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Thursday, April 30, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET
Federal Level
Supreme Court Deals Major Blow to Voting Rights Act in 6-3 Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Wednesday in Callais v. Louisiana that Louisiana’s congressional map creating a second majority-Black district was “an unconstitutional racial gerrymander,” sharply narrowing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the conservative majority; Justice Elena Kagan dissented, warning the ruling would make it nearly impossible to factor race into drawing districts. With November midterms approaching, Republican-led states are already signaling plans to redraw maps in their favor. 1, 2, 3
House Passes FISA; Johnson Survives Revolt to Clear DHS Funding Path
After a chaotic two-hour standoff, Speaker Mike Johnson persuaded Republican holdouts to pass a three-year extension of FISA’s Section 702 surveillance program 235-191 on Wednesday. The bill now heads to the Senate, where a House-added ban on Central Bank Digital Currency complicates passage before Thursday’s expiration deadline. Separately, Johnson cleared a budget reconciliation path that could end the 74-day DHS shutdown, though an immediate resolution is unlikely as Congress departs for a weeklong recess. 4, 5, 6
Hegseth Faces Congress Over Iran War; $25 Billion Cost Revealed
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee in the first congressional hearing since the start of the Iran conflict, where the Pentagon disclosed the war has cost $25 billion to date. Lawmakers from both parties pressed Hegseth on strategy, troop readiness, and the firing of senior military officials. Active combat remains paused while the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, deployed for an unprecedented 10 months, is set to return home. 7, 8
DOJ and ATF Roll Back Gun Rules in Largest Single-Day Action in a Decade
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday signed a five-rule package reversing Biden-era firearms regulations, the largest single-day rollback of federal gun rules in more than a decade. The package, the result of a 14-month review ordered by President Trump, repeals the zero-tolerance gun dealer policy, creates a federal gun-rights restoration system, and narrows the legal definitions used to prohibit certain individuals from owning firearms. The Senate also confirmed Robert Cekada as the new ATF director on a 54-46 vote. 9, 10
Trump Threatens to Cut Troops in Germany After Feud with Chancellor Merz
President Trump announced Wednesday on Truth Social that the United States is “examining and contemplating” a reduction of the 38,000 American troops stationed in Germany. The threat came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran and criticized Washington’s lack of a clear strategy in the conflict. Trump accused Merz of accepting Iran having nuclear weapons. Congressional Republicans have signaled opposition to any troop withdrawal from a key NATO ally. 11, 12
State Level
Florida Legislature Passes DeSantis Redistricting Map, Sends to Governor
Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed Governor Ron DeSantis’s congressional redistricting map on Wednesday, with the House voting 83-28 and the Senate 21-17 in a mostly party-line vote. The map would shift the state’s 28-seat congressional delegation from its current 20-8 Republican advantage to 24-4. DeSantis cited Wednesday’s Supreme Court Voting Rights Act ruling as validating the redistricting effort. Democrats called it unconstitutional, and voting rights groups announced legal challenges would be filed immediately upon the governor’s signature. 13, 14, 15
South Carolina Republicans Target Lone Democratic Seat After SCOTUS Ruling
Following Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling limiting the Voting Rights Act, Republican gubernatorial candidates in South Carolina called on the state legislature to redraw its 6th Congressional District, the only Democratic-held seat in the state, currently represented by veteran Rep. Jim Clyburn. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette said it is “time for the State Legislature to dismantle the Democratic dominance” in the district, which was drawn to ensure minority representation. No redistricting session has been called yet. 16, 17
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Article Sources
1. Reuters, https://www.reuters com/world/us-supreme-court-blocks-louisiana-voting-map-with-second-black-majority-district-2026-04-29/
2. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2026/04/29/nx-s1-5754657/supreme-court-louisiana-redistricting
3. The New York Times, https://www.nytimes com/2026/04/29/us/elections/supreme-court-voting-rights-act.html
4. NBC News, https://www.nbcnews com/politics/congress/house-fisa-spy-program-budget-resolution-dhs-shutdown-ice-farm-bill-rcna342730
5. The Hill, https://thehill com/homenews/house/5854744-rule-vote-fisa-farm-bill-dhs-2/
6. The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost com/politics/2026/04/29/house-mike-johnson-fisa-dhs/
7. PBS NewsHour, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/hegseths-contentious-hearing-in-congress-reveals-partisan-divide-over-iran-war
8. AP News, https://apnews com/live/iran-war-hegseth-congress-trump-updates-04-29-2026
9. Guns and Gadgets Daily, https://gunsandgadgetsdaily com/doj-atf-rules-april-2026/
10. Newsmax, https://www.newsmax com/us/second-amendment-gun-rights-trump-admin/2026/04/29/id/1254666/
11. Politico, https://www.politico com/news/2026/04/29/trump-us-reducing-troops-germany-00899352
12. The New York Times, https://www.nytimes com/2026/04/29/us/politics/trump-germany-us-troops.html
13. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2026/04/29/nx-s1-5804703/florida-redistricting-voting-map-republicans-house-seats
14. Politico, https://www.politico com/news/2026/04/29/florida-legislature-redistricting-map-desantis-gop-00898457
15. Democracy Docket, https://www.democracydocket com/news-alerts/florida-passes-gop-gerrymander-sending-map-to-desantis/
16. CNN, https://edition.cnn com/2026/04/29/politics/live-news/supreme-court-temporary-protected-status
17. Fox News, https://www.foxnews com/politics/house-passes-fisa-renewal-bipartisan-vote-putting-pressure-senate-looming-deadline