Full Breakdown
Sellers-O'Leary Clash Over Supreme Court Redistricting Rulings
5/13/2026, 2:39:56 AM
Core Event: Heated Panel Exchange
During a May 13, 2026 edition of CNN’s NewsNight, host Abby Phillip moderated a debate in which political commentator Bakari Sellers confronted Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary after O’Leary suggested viewers should “get over” the Supreme Court’s recent redistricting rulings. Sellers replied, “Don’t be a d---,” and argued that O’Leary’s comment dismissed the civil-rights struggle that secured voting rights for Black Americans.
Background & Context: Supreme Court Redistricting Rulings
The Supreme Court issued two decisions that affect Southern congressional maps. In *Louisiana v. Callais*, a 6-3 vote struck down the 2024 map as an illegal racial gerrymander, limiting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. A separate ruling cleared the way for Alabama to eliminate one of its two majority-Black districts before the 2026 midterms.
Impact: Why It Matters
The rulings let Republican-controlled legislatures redraw districts without the prior requirement to protect minority voting strength, potentially reducing Black representation in Congress and shaping the 2026 midterm contests, reviving long-standing “map wars.”
Official Statements & Responses
Kevin O’Leary argued the Court’s actions reaffirmed the principle of “one vote, one person guaranteed in perpetuity” and framed the issue as a state-level map war that the public should accept. Bakari Sellers countered that O’Leary’s stance overlooks the sacrifices of civil-rights activists, noting his mother desegregated schools and his father was shot during the movement. Host Abby Phillip intervened to restore order, urging both participants to maintain respect.
Criticism & Opposition
Sellers criticized O’Leary’s dismissal of the civil-rights context, describing the redistricting push as a modern form of racial suppression. He further likened contemporary white-supremacist tactics to “swapped Klan hoods for Brooks Brothers suits,” suggesting a continuity of efforts to silence Black voters in the South.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Don't be a d---.” — Bakari Sellers, CNN political commentator
- “I think everybody should take confidence in the fact the Supreme Court basically supported one vote, one person guaranteed in perpetuity, and the rest is just map wars,” — Kevin O’Leary, Shark Tank star
- “My point is that my mother was born in 1951. She desegregated schools. My father was shot in the civil rights movement.” — Bakari Sellers, CNN political commentator
- “#rendered /rendered "Whether or not you value that or not, there are people who bled, sweat, and died, and were in prison for access to the ballot box," he continued.” — Bakari Sellers, CNN political commentator
What’s Next: Upcoming Elections and Legal Scrutiny
The 2026 midterm elections will be the first test of the new Alabama and Louisiana maps, as the redistricting fight continues across the South.