Tennessee poised to vote today on new US House map
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Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are prepared to advance a plan later today that would dismantle a majority-Black congressional district. This initiative aims to redraw the electoral map favoring the GOP as part of former president Donald Trump’s strategy to maintain a narrow House majority in the upcoming November midterm elections.
The redistricting effort in Tennessee is among several rapidly progressing plans in Southern states seeking to capitalize on a recent US Supreme Court ruling that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act, according to AP reports.
The Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana had relied excessively on race when creating a second Black-majority House district in an attempt to comply with the federal law. This decision altered a long-standing interpretation of the law, providing Republicans with justification to attempt to eliminate majority-Black districts that have historically elected Democrats.
In response, Louisiana has postponed its congressional primary to allow state lawmakers additional time to develop a new House map.
Similarly, legislation pending a final vote in Alabama could disrupt the state’s congressional primaries if courts permit changes to US House districts. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, Republican lawmakers, encouraged by Trump, have initiated preliminary steps to include congressional redistricting on their agenda.
These states join an already intense national redistricting contest. Since Trump urged Texas to redraw its US House districts last year, eight states have adopted new congressional districts. Republicans anticipate gaining up to 13 seats, while Democrats project a gain of up to 10.
In other news, a federal judge unsealed an alleged suicide note by Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday, marking the first public release of the document.
The Trump administration has asserted that migration has transformed Europe into an “incubator” for terrorism, as outlined in a recently published report on counter-terrorism strategies. The administration plans to focus counter-terrorism efforts on drug cartels.
Republican politicians in Tennessee have released a new congressional voting map that could be implemented before the November midterm elections. The proposed map would eliminate the state’s only Democratic-controlled district by dividing a majority-Black voting bloc centered in Memphis.
Additional information emerged regarding the suspect charged in connection with Monday’s shooting near JD Vance’s motorcade. The Texas man accused of firing at law enforcement officers near the Washington Monument earlier this week was reportedly walking along the path of Vance’s motorcade before the shooting and made a vulgar remark about the White House following the confrontation, according to a court filing on Wednesday.
A report from The Atlantic alleges that FBI Director Kash Patel has distributed customized bottles of bourbon at events, including those where he was serving in an official capacity.
Donald Trump is scheduled to host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a visit, a White House source confirmed to . Trump and Lula, elected in 2023, will discuss “economic and security matters of shared importance,” with the meeting expected to occur this Thursday.
Trump is in Washington today and will welcome President Lula da Silva of Brazil to the White House for a bilateral meeting at 11 a.m. ET, which will be open to the press. Updates will be provided as the meeting proceeds. A White House official told that the two leaders will discuss “economic and security matters of shared importance.”
It is noteworthy that Lula is campaigning in Brazil’s upcoming October elections, where he will face Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of his imprisoned predecessor.
Big oil profits from war may hinder energy transition, experts warn
Experts and advocates express concern that the billions in profits big oil companies are earning due to the ongoing war may impede the energy transition by incentivizing expansion in oil and gas sectors and increasing funds for political lobbying.
“Windfall profits from Trump’s war will allow big oil to build a wall of money around its Trump-era political victories,” said Lukas Shankar-Ross, a deputy director at green group Friends of the Earth.
The deadly conflict in Iran has created instability due to attacks on fossil fuel facilities and the blockage of the critical trade route through the Strait of Hormuz. Amid this turmoil, energy prices and oil companies’ earnings have surged.
ConocoPhillips reported $2.3 billion in profits for the first quarter of 2026, an 84% increase compared to pre-war figures. Top petroleum refiner Valero Energy announced quarterly profits of $1.2 billion, according to estimates. Liberty Energy, founded and formerly led by Donald Trump’s energy secretary Chris Wright, saw quarterly earnings of $10 million, a 32% increase from before the war began. BP reported “exceptional” performance, more than doubling its profits during the first quarter of the year.
Executives from oil majors Chevron and ExxonMobil reported declines during the first quarter of 2026. However, analysts predict a reversal soon. Consensus estimates indicate ExxonMobil’s second-quarter earnings will more than double from a year ago, while Chevron’s profits are expected to increase by 56% for the year.
While oil companies accumulate billions, Americans face rising costs at the pump. On Wednesday, the US average gasoline price reached its highest level since July 2022.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to the White House on Thursday aims to revive what former US President Trump described last year as their “excellent chemistry,” avoid new tariffs, and demonstrate willingness to negotiate deals on critical minerals and organized crime, according to three individuals close to the Brazilian president who spoke to .
“We don’t know if the visit will help,” one Brazilian official involved in arranging the meeting told . “But it’s more likely to help than doing nothing.”
Last year, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian products, among the highest on any US imports, accusing Brazil of promoting a witch-hunt against far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was later convicted for attempting to overthrow democracy.
Rubio visits Vatican to ease tensions after Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Vatican today in an effort to mend relations following President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo.
Rubio is also scheduled to meet with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who, on the eve of Rubio’s visit, strongly defended Pope Leo and subtly criticized Trump’s attacks.
“Attacking him like that or criticizing what he does seems a bit strange to me, to say the least,” Parolin said Wednesday.
Parolin stated that Washington had requested Rubio’s audience and that the Pope was open to continued dialogue.
“We cannot ignore the United States,” Parolin said. “Despite some difficulties, they certainly remain a key partner for the Holy See, not least because they play a role in almost every situation we face today.”
