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What’s on tap: 

• Scientists create long-lasting injectable contraceptive

• Anthony Davis returns

• Best Vrbo vacation rentals

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Big Story

Louisiana Voting Rights

The Supreme Court is hearing an unusual case where civil rights groups and Republican officials are temporarily aligned in defending Louisiana's congressional map with two majority-Black districts—the first such map in decades.

• The legal tangle began when Louisiana's Legislature initially drew a map with just one majority-Black district despite Black residents comprising about one-third of the state's population. Civil rights groups successfully argued that the Voting Rights Act required two majority-Black districts.

• The victory triggered a countersuit from self-described "non-African American" voters claiming the new map violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. While a federal court initially agreed with them, the Supreme Court allowed the map to be used in the 2024 election, where Democrat Cleo Fields won in the newly created district.

• Now the justices must decide whether this map can remain permanent, weighing whether the plaintiffs even have legal standing to sue. The court's 6-3 conservative majority—which surprisingly upheld the Voting Rights Act in a 2023 Alabama case—must resolve the tension between the VRA's race-conscious approach and the 14th Amendment's equal protection requirements.

Big Story

US Military Text Leak

The White House confirmed Monday that a Signal group chat discussing US military operations against Houthis in Yemen inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.

• According to Goldberg's report, senior Trump administration officials coordinated sensitive war plans on an encrypted messaging platform. The group included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said the plans “included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.”

• White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes acknowledged the chat's authenticity, stating they are "reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain." President Trump claimed he "doesn't know anything about it" when questioned by reporters.

• Democratic Senator Jack Reed, ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the incident "one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense." Reed emphasized that "military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line."

Big Story

Injectable Contraceptive

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking injectable contraceptive that self-assembles into an implant within the body.

• Current contraceptive implants last years but need professional fitting via surgery, and contraceptive injections only last three months. However, the new approach combines the options — a long-lasting implant through a simple injection.

• The contraceptive uses special crystals suspended in a liquid that doesn't mix with bodily fluids. When injected, this causes the crystals to clump together beneath the skin, creating a compact “storage depot” that slowly releases medication over months, eliminating daily pills or surgical implantation.

• Tests in rats showed sustained drug release for at least 97 days and researchers say there is potential for multi-year effectiveness depending on the formulation. Most importantly, the implant can be removed if needed because it is solid.

• Dr. Giovanni Traverso from MIT, a co-author of the study, notes this approach could be applied to HIV, TB, schizophrenia, chronic pain, and metabolic diseases. While promising, human trials are still 3-5 years away. (Read the Full Study Here)

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Quick Stories

US News

• A federal judge maintained his block on deportation flights for alleged Venezuelan gang members, ruling they deserve hearings first. An appeals court heard arguments but hasn't issued a decision yet. (More)

• Louis DeJoy resigned as postmaster general Monday, accelerating the search for his successor amid Trump's potential plans to restructure USPS. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will lead temporarily. (More)

• Mia Love, the first Black Republican congresswoman, died peacefully at 49 in her Utah home Sunday. She had previously been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. (More)

World

• Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal of Oscar-winning "No Other Land" was arrested by Israeli forces after about 15 armed masked settlers attacked his home in Susya, according to Jewish American witnesses. (More)

• A Mumbai comedy club was ransacked by a mob and partially demolished after comedian Kunal Kamra performed a satirical song about politician Eknath Shinde. Few Indian comedians risk political jokes due to potential backlash. (More)

• Paris residents voted to close 500 more streets to cars, creating green pedestrian zones. Around 220 of the city’s 6,000 roads are already car-free. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +1.76%, Nasdaq +2.27%, Dow +1.42%). Stocks surged on optimism that President Trump may hold back on some planned wide-ranging tariffs. (More)

• 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy and CEO Anne Wojcicki resigned. The DNA testing firm plans to sell itself while maintaining operations and customer data security, despite facing a UK fine over a 2023 data breach. (More)

• Hyundai announced a $21 billion US investment Monday, including a $5.8 billion Louisiana steel plant creating 1,400 jobs to supply EV production. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Tiger Woods confirmed his relationship with Donald Trump Jr.'s ex-wife Vanessa on social media. Rumors began to spread about the couple after they were spotted together over the past few weeks. (More)

• Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder on Monday, ending a three-year legal saga with repeated delays in Santa Clara County court. (More)

• Mavericks star Anthony Davis returned in Monday’s win against the Nets after missing time with an adductor strain. Despite discussions about sitting out the season, Davis pushed to rejoin Dallas during their tight playoff race with Phoenix. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A major 20-year study found men skipping prostate cancer screenings face 45% higher mortality rates. The challenge remains to get reluctant men to participate in the potentially life-saving programs. (More)

• SpaceX launched its third mission of 2025 for the National Reconnaissance Office Monday from Florida, exactly 19 years after the company's first-ever launch attempt with the now-retired Falcon 1 rocket. (More)

• Microsoft will launch 11 new AI agents for its security Copilot, automating repetitive cybersecurity tasks to reduce burnout and increase efficiency for overwhelmed security workers. (More)

Extra Credit

🐟️ The “World’s Ugliest Animal” is voted New Zealand’s Fish of the Year.

🏠️ The best time to sell your home based on where you live.

⛱️ See Vrbo’s best vacation rentals of 2025.

🎓️ A teen got accepted to over 60 colleges.