NPR News: 05-02-2026 8AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
What recent legal changes affect mifepristone prescription in the U.S.?
A federal appeals court is reinstating restrictions on how the abortion pill mifepristone can be prescribed. The Fifth Circuit sided with Louisiana on Friday, blocking rules that allowed patients to get the medication through telehealth appointments. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports the ruling is expected to be challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case was brought by the state of Louisiana against the Food and Drug Administration. Their argument centered around the FDA's decision to remove an in-person requirement for patients receiving mifepristone, one of the medications used for abortion and miscarriage management. A district court judge put the case on hold in April, but a panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Louisiana. The Fifth Circuit ruling ends telemedicine mifepristone access for the whole country, effective immediately. The drug makers are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Doctors say mifepristone is safe, that the in-person requirement is medically unnecessary, and that it makes it harder for women to access abortion.
How has Spirit Airlines' operational shutdown impacted travelers?
Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
Spirit Airlines has shut down operations with all flights canceled effective immediately. The airline, which helped reshape budget travel, has been struggling financially since the pandemic.
What prompted Tennessee's special legislative session on congressional maps?
But spiking jet fuel prices from the war in Iran tipped it over the edge. NPR's Amy Held reports now that it's gone, flyers could face higher airfare.
Spirit said early Saturday it had started a, quote, orderly wind-down of operations. A few hours earlier at Burbank Airport, orderly may not have been the word choice for ticket holders. Here's Amari Kroon.
What are the implications of Congressman David Scott's passing?
They're telling everybody in line, do you want a refund or do you want to rebook or get a credit? A credit for what? Not a Spirit flight. It's booked 11 million seats this summer, fewer than half from the year before. In its 34 years in business, Spirit made air travel more accessible. Its cheap seats and charges for extras prompted other companies to lower their prices to stay competitive. Data show when Spirit exited a route, airfare rose on average by a quarter. Now, with fewer flights and increased demand across the board, analysts say airfare has nowhere to go but up.
Amy Held, NPR News. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is calling a special legislative session to redraw the state's congressional maps. President Trump has been pushing Republican-led states to redraw their maps ahead of the midterms. Mariana Bacayal from Member Station, WPLN reports.
The last-minute redistricting effort was spurred by a U.S. Supreme Court decision to walk back part of the Voting Rights Act, which had protected the majority Black voting bloc from redistricting in the past. The legislature will reconvene this upcoming Tuesday for the special session.
That's Mariana Bacchial reporting. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.
How is the Pentagon leveraging AI with major tech firms?
Funeral services will be held today for the late Democratic Congressman David Scott. The trailblazer was memorialized Friday at the Georgia State Capitol. Raul Bali from Member Station WABE reports from Atlanta.
Scott served in the Georgia General Assembly for 28 years before his election to Congress in 2002, where he served until his death last month. California Congresswoman Maxine Waters talked about Scott becoming the first black chair of the powerful U.S. House Agriculture Committee in 2020.
He has a reputation for having been one of the greatest leaders of agriculture in the history of the Congress of the United States of America.
His passing in office comes as his suburban Atlanta congressional seat could be under threat from redistricting following this week's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on the Voting Rights Act. For NPR News, I'm Raul Bali in Atlanta.
What recent developments are influencing gas prices globally?
The Pentagon says its reach deals with seven major tech firms to use artificial intelligence on classified military networks. The companies include Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, OpenAI, and SpaceX.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:05
2
What recent legal changes affect mifepristone prescription in the U.S.?
0:05–1:08
3
How has Spirit Airlines' operational shutdown impacted travelers?
1:08–1:24
4
What prompted Tennessee's special legislative session on congressional maps?
1:24–1:45
5
What are the implications of Congressman David Scott's passing?
1:45–3:00
6
How is the Pentagon leveraging AI with major tech firms?
3:00–3:59
7
What recent developments are influencing gas prices globally?
3:59–5:04