The sum of all things political

Have you heard the one about Gerry and the salamander? And what about Donald and his toads?

- JENNIE RIDYARD

First, Gerry: Elbridge Thomas Gerry was one of the founding fathers of the US and governor of Massachusetts in 1812 when voting districts were redrawn for the benefit of his political party. One of these new districts was so contorted that it looked like a salamander and thus the phrase gerrymander was born, where political maps are cynically redrawn to manipulate the will of the people (although poor Elbridge was opposed to the practice).