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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The U.S. Supreme Court has weakened the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination when congressional districts are redrawn. The high court had found that Louisiana's congressional maps amounted to, quote, unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The justices voted 6-3 to strike down a map that created a second majority black congressional district in the state. NPR's Hansi Lowong reports the ruling could affect the redrawing of Florida's congressional map.
Chapter 2: What recent Supreme Court ruling affects the Voting Rights Act?
For decades, in places where voting is racially polarized, the Voting Rights Act Section 2 provisions had helped ensure that racial minority voters aren't shut out during the redrawing of political maps and that districts are drawn in a way that gives minority voters a chance of electing their preferred candidates.
The new ruling from the Supreme Court's conservative majority weakens those protections, and it applies to redistricting at all levels of government. In Florida, state lawmakers who are in a special session on redistricting may create a new congressional map.
Many redistricting experts expect Republican-controlled state legislatures in the South to eliminate at least some Democratic-represented House districts that were likely protected under the Voting Rights Act. That could lead to the largest ever decline in representation by Black members of Congress. Anzila Wong, NPR News.
Senate Democrats are raising concerns President Trump could next turn his attention to initiating U.S. military action in Cuba. NPR's Clara Grisales reports they forced a floor vote to try to get lawmakers to weigh in.
It's part of a series of votes in recent months to push the president to come to Congress to seek authorization for military action. However, the GOP-led Senate blocked the efforts as lawmakers loyal to Trump say he's been working well within his commander-in-chief powers. The latest Democratic-led measure to limit Trump's war powers in Cuba was blocked in a vote of 51 to 47.
Only two Republicans, Maine's Susan Collins and Kentucky's Rand Paul, joined Democrats to force a debate should Trump decide to use military action in Cuba. Later this week, Democrats also plan to force war power votes on the Iran conflict, which will hit the 60-day mark at the end of this week. Claudia Dixalis, NPR News.
The State Department says it plans to issue a limited number of passports containing President Trump's image starting this summer.
Here's NPR's Michelle Kellerman. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott says the U.S. is releasing a limited edition U.S. passport to commemorate America's 250th anniversary in July. The new designs will be available only at the Washington Passport Agency and until they run out.
The State Department posted a picture of one page with Trump's formal portrait over the Declaration of Independence. It also includes his signature in gold lettering. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the United Nations.
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Chapter 3: How does the Supreme Court's decision impact redistricting in Florida?
This is NPR.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are attending a ceremony at the 9-11 Memorial in New York City this hour. It is the latest stop of the British monarch's state visit, his first as king. In London, meanwhile, police say they have arrested a 45-year-old man suspected of carrying out an anti-Semitic attack today. Two Jewish men were stabbed and injured on the street.
Counterterrorism police in Britain are investigating. In the U.S. a new Gallup poll suggests more people are finding it harder to buy a home. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports majority of respondents also say their finances are getting worse.
The share of non-homeowners who intend to buy a house in the next five years has fallen to 25 percent. That's down from nearly 50 percent a decade ago and the lowest since Gallup started tracking this in 2013. Now, nearly half of non-owners say they do not intend to buy a home anytime soon.
The poll was taken earlier this month, and it comes as median home prices top $400,000 and are historically high compared to average incomes. For decades, most Americans were optimistic about the housing market, but more than two-thirds say now is a bad time to buy.
Gallup also finds Americans continue to worry about the high cost of living that includes a notable bump up in concern over oil and gas prices. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.
President Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair is a step closer to being confirmed. The Senate Banking Committee voted 13 to 11 to recommend the full Senate support Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.
When Congress eliminated funding for public media last year, we saw a groundswell of support for NPR. I'm Erika Barris from Planet Money, and it is not too late to be part of this movement. If you missed making a donation during public media giving days, do it right now. Show your support for public radio that is by the people, for the people at donate.npr.org. And thanks.
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