NEWS - SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2026 - NEWS
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting the Voting Rights Act has some Democrats asking whether California could go further in redrawing maps to target GOP districts. LA Times
VOA VIEW: They be causing a bigger problem.
To the rescue? Spencer Pratt's campaign for mayor of Los Angeles gets the AI superhero treatment. But will it be enough to influence voters? LA Times
VOA VIEW: Time will tell.
Inmates at Ghislaine Maxwell's low-security prison camp in Texas claim they were transferred to a higher security detention center as punishment for speaking out against the convicted sex trafficker and her cushy treatment. New York Post
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More than 80,000 "voluntary departure" orders were issued by US immigration judges between Jan. 2025 and March 2026 -- a more than 600% increase from the 11,400 issued during the last 15 months of former President Joe Biden's term, according to new figures. New York Post
Operations were paused at Delta's Orlando station as authorities investigated the deadly incident. New York Post
The decision is a major victory for Republicans, wiping away a measure approved by voters to allow Democrats to gain as many as four House seats in the midterms. New York Times
The United Arab Emirates has borne the brunt of Iranian attacks throughout the war, hardening the government’s resolve to reassess its list of friends and foes. New York Times
VOA VIEW: They would be foolish to go against the US and Israel.
The initial files are murky images that show what could be anything. The government said more would be released on a rolling basis. New York Times
The United States is closely monitoring the recent outbreak of hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship containing U.S. travelers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). OANN
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President Donald Trump has revealed that there will be a three-day ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. OANN
VOA VIEW: Hopefully it will last and work.
President Donald Trump surprised White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with a video honoring her as she received the Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor Award. OANN
Senate Republicans are pushing to allocate $1 billion in taxpayer funding to bolster security surrounding President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom, igniting fierce debate among lawmakers over the project’s cost and necessity. OANN
A Lynnwood, Washington, city councilwoman is facing widespread backlash after questioning whether a local park's 27 American flags still reflect the city's diversity -- and declaring that she finds the pride flag far more personally relatable than the Stars and Stripes. Washington Times
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The IRS let more than $100 million a year in tax breaks go to foreign citizens who have Social Security numbers but aren't allowed to work and should not be claiming the credits, the agency's inspector general said. Washington Times
A 1988 penny featuring a rare error -- President Abraham Lincoln with two earlobes -- was sold at auction recently for $64,000. Washington Times
The Justice Department argues the patchwork of state laws around guns makes it difficult to take them across state lines for lawful purposes like target shooting, hunting and self-defense. CBS
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A system that thousands of schools and universities use was offline due to a cyberattack. CBS
VOA VIEW: Those involved should be severely punished.
The tariffs were put in place in February, days after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's previous round of sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs. CBS
Three U.S. destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz fought off a swarm of Iranian fast-attack boats, the U.S. military said. U.S. forces also hit back, striking launch sites for Iranian missiles and drones, according to U.S. Central Command. CBS
VOA VIEW: We kicked their a...
Mexican street corn-inspired trail mix made by Illinois food company was sold at Target and other retailers, as well as online. CBS
France is investigating whether Elon Musk and his social media app X were complicit in spreading harmful AI deepfakes. CNBC
VOA VIEW: French stupidity.
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The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh fears that the fragile ceasefire between the two countries was unraveling. CNBC
VOA VIEW: It would be bad for Iran.
Georgia prosecutors said a man posted gruesome death threats on X targeting Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi, leading to a four-count federal indictment. FOX News
The U.S. State Department is set to revoke passports of thousands of parents who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid, court-ordered child support debt. FOX News
VOA VIEW: As they should.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested over two dozen cruise ship workers in San Diego in an alleged child exploitation ring bust at the port. FOX News
Chicago Officer John Bartholomew was allegedly killed by a man released under the SAFE-T Act's cashless bail provisions despite pending violent charges. FOX News
A sweeping federal sting dubbed Operation Free MacArthur Park resulted in 18 arrests and $10 million worth of fentanyl seized in Los Angeles. FOX News
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed that he would not stand aside after Labour took a beating in local elections in England, Wales and Scotland. UPI
VOA VIEW: Starmer should go.
A group appointed by President Donald Trump made its final recommendations Thursday on changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. UPI
VOA VIEW: There needs to changes.
The U.S. government on Thursday issued new sanctions aimed at depriving the Cuban government and military of "access to illicit assets." UPI
VOA VIEW: As they should.
A man pleaded guilty to dozens of charges in connection with a deadly firebombing attack at a Colorado rally in support of Israeli hostages. UPI
U. S. and China are considering measures to prevent intensifying artificial intelligence competition from escalating into an uncontrollable crisis. UPI
So-called speed running incidents at Church of Scientology buildings have expanded from Los Angeles to other cities and countries. The organization has issued a legal warning to an online content creator it accuses of promoting the practice, while videos on TikTok have been taken down. LA Times
Shipping companies are imposing fuel surcharges and avoiding expensive routes as the cost for container ship fuel rises amid the war in Iran. LA Times
The justices are likely to act soon on emergency appeals filed by two makers of mifepristone, used in abortions. LA Times
This is the largest prize won in a single pricing game in the game show's 54-year history. New York Post
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An Iranian missile strike on a base in Saudi Arabia reportedly destroyed a $300 million U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry, a loss analysts suggest could compromise the military’s ability to detect long-range threats. Iran will have to pay.
The E-3 Sentry — an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) — was one of six units stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base before Friday’s attack. These aircraft are critical for spotting incoming missiles and coordinating complex airstrikes. At least 10 American service members were injured during the strike on the facility, located approximately 80 miles southeast of Riyadh. While 16 E-3s remain in the U.S. fleet, a significant portion of them are not currently mission-ready. Notably, this incident marks the first time an AWACS has been destroyed in combat. By Monday, defense analysts were raising urgent questions regarding how such a high-value asset was left vulnerable to the Iranian strike.
“Extraordinary measures are often taken to protect it from hostile enemy fire while in-flight. Sometimes it receives fighter escorts and is never allowed to overfly hostile territory in order to keep it safe,” said military analyst Cedric Leighton. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London’s School of Security Studies, argues that the U.S. should have anticipated such an escalation and better prepared for a prolonged conflict. He emphasized that the military should have bolstered defenses for permanent installations, particularly in a theater where the adversary possesses extensive inventories of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and one-way attack drones.
Conversely, Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, expressed a more measured view, warning against underestimating the potential for internal damage within Iran. Ozcelik suggested that at this stage of the conflict, observers should remain cautious and avoid overstating the actual extent of the damage sustained by U.S. forces.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested in a recent interview that Russia may be influencing Iranian operations against U.S. forces in the region. Speaking in Qatar on Saturday, Zelensky stated he was “100% confident” that Moscow is sharing intelligence with Tehran to help refine their targeting of American installations across the Middle East.
However, Krieg offered a more tempered assessment, noting that while U.S. defenses have been competent, they have not been optimal. Krieg stopped short of attributing Iran’s tactical successes solely to Russian influence, suggesting instead that the current situation reflects gaps in American preparation rather than a decisive shift caused by Moscow’s involvement. “Moscow has every incentive to tie down U.S. military resources in the Middle East, raise costs for Washington, and reward Tehran for the military support Iran has given Russia elsewhere,” Krieg explained.
