out a total of 46 state legislatures controlled by a single party as the highest number since the second world war. red states, those legislatures have restricted access to abortion and contraception. in blue states, they've expanded it. in blue states, they've tightened them. most red states prefuse to expand medicaid a key lynchpin of the affordable care act. they added millions of americans to their medicaid roles. more than ever it seems the extent to which federal rights and laws apply to you depends largely on where you live, which state you live in red and blue, a dope divide that runs through america. it's very real. there can also miss some of the richness and complexity of american politics. the motivations of individual politician, the intricacies.