NPR News: 05-08-2026 3PM EDT
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What recent political changes are affecting voting rights in the South?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Republicans in parts of the South are forging ahead with new congressional maps that would favor them in the midterm elections. After the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling last week that further weakened the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination. Over a heavy protest, Tennessee Republicans passed a U.S. House map yesterday that carves up Tennessee's only majority black district covering Memphis. There were similar protests today in Alabama.
Enjoy!
Video circulating online of disruptions in the Alabama Statehouse Gallery as debate was underway over the GOP's push for mid-decade redistricting in the state. Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell has been following these developments in her state, happening the same day as the Virginia Supreme Court issued a ruling against a voter-approved referendum that could have given Democrats in that state an advantage in the midterms.
How is the Census Bureau preparing for the 2030 census?
The Republicans in Texas and Florida didn't even ask the people of their state to weigh in on whether to redistrict or not. And in California and in Virginia, voters actually voted, voted on redrawing the maps. And it is a race to the bottom. I will grant you that. I think none of us benefit from this race to the bottom on seats. But I think that we will appeal this because at the end of the day, what the Virginia court is doing is subverting the will of the people.
The Census Bureau's internal watchdog has launched a review of a field test for the 2030 census that's taking place in parts of Alabama and South Carolina. NPR's Hansi Lowong reports the Trump administration made last-minute changes to the test that's raised concerns about how the Bureau is preparing for the national headcount.
The Commerce Department inspector general's office says it's looking into whether the 2026 census test actually helps the Census Bureau make the next once a decade headcount more accurate and less costly. With little explanation, the Trump administration downsized the test.
What impact did the cyber attack have on the online learning system Canvas?
It now only involves households in parts of Huntsville, Alabama and Spartanburg, South Carolina. If they don't fill out an online survey this month, they may get a knock at their door starting in June from census workers or U.S. Postal Service workers. A past Governor and Accountability Office study found using postal workers to conduct census interviews would not be cost-effective. The survey asked people about their U.S. citizenship status. Research shows that's likely to hurt the accuracy of numbers used to redistribute local representation and federal funding. Anzila Wong, NPR News.
The online learning system Canvas is back online after a cyber attack disrupted thousands of schools and tens of thousands of students worldwide. 30 million users, including at half of the higher education institutions in North America, rely on Canvas to manage courses, submit assignments, view grades, and facilitate communication, according to its parent company, Instructure.
What privacy changes has Meta implemented for Instagram direct messages?
From Washington, this is NPR News. Starting today, Meta will be able to access conversations sent through direct messages on Instagram. NPR's Windsor Johnson reports a change rolls back a privacy feature the company once promoted as the future of online communication.
Critics say the move is raising new concerns about how private users' conversations really are on social media platforms. Meta says Instagram's optional end-to-end encrypted messaging feature is being discontinued because relatively few users adopted it. The company says messages will still be protected from hackers, but privacy advocates warn the change could give Meta broader access to conversations shared through direct messaging, audio calls, and video chats. Meta says the shift will help improve safety monitoring and respond to growing regulatory pressure over harmful content online. Users who want encrypted messaging are being encouraged to move those conversations to other platforms, like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
Windsor Johnston, NPR News.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What recent political changes are affecting voting rights in the South?
0:01–0:58
2
How is the Census Bureau preparing for the 2030 census?
0:58–2:05
3
What impact did the cyber attack have on the online learning system Canvas?
2:05–2:56
4
What privacy changes has Meta implemented for Instagram direct messages?
2:56–4:01
5
What are the details of the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza?
4:01–4:46
6
How is the wartime economy affecting everyday Americans?
4:46–5:04