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Today’s Big Story

Ruling fuels Dem’s chances of flipping the House in 2024

Voting maps in several key states could change after the Supreme court ruled that Alabama Republicans violated Black Voters’ rights in drawing up electoral maps.

Why matters: Thursday’s ruling increased Democrats odds of taking over the House next year. Alabama will likely add a blue seat and the party could pick up more in Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.

What happened? The court ruled that the GOP’s 2021 congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act by slicing up Black-majority areas so that only one of seven districts in the state had a majority of black residents. 

Big picture: The precedent set by this case could influence other legal battles being fought in LA, GA, and SC and force them to redraw maps giving the states 2-4 new Black majority districts, which could net 2-4 Democratic seats each.

The other side: Republicans said that the legal war to shape the 2024 House electoral map is far from over. And they still have a chance to flip four seats in North Carolina by redrawing maps.

Bottom line: States redraw congressional voting districts every 10 years to account for U.S. Census data updates. Typically the political party that is in power when state maps are redrawn manipulates districts to gain a voting advantage.

Little Stories

Business & Economy

*U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.62%, Nasdaq +1.02%, Dow +0.5%)

*General Motors will begin installing charging ports in their EVs that work at Tesla charging stations starting in 2025.

*Modelo Especial leapfrogged Bud Light to become the best selling beer in the U.S.

World

*China is in talks with Cuba to build a base on the island nation to spy on the U.S.

*Russia shelled a Ukrainian city on Wednesday that is reeling from the flooding effects of the collapsed dam. The attack temporarily prevented rescue workers from reaching stranded residents.

*A Syrian refugee stabbed four toddlers and two adults in the French town of Annecy on Thursday. All the children are in the hospital but stable however one of the adults is in critical condition.

US News, Politics, & Government

*Hawaii’s Mount Kilauea erupted Wednesday. Authorities issued a red alert in the area due to the poisonous volcanic gas spewing from the crater.

*A Florida woman was arrested on Tuesday for fatally shooting a mother of four through her front door in “neighborhood feud.”

*President Biden vetoed a bill trying to cancel his student debt relief plan. The fate of the debt forgiveness program now lies with the Supreme Court.

Sports & Entertainment

*Oklahoma beat Florida State on Thursday to win its third straight NCAA softball national championship.

*World No. 43 Karolina Muchova won 5 straight games to advance to her first tennis Grand Slam Final where she will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

*The Belmont Stakes, the last leg of the horse racing’s Triple Crown, could be affected if smoke doesn’t clear by Saturday.

Science, Health, & Tech

*A newer heart transplant method, called reanimation, could allow more patients a chance at life saving surgery.

*Long space missions lead to an increase in the size of brain ventricles and could take a toll on astronauts long term health.

*Google Photos’ face tagging function can now recognize people without seeing their face.

Extras

*Just a dog buying a treat from the ice cream man.

*These are the longest range EVs for 2023.

*Moving day: The 10 best and most affordable places to live.