From the desk of Rich Stephens
News for the week ending 5-2-26
Below find the expanded text from tonight’s broadcast. For corrections or additions, contact Rich directly.
Politics
Virginia Supreme Court Blocks New Congressional Redistricting Plan
The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled Friday that Virginia’s new congressional redistricting plan cannot take effect, leaving the state’s 2021 court-drawn congressional map in place for the 2026 elections.
Virginia undertook the mid-decade redistricting process in response to Texas and other states redrawing congressional maps to favor Republicans. The proposal would have allowed the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts before 2031, giving Democrats a 10-1 delegation instead of the current 6-5 configuration.
The Virginia Department of Elections told voters that a “yes” vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts before 2031 if another state redrew its congressional districts first without being ordered by a court to do so. The ballot question asked whether the Virginia Constitution should be amended to allow the General Assembly to “temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections.”
But the Supreme Court ruled that the process used to put the amendment before voters violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution.
The Court said the General Assembly passed the proposed amendment for the first time after early voting had already begun in the 2025 general election. The Court held that the Virginia Constitution requires an intervening general election after the first legislative vote and before the second legislative vote, before the General Assembly can submit a constitutional amendment to voters.
The Court wrote that Virginia submitted the proposed amendment to voters “in an unprecedented manner” that violated the intervening-election requirement. It said the violation “irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void.”
The result is that the amendment is legally ineffective, and Virginia’s 2021 court-drawn congressional map remains in place for the 2026 elections.
Virginia Supreme Court Opinion
Virginia Department of Elections Referendum Explanation
Virginia 2021 Congressional Map Order
Humboldt County Finds 596 Uncounted Ballots From California Special Election
On Monday, May 4, Humboldt County, California election officials say they found 596 uncounted ballots from the November 4 statewide special election inside a locked ballot drop box.
The election was for Proposition 50, California’s redistricting measure. The official voter guide described Proposition 50 as authorizing temporary congressional district map changes in response to Texas’ partisan redistricting.
The county said the ballots were sealed, had not been tampered with, and should have been counted before the election was certified on December 5.
Humboldt County said the Office of Elections worked with the California Secretary of State after the discovery. Officials confirmed the ballots will not change the result of the election.
County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes said, “596 voters did exactly what we asked of them, and we fell short.”
The county said it added a new lock out, tag out procedure for ballot drop boxes. Under the new procedure, each ballot drop box must be physically verified as empty and secured before election results are finalized.
Humboldt County said it will pursue legal options to get the ballots counted.
California Proposition 50 Voter Guide
California Statewide Special Election Results
Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas Says FBI Searched Her Offices
Virginia State Sen. L. Louise Lucas said federal agents searched her offices on Wednesday, May 6.
Lucas is the president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, represents District 18, and chairs the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
In a statement, Lucas said the action was “about far more than one state senator” and tied it to Virginia’s redistricting fight. She said, “I am not backing down.”
Rep. Bobby Scott issued a statement saying, “While we await the full facts of the investigation,” Lucas has “a right to due process and a presumption of innocence.”
As of Thursday, May 7, no public DOJ release, FBI release, indictment, complaint, affidavit, search warrant, or court filing had been found explaining the allegations.
Tennessee Enacts New Congressional Map Targeting State’s Only Democratic House Seat
Tennessee enacted a new congressional map on Thursday, May 7, and Gov. Bill Lee signed it the same day.
The current Tennessee congressional delegation has eight Republicans and one Democrat. The lone Democrat is Rep. Steve Cohen, who represents the 9th District, centered on Memphis.
House Bill 7003 redraws Cohen’s district and splits Shelby County across multiple congressional districts. The split is expected to flip Tennessee’s only Democratic-held congressional seat to Republicans.
Cohen issued an official statement calling the plan the “wholesale destruction of democratic representation” in Tennessee and said it would “silence Memphis’ Black vote.”
Tennessee Senate Republicans said the map was proposed “to ensure our state’s representation in Washington reflects our conservative values.” Sen. Marsha Blackburn posted the same language and wrote, “This is what it means to be America’s conservative leader.”
Adopted Congressional Map Amendment
Tennessee Senate GOP Statement
Sen. Marsha Blackburn Statement
Government Releases First Batch Of UFO Files
On Friday, May 8, the Department of War released the first batch of government files related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.
The files are posted at WAR.GOV/UFO through the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters, or PURSUE.
The Department said the release follows President Trump’s February 19 directive to begin identifying and releasing government files related to alien life, extraterrestrial life, UAP, UFOs, and related information.
The Department said the effort includes support from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and coordination across the federal government. The portal says new materials will be released on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified.
The portal says the archived materials are unresolved cases, meaning the government is unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves.”
Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri called it a “historic first in a series of releases the public deserves to see.”
The White House put the announcement more simply: “UFO FILES RELEASED.”
The files are public. The aliens remain unavailable for comment.
Current Events
Federal Agents Target Cruise Ship Workers In Child Exploitation Operation
Between April 23 and April 27, CBP boarded eight cruise ships at the Port of San Diego and interviewed 28 suspected crew members.
CBP says 27 were found to be involved with child sexual exploitation material, including 10 from the Disney Magic.
HSI says the operation targeted people based on information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
CBP says the crew members were involved in the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of child sexual exploitation material or child pornography.
The suspected crew members included 26 people from the Philippines, one from Portugal, and one from Indonesia.
Ultimately, 23 crew members were arrested at the Port of San Diego as part of Operation Tidal Wave.
HSI says the people arrested were taken to Los Angeles for processing, and their visas were revoked.
CBP says the others had their visas cancelled before they were returned to their countries of citizenship.
Disney Cruise Line said it cooperated with law enforcement.
A Disney spokesperson said, “We have a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement. While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company.”
The Port of San Diego said its Harbor Police and security personnel were not involved in the enforcement actions at the B Street Cruise Terminal.
The Port said the terminal is a federal port of entry, and that immigration and customs authority rests with CBP.
Federal prosecutors in San Diego and Los Angeles said they had no record of criminal charges stemming from Operation Tidal Wave.
Disney and Port of San Diego Statements
Trump Administration Announces Whisky Tariff Change
President Trump announced Thursday, April 30, changes to whisky-related tariffs involving the United Kingdom.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the United States will allow “preferential duty access for whiskey produced in the United Kingdom” as part of continued implementation of the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
The Scotch Whisky Association said U.S. tariffs on Scotch whisky have been removed.
The back story is a 10% U.S. tariff imposed in April 2025. The association said Scotch whisky exports to the United States fell 15% in volume after that tariff took effect.
The association said the industry had spent months pushing for a return to zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon.
USTR Statement
Scotch Whisky Association Statement
Scotch Whisky Export Figures
United Flight Hits Light Pole While Landing at Newark
United Airlines Flight 169 struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport around 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, according to the FAA.
The flight was a Boeing 767 arriving from Venice, Italy. The FAA said the aircraft landed safely.
The NTSB confirmed it is investigating the incident and said the aircraft was a Boeing 767-400 operating from Venice to Newark. The agency later said the event was classified as an accident because of damage to the aircraft, and that an investigator arrived in Newark to interview the flight crew.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she had been briefed and was grateful the aircraft landed safely. She said initial reports indicated that a truck on the Turnpike may also have been involved.
FAA Accident & Incident Statement
Texas Man Charged After Secret Service Shooting Near Vice Presidential Motorcade
On Monday, May 4, Secret Service officials said a man with a gun was spotted near the White House complex.
Deputy Director Matt Quinn said plainclothes officers and agents were patrolling the outer perimeter when they identified a suspicious person who appeared to have a firearm.
Quinn said uniformed Secret Service police were called to make contact with the man. He said the man briefly fled on foot, drew a firearm, and fired in the direction of agents and officers.
Secret Service officers returned fire and struck him.
Quinn said one juvenile bystander was believed to have been hit by the suspect. The juvenile’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The vice president’s motorcade had passed through the area shortly before the shooting. Asked whether the suspect attacked the motorcade or approached it with menace, Quinn said, “No, not to my knowledge.”
On Wednesday, May 6, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia identified the suspect as Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas.
DOJ said Marx was charged in federal court after the shooting near the Washington Monument on the National Mall.
According to DOJ, a plainclothes Secret Service agent saw Marx appear to conceal a firearm near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW while Vice President J.D. Vance’s motorcade was departing the White House and passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW.
DOJ said uniformed Secret Service officers located Marx along the motorcade route. Officers gave verbal commands, Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW, drew a firearm while running through a crosswalk, and fired at a pursuing officer.
A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in the leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx.
Marx is charged with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Marx “opened fire at Secret Service officers near a crowded intersection, and shot an innocent bystander who was simply crossing the street with his family.”
Ted Turner Dead at 87
Wednesday, May 6th, Robert Edward Turner III passed away at his home in Florida. Born in 1938, he attended Brown University and in 1979 founded the first ever 24 hour news channel Cable News Network, also known as CNN. In 1988 he founded TNT and in 1994 Turner Classic Movies. He owned the Atlanta Braves for 20 years, taking over managerial duties for one game before the MLB told him he wasn’t allowed to do that. Ted Turner was 87 years old.
Federal Authorities Announce Operation Free MacArthur Park In Los Angeles
On Wednesday, May 6, federal authorities announced Operation Free MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.
DOJ says 25 people are charged, 18 were arrested, and seven were still fugitives when the case was announced.
The complaint targets what DOJ describes as an open-air drug market around MacArthur Park, where fentanyl and methamphetamine were being sold in an area tied to gang activity.
DOJ says the complaint affidavit alleges 27 separate drug deals involving fentanyl and methamphetamine between March 9 and April 15.
Investigators also seized approximately 18 kilograms, or 40 pounds, of fentanyl from one defendant’s home in Calabasas.
Officials say two defendants were among the main sources of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Alvarado Corridor and MacArthur Park, generally on behalf of the 18th Street Gang.
DOJ says the northern area of MacArthur Park is considered 18th Street Gang territory, the area south of Wilshire Boulevard is considered Crazy Riders Gang territory, and MS-13 territory is immediately west of the park.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said, “Today, we begin reclaiming MacArthur Park from criminals and drug addicts to return this public space to the citizens of Los Angeles.”
DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis said the operation was “an effort to restore safety and wellness, and to return MacArthur Park back to the community.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said officers “acted quickly to disrupt both the dealers and the suppliers behind them.”
DOJ says the charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
DOJ MacArthur Park Takedown Announcement
DEA MacArthur Park Takedown Announcement
Canvas Taken Offline After Instructure Security Incident
On Wednesday, May 7, schools and universities lost access to Canvas, the online classroom platform students use for assignments, grades, messages, and course materials.
Instructure, the company behind Canvas, says the outage was tied to a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized activity inside Canvas LMS.
The company says the incident began on April 29, when it detected unauthorized activity in Canvas, revoked the unauthorized party’s access, opened an investigation, and brought in outside forensic experts.
Instructure says data taken in the April 29 incident included names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages among Canvas users at affected organizations.
The company says it has found no evidence that passwords, dates of birth, government identifiers, or financial information were involved.
On May 7, Instructure says it identified additional unauthorized activity tied to the same incident.
This time, the company says the unauthorized actor changed pages that appeared when some students and teachers were logged in through Canvas.
Instructure says the activity was carried out by exploiting an issue related to Free-For-Teacher accounts, which the company temporarily shut down.
Canvas, Canvas Beta, and Canvas Test were placed into maintenance mode on May 7. Instructure’s status page later said Canvas was available for most users, while Canvas Beta and Canvas Test remained in maintenance.
The University of California said its Canvas login page displayed a suspicious message from the threat actor. UC said it temporarily blocked or redirected Canvas access across its locations until it was confident the system was secure.
Columbia University said Instructure had restored Canvas/CourseWorks access for most institutions, while Columbia IT continued assessing the platform before restoring access for Columbia users.
Instructure says Canvas is back online and available for use.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Instructure Security Incident Update
University of California Statement
Athena Strand’s Murderer Is Now On Texas Death Row
The murderer of 7-year-old Athena Strand is now on Texas death row.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice lists Tanner Lynn Horner as received on death row on May 5, 2026.
TDCJ identifies Horner’s prior occupation as FedEx driver.
The agency says the offense happened on November 30, 2022, in Paradise, Wise County, Texas.
Its official incident summary says Horner abducted a 7-year-old girl and strangled her to death.
That child was Athena Strand.
Trial testimony also showed evidence of sexual assault.
In a trial transcript reviewed for this story, DPS forensic biology screener Jacqueline Ferrara testified about evidence from Athena’s sexual assault kit, including vaginal, anal, and oral swabs.
Ferrara testified that male DNA was detected on Athena’s vaginal swabs and anal swabs. She said the oral swabs were inconclusive because of a low male quantification value.
She also testified that semen was detected on multiple items from the defendant’s property, including a FedEx polo, gray sweatshirt, jeans, and black Hanes underwear.
The state now lists the man convicted in Athena’s death on death row.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Death Row Page
Finance
April Jobs Report Shows 115,000 Jobs Added, Unemployment Unchanged at 4.3 Percent
The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent, with 7.4 million people unemployed. The labor force participation rate was 61.8 percent, and the employment-population ratio was 59.1 percent.
Job gains came in health care, transportation and warehousing, and retail trade.
Health care added 37,000 jobs in April. Transportation and warehousing added 30,000 jobs. Retail trade added 22,000 jobs.
Federal government employment fell by 9,000 jobs in April. BLS said federal government employment is down 348,000 jobs, or 11.5 percent, since October 2024.
Information employment also continued to decline, losing 13,000 jobs in April. BLS said employment in the sector is down 342,000 jobs, or 11 percent, since November 2022.
Average hourly earnings for private-sector workers rose 6 cents to $37.41. Over the year, average hourly earnings increased 3.6 percent.
BLS also revised prior months. February was revised down by 23,000 jobs, from a loss of 133,000 to a loss of 156,000. March was revised up by 7,000 jobs, from 178,000 to 185,000. Combined, February and March were 16,000 jobs lower than previously reported.
Markets
Markets were up in varying degrees this week. The Dow Jones gained a modest .22%. Up 110 points with a close of 49,609.
NASDAQ jumped 1133 points, a 4.5% gain, closing at 26,247.
The S&P 500 closed at 7398, up 168 points, a 2.3% bump.
Gold recouped most of last week’s losses, closing futures trading at $4723, a $79 pickup.
Sports
Stanley Cup Playoff
In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Hurricanes swept the Flyers in 4 games to advance to the Conference championship series. They will face either the Sabers or Canadiens who are tied 1-1. In the Western conference, the Colorado Avalanche lead the Wild 2-1 and the Las Vegas Golden Knights lead the Ducks 2-1 as well.
NBA Playoffs
In the NBA Playoffs, all 4 of the conference semifinal series are still running. In the East, the Knicks lead the 76-ers 3-0 and Detroit leads Cleveland 2-1. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a 3-0 lead over the Lakers and the Spurs lead the Timberwolves 2-1.
MLB
In the MLB, Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski struck out 11 over 6 innings on Thursday May 8 against the Yankees. His velocity topped out at 103.6 miles per hour with 10 pitches of at least 103. Just for perspective, since statcast began tracking in 2008, MLB starters had combined for 4 pitches over 103. He had 10 in one game. The fastest pitch ever thrown by a starter before Thursday was 103.2 by Jordan Hicks in 2022. 41 of his 95 pitches were 100mph or more. That’s throwing fireballs.
John Sterling Dead at 87
The streets of heaven are paved with gold, but Monday, May 4th, they were gilded in silver. John Sterling, voice of the New York Yankees for 5631 games passed away at age 87. He called 211 postseason games, and 5 world series championships. Higher than a Stantonian blast, hotter than when Bernie went boom, more powerful than an A-bomb from A-Rod, Sterling’s shimmering legacy will echo in the Bronx for generations.
High…fly ball…deep to right…it it high…it is far…it is gone! Only this time, it’s not headed for the short porch. It cleared the upper deck, past the lights and straight into eternity.
Rich Stephens
The Cold Take