Welcome to the daily briefing. Start your Thursday with the article below.
nicole farato This made me wish I had a sauna in my backyard. Today’s news is about a national battle over redistricting. Plus: The two queens go to the library and have a traumatic trivia night.
Will the SCOTUS ruling impact redistricting battles nationwide?
The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned Louisiana’s latest congressional map, which critics said would “eviscerate” voting rights laws. The high court effectively invalidated Louisiana’s black-majority congressional district, restricting a landmark civil rights law passed to protect the voting rights of racial minorities.
The decision comes amid map redrawing across the country as Republicans battle Democrats to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Experts told USA TODAY that while the move is unlikely to play a major role in the 2026 midterm elections, it could exclude judges from future redistricting battles.
More news you need to know right now
- The Iran war has cost the United States $25 billion, according to the Pentagon. The Trump administration defended the Iranian port blockade until the country disavowed its nuclear program, despite criticism of the war’s impact on the American people. Meanwhile, the United States has about 25 days’ worth of oil supply.
- Jerome Powell’s last Fed meeting: As the US Federal Reserve’s opinion was divided, Chairman Powell gave a speech that seemed like a farewell address, but on April 29, he left the benchmark interest rate unchanged.
- Back to the long lines at the airport? The Transportation Security Administration told USA TODAY that more than 1,100 employees have left the agency as the Department of Homeland Security’s funding stalls.
royal visit
And just like that… “Carrie” and Camilla
Queen Camilla had her own “Carrie Bradshaw” moment Wednesday during a visit to New York City, where “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker gave the queen a tour of the city’s public library. The royal couple will head to Virginia today.
game
Behind-the-scenes corporate dealings took the fun out of trivia
USA TODAY’s David Oliver loved knowing trivia. Guessing and thinking about things was part of the fun. But then everything changed. Quiz company Sporkle acquired trivia company District Trivia, and in doing so, Oliver’s weekly routine changed. This replaced the district trivia format with one that favors random easy questions and out-of-this-world difficult questions. “Absolutely, it traumatized us,” Oliver wrote.
before you go
Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.
