Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
The Supreme Court limits the reach of the Voting Rights ActThe Supreme Court ruled today that Louisiana lawmakers had illegally used race as a consideration when drawing a majority-Black congressional district, as states have done for decades under the Voting Rights Act. The decision, which struck down Louisiana’s voting map, opened the door for other states to redesign their maps in ways that are likely to benefit Republicans. All six of the court’s conservatives agreed that Louisiana’s majority-minority district violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote for the majority, asserted that the court had kept intact the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was designed to guarantee the rights of minority voters. Alito said the justices were updating the framework to make clear that the landmark civil rights law only prevents maps that intentionally limit the power of minority voters. A legal challenge that “cannot disentangle race from the state’s race-neutral considerations, including politics,” will fail, he wrote. The three liberal justices dissented, arguing that the court had taken the final step to dismantle the Voting Rights Act. Justice Elena Kagan read her dissent from the bench, a rare move that often signals strong displeasure with a decision. (You can read the ruling and the dissent here.) The decision will improve Republicans’ fortunes ahead of the midterm elections, giving them a modest edge in the redistricting battle. Hours after the ruling, Florida approved a new map that could give Republicans as many as four new seats.
The Justices also considered deportation protectionsAfter announcing the Louisiana decision, the Supreme Court heard arguments over President Trump’s push to end humanitarian protections that have allowed hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians to live and work legally in the U.S. The justices appeared closely divided. In other news from the court: The justices sided with an anti-abortion clinic in its fight over donor records.
The Pentagon says the Iran war has cost about $25 billionTop U.S. military leaders appeared on Capitol Hill today for what was scheduled to be a routine hearing reviewing the Pentagon’s $1.45 trillion budget request. The officials provided the first public estimate of the cost of the war in Iran so far, $25 billion, which they said was mostly the cost of the bombs and missiles used. The hearing got heated. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at lawmakers of both parties for questioning the war effort. He described “Democrats and some Republicans” as “the biggest adversary we face at this point.” At multiple points, the Republican chairman of the committee urged the secretary to show respect for the lawmakers. In related news:
The outgoing Fed chair says he will stay on as a governorJerome Powell announced today that he planned to stay on as a governor at the Federal Reserve after his term as chairman ends May 15, which would make him the first chair to do so since 1948. He pointed to legal attacks against himself and the central bank as the reason for his decision. Powell held what is expected to be his final news conference as chair to explain the Fed’s decision to hold interest rates steady. It was the central bank’s most divisive vote in decades. More top news
Endeavoring to save the art world’s most important eventIn late 2024, Koyo Kouoh, one of Africa’s pre-eminent curators, got her dream job as the curator of the central exhibition at this year’s Venice Biennale. Five months later, she died from cancer at 57. Art-world observers didn’t expect the show to go on. But a five-person team of Kouoh’s assistants and advisers spent the last year trying to realize her vision. The resulting exhibition will open under Kouoh’s name and with her chosen title, “In Minor Keys,” next week.
Protect your skinThe sunniest months of the year are almost upon us, and I’m all stocked up on sunscreen, to apply basically any time I go outside. Is that enough? Or should I know more about the countless creams and serums that line the drugstore shelves? My colleagues built a quiz for people like me to help answer such questions; it’s useful to anyone wanting to test their skin care knowledge.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Try these extremely tender cinnamon sugar crullers. Watch: Here are three great documentaries to stream. Prepare for a long life, with advice from other Times readers. Take inspiration from these Mother’s Day gift ideas. Walk: Wirecutter tested dozens of hiking socks. These pairs are the best. Play: Here are today’s Connections, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. |
