Global defense spending surges

The Supreme Court this week struck down a voting map in Louisiana that created a second majority-Black district, ruling it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In doing so, the majority also struck an enormous blow to the landmark Voting Rights Act, and fueled GOP redistricting efforts before the midterms.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth headed to Congress, where things got testy as lawmakers grilled him over the war with Iran. Pentagon officials put a price tag on the conflict so far: $25 billion. And gas prices hit a four year high, with a national average of $4.30 a gallon.

Federal prosecutors formally charged the alleged gunman at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with attempting to assassinate the president. He will remain in custody despite an appeal for a pre-trial release.

We cover the most important stories from around the country in the domestic hour of the News Roundup.

And, in global news, the United States and Iran extend their dueling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz as President Trump rejects the Islamic Republic’s proposal to reopen the critical waterway.

Israel ramps up attacks on southern Lebanon, while claiming it did not break a temporary U-S brokered ceasefire.

And uncertainty over the global oil supply causes markets to spike once again, the same week energy companies report massive profits.

We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.

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