Welcome to the daily briefing. Start here:
nicole farato here. May the 4th be with you. Start your week with a news quiz, then read about the Spirit Airlines closure and the Met Gala.
Travelers seek answers after Spirit Airlines closure
After Spirit Airlines announced its suspension of operations on Saturday, flights were immediately canceled across the Spirit Airlines network, leaving passengers in confusion. The closure comes after years of financial difficulties, exacerbated by recent fuel price increases.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Trump administration made “huge efforts” to find a way to stop Saturday’s closure, but was unable to pull it off.
All flights have been canceled and airline customer service is no longer available. Unfortunately, there isn’t much immediate assistance available for passengers whose flights have been canceled.
✈️Are you planning to fly Spirit? Here’s how to get your refund:
More news you need to know right now
- President Trump said the United States would “guide” ships through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said the effort would begin on Monday and would free “neutral” ships stuck in the shipping lanes.
- “The most far-reaching threat to abortion since the reversal of Roe v. Wade.” On May 1, a federal appeals court ruled that the abortion pill mifepristone cannot be obtained by mail.
- Conflict between the American Pope and the President. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV this week, a senior Vatican official told USA TODAY. And one year after his historic inauguration, many American Catholics told USA TODAY that the pope’s willingness to challenge authority gives them hope.
met gala
First Monday of May
The Met Gala is on Monday, and the New York City event’s 2026 theme is “Costume Art” and the dress code is “Fashion is Art.” Vote on the USA TODAY Style Meter on how attendees interpret the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Grand Staircase theme.
health and wellness
he was destined to die
Tim Andrews was dying and was prepared to risk what little life he had left. A retired grocery store manager was told he would have to wait five years to reach the top of the transplant list and be eligible for a life-saving new kidney transplant. He knew he wasn’t going to make it. Already he could no longer walk or hold down food. So last year, he volunteered for experimental surgery at the cutting edge of scientific research. He agreed to obtain a pig kidney to replace his own malfunctioning organ.
before going
Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.
