn pattern of crying foul when Republicans use the same political tools they’ve long exploited, the conversation exposed just how deep the left’s hypocrisy runs.
The segment opened with clips of MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and California Governor Gavin Newsom expressing their disapproval of Texas Republicans’ redistricting strategy—predictably portraying it as a threat to democracy. But after the leftist grandstanding, MacCallum passed the mic to GOPAC Chairman David Avella, who didn’t hold back.
“Well, the Texas speaker and legislature are operating within the law. Texas House Democrats are not. You get to pick your side,” Avella stated firmly. He then aimed directly at Tarlov, asking pointedly, “Do these people not have jobs? I mean, how do they just walk away from their job? What company allows that? It makes no sense.” His point cut to the core: Democrat lawmakers fleeing the state to block legislation is not only cowardly—it’s dereliction of duty.
MacCallum then brought up a graphic showing the heavily gerrymandered map of Illinois—a Democrat-controlled state where, coincidentally, Texas Democrats ran off to hide. Tarlov, in response, tried to justify the left’s maneuvering. “Yeah, I certainly can see that argument and there are other states…with similar comically drawn lines,” she admitted. But she quickly pivoted to the Democratic Party’s victim narrative.
“Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker are absolutely correct,” Tarlov claimed. “Democrats are sick and tired of showing up to fights with the wrong weaponry. We’ve been pushed around by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans for far too long. And of course, we’re going to redistrict in a way that is favorable to us. We would be stupid not to.”
The brazen statement essentially confirmed what conservatives have always said: Democrats are perfectly fine with gerrymandering—as long as they’re the ones doing it. Tarlov even referenced a failed 2021 bill that would have banned partisan redistricting nationwide, blaming Republicans for its defeat. What she conveniently omitted is the left’s lack of genuine interest in fair maps unless it benefits them.
Nice try, Jessica, but Lahren comes loaded. pic.twitter.com/ES2i5jzPbr
— thedailybs w/ Snerdley (@thedailybs_Bo) August 6, 2025
Tarlov also invoked Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent decision to adjourn Congress rather than vote on releasing the Epstein files, trying to paint Republicans as equally guilty of dodging responsibility. “Be equal opportunity in your complaints,” she huffed, “at least [Democrats] are doing this for a good reason.”
That’s when Lahren stepped up and delivered the blunt truth. “The Democrat Party has been reduced to essentially a social media stunt at this point. That’s the only way they can get any attention. It’s not through legislation, it’s not through ideas or policy—it’s through stunts,” Lahren asserted. Her examples were on point: whether it’s performative arrests at protests or deserting their legislative duties, Democrats are increasingly focused on optics over substance.
Lahren also dismantled the left’s faux outrage. “The hypocrisy here—for Democrats now to clutch their pearls when Republicans play the same way they’ve been playing—is really rich. Please spare me.”
She further highlighted one of the left’s more underhanded tactics: boosting population numbers in blue sanctuary cities with illegal immigration to tilt the census and redistricting in their favor. “Democrats had no problem for a four-year span importing millions…to pad their numbers. But now they cry crocodile tears because Republicans want to draw new maps in Texas.”
Her message was loud and clear: Republicans have finally woken up. They’re not going to play nice while the left rigs the game. “We learned from you,” she said. “We’re gonna be cutthroat like Democrats, and we’re going to win where we can.”
This latest redistricting debate isn’t about fairness. It’s about power—and Democrats are panicking because Republicans are finally fighting fire with fire.
