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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Alabama lawmakers may change the state’s congressional primary rules if courts allow new voting district maps drawn by Republicans. These new maps could reduce the number of majority-Black districts, affecting elections ahead of the November midterms.
Key Facts
Alabama lawmakers are voting on a plan to change U.S. House primary elections if court rulings permit new district maps.
The plan follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act.
Republicans want to use a 2023 district map that would lower Black voter percentages in a key district from about 48% to 39%.
Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures won his seat from a majority-Black district created under Voting Rights Act protections.
The Alabama House passed the legislation on a party-line vote, and the Senate is considering it.
If approved, some current May 19 primaries would be canceled and new primaries scheduled under the new district lines.
This move is part of a wider redistricting fight in Southern states, with Republicans aiming to gain more U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms.
Republicans believe court opinions may have shifted after the Supreme Court’s ruling in a similar Louisiana case, potentially allowing these new maps.
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Communications Minister Anika Wells repaid over $10,000 after an audit found four mistakes in her travel expense claims dating back to 2022. The audit did not find any misconduct, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended her, saying she followed the rules by repaying the money and apologizing.
Key Facts
Anika Wells repaid $10,116.11 after an audit revealed four incorrect travel claims worth about $8,093.
The repayment included a 25% penalty for the incorrect claims.
The audit covered nearly 250 trips over four years and found no ethical violations.
Mistakes included travel by Wells’ husband for reasons not allowed under the rules.
Wells’ large official trip to a UN event in New York was found to follow the rules.
Prime Minister Albanese supported Wells and said she had acted properly.
New rules introduced restrict taxpayer-funded family travel and business-class flights for politicians’ families.
The changes were made after public concerns about politicians’ travel expenses.
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The US State Department will start taking away passports from Americans who owe more than $2,500 in child support. People who lose their passports will not be able to get a new one until they pay their owed child support.
Key Facts
Parents owing more than $2,500 in child support could have their passports revoked.
Passport revocation means the passport cannot be used for travel.
People must pay their child support debt to prevent losing their passport.
The policy enforces a 1996 federal law that was rarely used before.
Now, the State Department will actively find those with unpaid child support and revoke passports, not just during passport renewal.
The State Department will work with the Department of Health and Human Services to identify people with debt.
Those outside the US when their passport is revoked must get an emergency travel document at a US embassy or consulate to return.
The new policy was reported to begin on Friday, though the exact start date was not officially confirmed.
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The NAACP has filed an urgent legal request to stop Tennessee from changing its voting map, which would eliminate the state’s only majority Black congressional district. The group argues this change breaks the state constitution. The petition was submitted to a local court and asks the governor and lawmakers to halt the new plan.
Key Facts
The NAACP filed an emergency petition in Davidson County Chancery Court.
The petition aims to block Tennessee’s new redistricting plan.
The plan would remove Tennessee’s only majority Black congressional district.
The NAACP claims the redistricting plan violates the Tennessee state constitution.
The petition specifically asks Governor Bill Lee and the state legislature not to approve the new map.
Redistricting means redrawing voting district boundaries, usually after a census.
This legal action is urgent, indicating the process to finalize the map is underway or soon to happen.
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The lawyer for Cole Allen, who is accused of shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, asked a judge to remove U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche from the case. They say Pirro and Blanche should not be involved because they were at the event and may be victims or witnesses.
Key Facts
Cole Allen is charged with trying to kill President Trump and assaulting a federal officer with a weapon.
Allen’s lawyers want Pirro and Blanche removed because they were at the location during the shooting.
Pirro is a friend of President Trump and has spoken publicly about being in the "combat zone" during the shooting.
The lawyers argue that Pirro and Blanche have a conflict of interest and should not prosecute the case.
Allen reportedly tried to enter the dinner with multiple weapons and fired a shotgun at an officer.
The officer who was shot wore a protective vest and returned fire without hitting Allen.
Allen allegedly emailed family saying he planned to target Trump administration officials at the event.
Many high-level officials, including President Trump and Cabinet members, attended the event.
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Tennessee has approved a new congressional map that splits a mostly Black district in Memphis. This change may help Republicans keep their small majority in the U.S. House of Representatives before the midterm elections in November.
Key Facts
Tennessee approved a new map for congressional districts.
The map breaks apart a district where most residents are Black.
The affected district is based around Memphis.
People protested inside the state Capitol over this change.
Some accuse the map of racial gerrymandering, meaning drawing districts to reduce Black voters' influence.
The new districts could help Republicans keep their narrow majority in the U.S. House.
The changes come ahead of the November midterm elections.
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A U.S. judge ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) unlawfully terminated federal grants by using race, gender, and other protected characteristics as reasons to cut funding. The judge blocked the Trump administration from continuing these grant terminations and criticized the process as unfair and not following normal procedures.
Key Facts
A federal judge found DOGE's grant cuts unlawful because they were based on protected characteristics like race and gender.
The judge said the grant review by DOGE did not follow the usual process of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
DOGE staff used ChatGPT and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) keywords to decide which grants to cut.
Grants related to Black civil rights, the Holocaust, Asian American experiences, Native American children, and women were targeted for cuts.
The judge highlighted concerns about the resurgence of antisemitism and criticized cutting Holocaust-related projects focusing on women survivors.
Nonprofit organizations affected by the cuts welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the importance of humanities research for democracy.
President Donald Trump gave Elon Musk the power to reduce federal spending through DOGE when he returned to office in January 2026.
Following this, DEI staff were put on leave and related programs were closed across federal agencies.
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The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has proposed a new rule that would allow handguns to be mailed for the first time in nearly 100 years, following a Justice Department decision that the current law banning this is unconstitutional. Several Democratic attorneys general oppose the change, saying it could increase gun violence and bypass state gun safety laws.
Key Facts
Since 1927, USPS has banned mailing concealable firearms except from licensed dealers.
The Department of Justice argues this ban violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
The proposed USPS rule would allow anyone to mail handguns, similar to current rules for rifles and shotguns.
Handguns mailed must be unloaded and securely packaged, with extra rules for sending guns across state lines.
About 24 states’ Democratic attorneys general oppose the change, citing safety and legal concerns.
They argue the rule would bypass state laws requiring background checks, safety courses, and mental health reviews.
Nevada’s attorney general highlighted concerns following the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting.
USPS is reviewing public comments before finalizing its rule change.
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Two Australian women were charged in Melbourne with crimes against humanity, including slavery, related to their time in Islamic State-held territory in Syria. Another woman was charged in Sydney with joining a terrorist group and entering a conflict zone.
Key Facts
Kawsar Ahmad (53) and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad (31) were arrested at Melbourne airport.
They are charged with enslavement, using a slave, and slave trading connected to their time in Syria.
Police say they kept a female slave in their home and that Kawsar was involved in buying the slave for US$10,000.
The enslavement charges can lead to up to 25 years in prison.
A third woman, Janai Safar (32), was charged in Sydney with joining Islamic State and entering a declared conflict zone.
Safar allegedly traveled to Syria in 2015 to join her husband, who had joined Islamic State earlier.
Australian police have been investigating returnees from Middle East conflict zones since 2015 under Operation Kurrajong.
Authorities say the investigation into these cases is ongoing and involves national security experts.
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The United States Postal Service may start allowing people to send handguns through the mail if a proposed rule is approved. This rule would let Americans mail small guns, like pistols and revolvers, under rules similar to those already used for mailing rifles and shotguns.
Key Facts
The USPS has proposed a new rule to allow mailing handguns.
The proposal was introduced by the Trump administration.
The rule would cover concealable guns such as pistols and revolvers.
Currently, long-barreled rifles and shotguns can be mailed under certain rules.
The new rule would extend similar protections to handguns.
This change would apply to shipping guns anywhere within the United States.
The proposal is still awaiting approval before it can take effect.
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The FBI has concluded that the suspect in the March 1 Austin mass shooting was a lone attacker with no links to a foreign terrorist group. The shooting killed three people and injured more than a dozen, and authorities found no evidence of outside orders or radicalization.
Key Facts
The shooting happened outside a bar on Austin’s 6th Street early on March 1, 2026.
Three people died and over 14 were hospitalized in the attack.
The suspect, Ndiaga Diagne, was a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal.
Diagne was killed after a confrontation with police officers.
The FBI found no connection between Diagne and any foreign terrorist organization.
Diagne showed support for Iran’s late leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wearing clothes with Iranian symbols during the attack.
The FBI believes the attack was driven by personal reasons linked to anger over U.S. and Israeli military actions involving Iran.
More than 400 FBI personnel from 14 field offices, along with state and local law enforcement, worked on the case.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the immigration detention center nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" was always planned to be temporary. The center, which has held and deported 22,000 people since last summer, may close if the Department of Homeland Security decides it can house detainees elsewhere.
Key Facts
The detention center is located in the Florida Everglades and is called "Alligator Alcatraz."
It started operating last summer and has processed 22,000 detainees.
Governor DeSantis confirmed the center was intended to be temporary from the start.
Discussions about closing the facility began after a new DHS secretary, Markwayne Mullin, took office in March 2026.
DHS has not officially asked for the center to close and confirmed cooperation with Florida on immigration.
The facility costs Florida over $1 million per day to operate, and the state has requested $608 million in federal reimbursement.
Detainees are separated based on criminal history and flight risk.
A detainee handbook states that talking or moving during head counts results in punishment, including lockdown of the entire dorm.
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A new study from the Asian American Foundation found that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders feel more affected by recent federal policy changes than other groups. The study shows that these policies have had a negative impact on their communities.
Key Facts
The Asian American Foundation conducted the study.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders said recent federal policy changes hurt their communities.
These communities feel more negatively impacted compared to other Americans.
Norman Chen is the CEO of the Asian American Foundation.
The findings were discussed on CBS News's "The Daily Report."
The study focuses on recent policies from the federal government, including those under President Trump.
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President Donald Trump has focused on lowering drug prices as a key goal in his second term. He announced deals with big drug companies and started TrumpRx, a program to help people find cheaper medicines. However, a recent study shows that the results are mixed and the situation is complex.
Key Facts
President Trump prioritized cutting drug costs in his second term.
He made agreements with major drug companies to reduce prices.
TrumpRx is a program for patients who pay cash to find lower-cost medicines.
A new analysis indicates the outcomes of these efforts are not straightforward.
The analysis was reported by CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder.
The complexity suggests not all drug prices have fallen as hoped.
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A Democratic lawmaker in Tennessee suggested that Memphis should break away from the state due to a new voting map that favors Republicans. The governor, Bill Lee, approved this map, which changes the area's boundaries and may harm the representation of the only majority-Black district and Tennessee’s only Democrat in Congress.
Key Facts
A Democratic state lawmaker proposed Memphis secede from Tennessee.
The proposal responded to a new voting map that favors Republicans.
Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, approved the new map.
The map changes the boundaries of Tennessee’s only majority-Black district.
The redistricting could threaten the only Democratic member in Tennessee’s nine-seat U.S. House delegation.
The map passed quickly through the state legislature.
The changes are seen as political, affecting representation in Congress.
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Thousands of Somali immigrants live in Minnesota, especially in Minneapolis, many under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) which lets them stay and work legally in the US due to problems in Somalia. Despite a planned end to TPS for Somalis by President Trump's administration, a judge blocked the removal, but fear remains as immigration agents continue some raids, causing distress in the Somali community.
Key Facts
Minnesota has the largest Somali community outside Africa, with about 260,000 people of Somali heritage in the US.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows Somalis affected by conflict or disaster to live and work legally in the US for limited time.
The Trump administration aimed to end TPS for about 2,500 Somali immigrants by March 17, citing improved security in Somalia.
A federal judge blocked the government’s plan to remove TPS protections for Somalis temporarily.
Immigration raids in Minnesota have continued, causing fear among Somali residents, even those with legal documents.
Some Somali residents, like Abdi, who fled recruitment threats by militants, live in hiding and move frequently to avoid detection.
Deportation to Somalia carries a 10-year ban or longer on returning to the US, even for those with US-born children.
The Department of Homeland Security says legal immigrants have nothing to fear, but some Somali families remain scared to speak out due to trauma.
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Spencer Pratt, a reality TV star, is running for mayor of Los Angeles and compares his political experience to where President Obama was early in his career. Pratt wants to focus on local issues like street safety and criticizes the current mayor’s response to recent wildfires.
Key Facts
Spencer Pratt is a candidate for Los Angeles mayor.
He compared his lack of experience to President Obama’s early political days.
Pratt’s home was damaged in last year’s L.A. wildfires.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has been criticized for how she handled the wildfires.
The mayoral election is on June 2, with a possible runoff on November 3.
Pratt says most of his supporters and family are Democrats, despite running as a Republican.
He says he focuses only on local issues and avoids national politics.
Pratt believes he can win the election with just over half the votes in the first round.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he feels comfortable being considered a possible candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. He mentioned in an interview that he has not yet decided whether he will run.
Key Facts
Andy Beshear is the Governor of Kentucky.
He spoke in an interview with Ali Vitali on MS NOW.
Beshear said he is "comfortable" with being mentioned as a 2028 candidate.
He did not confirm whether he plans to run for president in 2028.
The interview clip was aired on a Thursday.
This discussion is about the next presidential race after President Donald Trump’s 2024 term.
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President Trump warned Iran that the U.S. will respond more strongly after Iranian forces attacked three American Navy ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The ships involved were the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason.
Key Facts
President Trump issued a warning to Iran following attacks on U.S. Navy ships.
Three American destroyers were targeted: USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason.
The attacks involved missiles, drones, and small boats launched by Iranian forces.
The incident happened as the U.S. ships were leaving the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway.
U.S. forces intercepted and defended against the Iranian attacks.
President Trump said the U.S. would respond “a lot harder, and more violently” to threats.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic channel for global oil shipments and military movements.
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