What’s the actual significance of the ruling on Virginia redistricting?

After the Virginia Supreme Court struck down on Friday the state’s voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan to counter GOP redistricting, a sampling of online headlines read:

— Associated Press: Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redrawn US House maps, giving Republicans a win

— Washington Post: Virginia’s high court strikes down voter-passed House map favoring Democrats

— Fox News: Virginia Supreme Court tosses Dem-backed redistricting map, upending expected 10–1 edge

— New York Times: In huge blow to Democrats, Virginia court strikes down House map

You know where I’m going with this. Another alarmist headline from the Times. And the body of the article has only one reference to the development as “huge”:

“’Huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia,’” the president posted on his social media site.”

Another Times headline, on Sunday: “10 days that shook the House map and Democratic confidence.” (The 10 days refer to the Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling on the Voting Rights Act and the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday.)

Yet the body of the article says, “Democrats are still widely seen as favored to win the House this fall. Republicans face a daunting political climate, saddled with President Trump’s sagging approval ratings, high gas prices and an unpopular war with Iran. In special elections and last year’s races for governor, Democratic enthusiasm has swamped Republican turnout.”

The article quotes Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., who says, “I was anticipating about a 15-to-20-seat pickup before the last week and a half. Now I would be anticipating a 10-to-15-seat pickup.”

Margaret Sullivan has suggested that Times headlines, especially what she calls the “sane-washing” of Trump — may be an intentional business strategy — “everybody invited in to the big tent.”

If so, I don’t appreciate the Times manipulating your nervous system and mine to bolster its bottom line.

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