Here’s how Republicans ‘dismembered’ a Democratic stronghold

Scroll through our visual guide to see why proposed Tennessee maps amount to a masterclass in gerrymandering

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee gave final approval on Monday to an aggressive plan to split Nashville, a Democratic bastion, in a deeply Republican state, into several congressional districts as part of an effort to tilt the state's congressional map in their favor. The plan is now waiting for approval from Governor Bill Lee, who is likely to sign it.

Nashville currently sits in the state's fifth congressional district, represented by Jim Cooper, a Democrat who has held the seat for nearly 20 years. It's a solid Democratic district - Joe Biden carried it by nearly 24 points in 2020 - but on Tuesday, Cooper announced he was retiring from Congress.