SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " district " 3,536 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Trump largely succeeds in upending Indiana state Senate over redistricting
President Trump had backed challengers to Indiana state senators who voted against his redistricting plan — and on Tuesday, most of them won.
Hochul shoulders redistricting fight despite late state budget
Rep. Jeffries sent Rep. Morelle to meet with Hochul and legislative leaders.
May 7 Vacaville/Vallejo Arts-Entertainment Source: Faces and Places
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson announced that Victoria Wang from Sonoma County was chosen as the overall winner for California’s Fourth District 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Lilly Bertlin was named as the Solano County finalist.
Live results: Michigan state senate special election
Democrats need to win this highly competitive State Senate district if they want to maintain their narrow margin in the chamber.
NASA eClips and GLOBE Educators Strengthen a Regional STEM Ecosystem in Coastal Virginia
Thirty-eight science educators representing seven school districts across Virginia’s Tidewater region joined forces with community organizations, such as the
7 Indiana state senators face Trump-backed primary challengers after bucking him on redistricting
Trump's intervention has shined a bright national spotlight on what are usually quiet Republican primaries for Indiana state Senate seats.
Final faculty senate session addressed enrollment, Neyland entertainment district
As university enrollment declines nationwide, University of Tennessee administrators boast sturdy enrollment numbers for the fall 2026 semester. UT Provost John Zomchick provided an overview of the university’s fall 2026 enrollment at Monday’s faculty senate meeting, days after UT’s first-year student enrollment confirmation deadline. “I’m happy to announce that we have had a very strong...
Special election for control of Michigan's state Senate may offer fall midterm clues
A special election in a small Michigan swing district on Tuesday could have outsized consequences.
US Supreme Court fast tracks Louisiana's congressional redistricting effort
A dissenting justice wrote that the court had “spawned chaos in the State of Louisiana.”
4 businesses burglarized within 3-block radius in Fairfax District
Several businesses located within a three-block radius in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles were burglarized overnight, prompting a search for suspects.
Redistricting shuffle: Kimberly Overman jumps from CD 15 to CD 12
Her decision isn’t just a matter of geography, it’s also a smart strategic move.
Trump's influence tested in Indiana primaries after failed redistricting push
Indiana's primary will test President Donald Trump's enduring power over the Republican Party as he tries to dislodge state senators who refused to go along with his call to redraw the state's congressional map.
Politics & Power: Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act, reshaping redistricting battles ahead of midterms
A 60-year-old civil rights law, effectively gutted. Now, Republicans across the South are racing to redraw congressional maps — and Florida just became the first state to act, passing new lines that could flip four seats. Democrats are promising to fight back. Sean Freeder, a political scientist and analyst, joins News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton to discuss the pushback and the legal fights ahead.
We Still Haven’t Seen How Bad Gerrymandering Can Get
The Supreme Court has opened the door to aggressive Republican redistricting schemes that will trigger escalating Democratic reprisals.
Redistricting battles back on midterm political map as Ohio, Indiana vote in primaries
Alabama and Tennessee move into redistricting fights while midterm voters in Indiana and Ohio head to the polls, spotlighting election maps, primaries and 2026 political stakes.
Live Results: Indiana state primaries
Seven GOP state senators who blocked President Donald Trump's push to redraw the state’s congressional districts now face primary challengers endorsed by him.
With Sanford out, who are top contenders to succeed Mace in SC’s 1st district
The winner of the November election will succeed U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina.
What to know about the Ohio 1st District U.S. House election
Local Democrats and Republicans will vote today in Ohio's 1st District, a closely-watched seat currently held by Rep. Greg Landsman.
‘Absolutely’: Congressman whose district is at risk from redistricting says Trump is trying to rig the midterm vote
Neyland Entertainment District, new parking garage OK'ed by UT Trustees: What happens next
Knoxville, TN News, Weather, and Sports
Ellis wants lawmakers back to redistrict, veteran reporter retires, in political notes
Sen. Arthur Ellis makes another redistricting pitch after Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act ruling, AP veteran Brian Witte packs it in, Ed Wykowski moves up in the comptroller's office and Frank Waesche gets a seat on the MdTA board, in political notes.
Supreme Court justices spar over Louisiana’s effort to speed up elimination of majority-Black congressional district
The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for Louisiana to redraw a hotly contested congressional map that the court ruled days earlier was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, a highly technical decision that sparked a bitter back-and-forth between three conservatives and a member of the court’s liberal wing.
UT Board of Trustees approves plan for Neyland Entertainment District and new parking project
UT Board of Trustees approves plan for Neyland Entertainment District and new parking project
Entertainment district approved near Neyland Stadium: What happens next
Plans for a mixed-use entertainment district and hotel/condo project at Neyland Stadium receive approval from University of Tennessee Board of Trustees Executive Committee
UT board approves plan for Neyland Entertainment District, and 'restructure' of G10 parking garage
Jeffries tasks Rep. Joe Morelle with leading N.Y. redistricting process changes
Morelle is a veteran of Albany politics.
Drive to Celebrate Youth Sports Athletes at Fluor Field
Drive to Celebrate Youth Sports Night at Fluor Field on May 12 Youth athletes invited to enjoy complimentary ticket, pregame parade, District 356 street party, and more The Greenville Drive will celebrate the next generation of athletes on Tuesday, May 12, as Fluor Field hosts the 4th annual Youth Sports
How Florida designed a US House map aiming to give Republicans four more seats
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a map he designed to give Republicans an edge in as many as four seats now held by Democrats. DeSantis’ action in Florida comes several days after the US Supreme Court significantly weakened the use of the Voting Rights Act in redistricting cases. The decision has set off a fresh round of attempts to draw new lines in several southern states controlled by Republicans.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all politics straining American democracy
The arcane art of drawing legislative lines is the most powerful tool that politicians have for gaming elections.
RCHD highlights adolescent health services for National Adolescents Health Month
Richmond City Health Districts (RCHD) is highlighting services and programs that support the health and well-being of Richmond youth in honor of National Adolescent Health Month.
Why Donde Plowman says Neyland Entertainment District is good for Tennessee
UT Chancellor Donde Plowman called Neyland Entertainment District a \
Despite pressure, Gov. Henry McMaster won’t call special session to redraw SC’s congressional map
SC Gov. Henry McMaster won’t call a special session to redraw the state’s congressional districts, even as national Republicans push for mid-decade redistricting following a Supreme Court ruling.
Tennessee's entertainment district is one step closer to becoming a reality
Tennessee's entertainment district is one step closer to a reality as the University's Board of Trustees approved the project on Monday.
Supreme Court ruling on voting won’t change California districts, but could hurt Democrats
The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the Voting Rights Act over the past decade. The law in California was primarily used to help Latinos gain political representation. The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the Voting Rights Act over the past decade. The law in California was primarily used to help Latinos gain political representation.
Tennessee approves $280M Neyland Entertainment District, new G10 garage
University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees approved construction of Neyland Entertainment District and new G10 parking garage. Here are details.
Politics just got even more partisan in the US
The gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court will intensify the fight over redistricting
UT Board of Trustees executives to talk Neyland Entertainment District
The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees Executive Committee will discuss Monday the future of a major Knoxville campus capital project: the Neyland Entertainment District.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Michigan's special election for control of the state Senate
Voters in a competitive Central Michigan district will decide control of the state Senate on Tuesday in a special election to fill the seat last held by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who's now a congresswoman.
New landmarks popping up in Cedar Rapids entertainment district
Visitors to Cedar Rapids’ entertainment district will see some new landmarks this summer.
Fantasy Claw Arcade Opens at AREA15 on May 7, Marking Fifth Store as Experiential Entertainment Brand Gains Momentum
Fantasy Claw Arcade will open its newest Las Vegas location at AREA15 on May 7, marking the company's fifth operating store and placing the fast-growing brand inside one of the most recognizable immersive entertainment destinations in the country. AREA15 describes itself as the world's first purpose-built immersive entertainment district, just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, and says it has welcomed more than 15 million visitors to date.
Board of Health fielding applications for open seat
Local officials are looking for volunteers to put their hat in the race for a seat on the Teton District Board of Health.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat in US
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Alabama and Tennessee move to draw new congressional districts in wake of Supreme Court ruling
Republican governors in Alabama and Tennessee have called lawmakers into special sessions seeking new congressional districts.
Los Angeles' Immersive Entertainment Experience Is A Trip Back To The Glory Days Of '70s Nightlife
Brassroots District: LA '74 is an immersive Los Angeles nightlife experience with live funk music, audience interaction, and a historic club setting.
US attorney doesn’t rule out continuing to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Powell
US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Sunday that she may reopen a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, depending on what an inspector general’s probe uncovers over building renovations at the Federal Reserve.
Sen. Raphael Warnock says Supreme Court's voting rights decision "poured fuel on this redistricting arms race"
Sen. Raphael Warnock says Supreme Court's voting rights decision "poured fuel on this redistricting arms race"
Scenes from the USF St. Petersburg fire show billowing smoke, roof ablaze
St. Petersburg Fire District Chief Michael Lewis said more than 60 units with about 200 firefighters were summoned to the scene.
House control hinges on historically few number of seats
After aggressive redistricting, just 16 House seats are tossups, making it nearly impossible for Democrats to achieve their 2018 midterm gains of 41 seats.
Austin Democrats brace for more redistricting efforts next year
Recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court could spur a third effort to redraw Texas' congressional maps since the 2020 census.
Want a say in Central Ohio elections? Better vote in the primary
Gerrymandered maps put Ohio’s real election on May 5. Low turnout is expected, but the primary may decide who holds power in many districts.
Richwoods students dance the prom night away at Venue Chisca
Richwoods High School students and their dates enjoyed prom night Saturday at Venue Chisca in Peoria's Warehouse District.
Surging gas prices loom over pivotal special election in Michigan
The special election in the 35th District will be an early test of where Michigan voters stand in a key election year.
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field ‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field A field that once seemed like a direct path to stable, lucrative work is becoming less certain under AI, students and faculty told Spectator. By Ria Vasishtha and Arjun Menon May 3, 2026 Shanying Liu / Deputy Illustrations Editor Asia Genawi, SEAS ’29, first encountered artificial intelligence during her sophomore year at her high school in Indiana. Back in 2023, policies on AI varied widely—even within the same district—and some schools had no guidance at all. As Genawi began to see the effects of AI trickle into her classroom, she turned to guidance from her home state’s Department of Education, which she said she found “outdated and inaccessible.” Genawi spent the rest of her high school career dedicated to the issue, including writing a 15-page memo exploring varying AI policies across Indiana schools, which she sent to every Indiana state senator and representative whose contact information she was able to find. She later helped draft a bill that would have required public high schools to establish and share their own AI policies with students in an accessible format. But with so many other bills already awaiting referral, hers never made it to committee. When Genawi arrived at Columbia to study computer science, she found that the gaps she had spent years trying to address in Indiana had followed her there. Many students and professors were also grappling with what AI meant for the field. Across Columbia’s undergraduate schools, computer science has become the most popular major—accounting for around 11 percent of degrees awarded in Columbia College, 32 percent in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and 12 percent in the School of General Studies in 2024. While the number of computer science majors in SEAS grew from 166 to 173 during the 2024-25 academic year, the total number across the three schools fell around 4.5 percent from 393 to 375, driven by declines at Columbia College and General Studies. At Barnard, it has grown to become the second most popular major as of 2025, up from third the year prior. The number of degrees awarded have grown fivefold since 2016. Faculty members and students in the department told Spectator that the surge in the major’s popularity has been driven in large part by its apparent promise of a secure, well-paid career path. However, they noted that the recent rise of generative AI has compromised the sense of stability that once defined the field, even as interest in technical skills among students persists. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2024, out of 74 majors tracked, computer science had the fifth highest unemployment rate among majors at 7 percent, while computer engineering had the second highest at 7.8 percent. “Anecdotally, people are moving away from CS as a major,” Daniel Bauer, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, said. “They’re still taking some of our classes, right, because they think they need that, but they’re instead majoring in other things.” Bauer described a field that had shifted from what he called a “nerdy outlier discipline” to one that “everyone needs,” a sign that technical skills have become a baseline expectation across industries with the emergence of AI. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, it’s a guaranteed path to a stable income. You get a six-figure job right out of your undergrad,’” Bauer said. Now, companies may see AI as a way to reduce demand for entry-level programmers, especially in what he calls “code monkey jobs,” roles where a large number of employees are “just writing out code nine-to-five.” Chris Murphy, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, described the current moment as the convergence of two forces: the downturn of the job market and generative AI coming onto the scene. “Things kind of started to really pick up in 2014, 16,” he said, recalling the years after the weaker 2010 market. Murphy added that this was also a period where “students were getting more experience outside of class than they were inside of class” through internships, jobs, and side projects. Murphy suggested that the earlier momentum helped make computer science feel like both an academic program and a reliable pathway into work. That feeling is harder to sustain now as the industry reconfigures, which is a shift that students are seeing firsthand. Rebecca Yu, SEAS ’27, said that during a recent internship in Big Tech, she saw that “every single tech company was racing to integrate” large language models. She added that her manager said her intern class was the first to complete their assigned projects, which she attributed to the increased efficiency that comes with AI. Frank Liu, SEAS ’29, said that with AI lowering the barrier to coding, companies now expect everyone to write code. “A lot of companies outright say if you’re not using coding in your job, you might get fired for not being productive enough,” Liu said. Yu similarly expressed that students increasingly have to accept AI being a part of industry workflow, adding that many also “make use of it to maximize their productivity.” Richard Li, CC ’28, described a “franticness” among his peers as the pace of change accelerates. He explained how “some new tool” is released regularly, noting that tools rise and fall in prominence within weeks. He has come to believe that he doesn’t need to “match that speed all the time” and keep up with every development. Li has learned that AI tools allow him to “take a breath” and “get back into the loop much easier than before” when he needs to. While some companies specifically target Columbia when hiring, sending representatives to campus career fairs and recruiting large numbers from Columbia, a computer science degree cannot be treated as a static credential, Yu described. “You can’t just get your degree and stop learning after that. You have to always be learning,” Yu said. “That is something you basically have to expect for your job.” AI has not only affected students’ decisions to major in computer science, but also reshaped how the subject is taught. Across departments, faculty members no longer treat work done outside the classroom as a reliable measure of understanding, shifting instead toward in-person exams, quizzes, and attendance checks. While homework once made up as much as 60 to 70 percent of a student’s grade in computer science classes, Murphy said that breakdown has since flipped, with exams and quizzes now accounting for the majority. “The assumption—especially among pessimists—is that they’re using it to do their homework,” Murphy said. “They take the homework assignment. They put it into generative AI. Out comes the solution. Submit solution. The end.” Murphy said that faculty members ranged in their responses from fully prohibiting AI use to actively teaching students how to effectively work with AI. He said he shifted his approach this year after his teaching assistants called his belief that students weren’t using the technology “naïve,” and now permits students to use AI on assignments. His surveys of students in his introductory classes have told a more complicated story than the one so-called pessimists offer: Around 60 to 70 percent of students who reported using AI said they used it to have concepts explained to them, to clarify assignment instructions, to generate test cases, or to create practice questions. “Those are all ways that you might have had a tutor in the past to do that, and now you have this AI essentially as your tutor,” he said. Bauer has taken a different approach, teaching students how to use AI productively without sacrificing the core principles of the discipline. “People who are trained to actually use AI tools productively, while being in charge of designing the overall project, will be very much in demand in the next couple of years,” he said. Over the past year, a working group of computer science faculty has been redesigning the introductory and intermediate programming sequence to integrate generative AI as both a subject and a tool, representatives from SEAS wrote in a statement to Spectator. The effort is “coordinated” across the department, “not course-by-course,” with a systematic assessment of how AI integration is affecting student outcomes underway to shape the next round of changes. The goal, the department explained, is for students to be able to “read, verify, and reason about code, whether they or a model wrote it.” Tony Dear, senior lecturer in the computer science department, is piloting individualized AI feedback in a discrete mathematics course, while a machine learning course is also testing a Socratic AI dialogue system designed to “guide inquiry rather than supply answers,” the statement reads. Beyond individual courses, SEAS funded seven cross-departmental faculty projects in generative AI this past academic year, spanning biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science, according to the statement. This phenomenon extends beyond the computer science department. SEAS’ new AI minor, which it announced in November 2025, reflects the University’s attempt to adapt. The minor is specifically designed for noncomputer science majors and aims to provide “essential AI knowledge” while emphasizing practical and responsible use across disciplines, according to the SEAS website. At the center of the minor is AI in Context, a course taught by a team of faculty from the departments of computer science, applied mathematics, philosophy, music, literature, and the Writing Center, the representatives told Spectator. Bauer described it as targeted at students who want to bring AI into fields like economics or biology, rather than as a path into software engineering itself. At the graduate level, SEAS announced a new Master of Science in artificial intelligence in February, with the inaugural cohort starting in the fall. While recognizing how AI has helped them navigate coursework, students also described its rise as isolating, even among members of the Application Development Initiative, one of Columbia’s largest computer science clubs. “As people start to ask AI for questions that they would normally ask students and members, it starts to isolate people” Li said. Alexa Kafka, BC ’27, echoed Li’s sentiment, pointing out that computer science has always been a collaborative discipline with code reviews and pull requests, even as AI makes independent work easier. Despite this, Kafka noted that she hasn’t been to office hours “in at least a year.” Bauer added that faculty are exploring long-term solutions to the assessment problem. “One of the things that we’re trying to do at the department or school level is to maybe move towards computerized testing facilities,” Bauer said, referring to ideas in the department to revitalize computer labs as an alternative to pen-and-paper exams. “We have to accept that this is the reality, for better or worse.” But more exams, students say, does not mean better learning, nor does it reflect how computer science is actually done. “Code is so variable and can be approached in so many directions, there’s never just going to be one correct answer. There can be multiple optimal solutions,” Kafka said. Students also expressed concern that the shift toward exam-heavy grading pulls focus away from the applied, project-based work that better reflects both discipline and industry expectations. ADI has tried to respond more quickly than the curriculum can. Through a vibe coding workshop this past semester, club members said they wanted to help students understand not just that AI exists, but how to use it deliberately. “Vibe coding” refers to the practice of prompting AI to write code for a task or project, and has become widespread enough that ADI felt the gap in formal instruction was worth addressing, according to Sophia Huang, BC ’29. The workshop introduced students to the concept of context engineering, which Shaina Sahu, SEAS ’27, described as not just writing a prompt, but optimizing “the rest of the relevant information that you would feed into the model.” Without that, students said that AI-generated code can fail at scale or introduce difficult-to-detect bugs. Genawi said the shift toward AI has changed what it means to be good at computer science. “I think the shift has kind of gone towards what can you create and what can you do, instead of, what do you know,” she said. Indeed, during ADI DevFest, its annual hackathon, Li said more teams are trying to complete their projects than in years past. While sign-ups have historically outpaced submissions, Li said this is beginning to change because teams “have a tool that completes the vision for them.” While many students see AI as an equalizer that lowers the barrier to entry for coding and technical work, Murphy said it also creates new equity concerns inside the classroom around who can afford stronger tools and who already knows how to use them. “The equity issues I worry about are students who have access to paid versions of things versus free versions of things,” he said. Although popular AI models like ChatGPT and Claude have free versions available, both have paid models that can reach over $100 per month, which output different qualities of code. Murphy also pointed to differences in prior exposure to AI literacy itself. “Students who go to high schools or K-12 education, where they’re taught AI literacy, prompt engineering, context engineering, they understand how to do this, as opposed to students who go to schools who don’t teach that,” he said. “Then they come in, and then they’re somehow expected to know how to use these tools.” For Genawi, those disparities begin long before students arrive on campus. “It’s very interesting to consider how lucky you were geographically,” she said. “To be born where you were is influencing your ability to get access to these spaces.” Students like Yu, though broadly apprehensive about the future of computer science, are not without hope. “I’m optimistic, because I think if you’re truly passionate about CS, there will definitely be a place in the field to do something you want to do,” she said. Senior Staff Writer Ria Vasishtha can be contacted at ria.vasishtha@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Staff Writer Arjun Menon can be contacted at arjun.menon@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter and like Spectator on Facebook. Produced with Spectate by Emily Ta
State redistricting battles intensify following U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Voting Rights Act
A Supreme Court decision striking down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana has amplified an already intense national redistricting battle. Here’s a look at how some states are responding.
The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
Confirmed case of measles in DC as country faces significant resurgence
Officials with the District’s Department of Health announced a confirmed case of measles in the city on Thursday.
Challenger Owens outraises incumbent Dumas in commissioner primary
The Democratic primary for Hamilton County commissioner attracted donations from prominent officials including FC Cincinnati CEO Jeff Berding.
Political newcomer Richard Gallardo enters Shasta County District 1 supervisor race
A third candidate has entered the race for Shasta County’s District One supervisor seat, bringing a message focused on local control and citizen oversight.Richa
North Texas school worries 'Parental Bill of Rights' will hurt mental health support
A North Texas non-profit says new legislation that ultimately caused many school districts to drop outreach-type campus clubs could hurt "at-risk" students.
Kelly Kirschner jumps into race for open CD 16 seat
The former Sarasota Mayor hopes to succeed Vern Buchanan and flip the district blue.
Tennesse to redistrict in effort to flip Memphis congressional seat
At the behest of President Donald Trump, Tennessee’s Republican supermajority is returning to Nashville to redraw the state’s congressional maps.
Redistricting shuffle: Darren Soto signals he's staying put in CD 9
He has also dismissed Ron DeSantis' proposed congressional map, which passed in the Legislature, 'illegal.'
The White House tries to sidestep Congress on Iran as political pressures mount: From the Politics Desk
Plus, a trio of redistricting developments post-Supreme Court ruling.
Alabama becomes second state to move to redraw maps after Supreme Court ruling
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday announced the Republican-controlled state legislature will hold a special session next week to pave the way for redistricting – becoming the second state to take action following the Supreme Court’s decision further weakening the Voting Rights Act.
New details, renderings obtained for Neyland Entertainment District at Tennessee
Tennessee will break ground on the Neyland Entertainment District in summer 2026. Here's everything you need to know about the $280 million project.
Alabama governor calls special session to move primaries for redistricting, while Georgia passes
Following a seismic Supreme Court ruling on race and redistricting, Alabama lawmakers are planning to reschedule their primary to redraw state maps, if the court allows.
Democrat Tina Shah calls transgender healthcare for children a 'no brainer' in competitive NJ House race
Democrat Tina Shah, running to unseat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in a key NJ swing district, said transgender healthcare for children is a "no brainer."
Who’s running for Congress in California? These races could determine the majority
Ballots are in the mail for California’s primary election. These are the congressional races CalMatters is watching closely — and the candidates fighting for their political lives.
Republicans Want Tennessee’s Last Democratic House District
Republicans sliced Nashville into three G.O.P.-leaning congressional districts in 2022. After the Supreme Court decision on voting rights, Memphis could be next.
🗞️ The district dazzling Europe, on Friday’s front pages
Vallecas is living a dream. Last night, the Madrid neighborhood experienced one of its most special evenings thanks to its flagship club: Rayo Vallecano.La Franja earned a golden result against Strasb...
Mejia says 'no corner' of U.S. livable with pay below $25 an hour
New to House, 11th District replacement for Sherrill readying for June primary that will narrow field for full-term race
Florida Republicans slice and dice congressional districts: How a new map could cost Democrats seats
The redrawn congressional district lines that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will soon sign into law are intended to help Republicans pick up as many as four U.S. House seats in November — a scenario that would cost some Democrats their seats
Louisiana lawmaker whose district is at heart of SCOTUS ruling speaks out
UT’s G10 garage could be demolished this summer if Neyland Entertainment District gets final approva
Students and longtime tailgaters express concerns about parking disruptions as $280 million project awaits Board of Trustees vote
Neyland Entertainment District: New renderings detail development plans
Knoxville, TN News, Weather, and Sports
UT’s G10 garage could be demolished this summer if Neyland Entertainment District gets final approval
For longtime tailgaters, the potential loss of G10 represents more than just a parking disruption.
Supreme Court ruling reshapes political power, sparks Democratic panic
Fox News anchor Bret Baier dissects the Supreme Court's significant redistricting ruling and its profound implications for the 2030 apportionment forecast on 'The Will Cain Show.'
UK advances plan for Kroger Field entertainment district; BCTC building to be vacated
Bluegrass Community and Technical College will vacate the school’s original home on Cooper Drive by the end of 2026.
UK advances plan for Kroger Field entertainment district; BCTC building to be vacated
Bluegrass Community and Technical College will vacate the school’s original home on Cooper Drive by the end of 2026.
Horsford Works Alongside North Las Vegas Small Business Owner Impacted by Republican Healthcare Cuts
NORTH LAS VEGAS – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) continued his “Congressman on the Job” series, a district-wide initiative where he steps directly into Nevada workplaces to experience firsthand the challenges facing workers, small businesses, and families across the Fourth District.
What Janet Mills' fall signals for the Democratic Party's future: From the Politics Desk
Plus, redistricting ruling ripple effects.
Tennessee’s Danny White says entertainment district groundbreaking planned for summer
He spoke at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga, the report said.
Georgia health district says IHOP hair incident falls to management, not kitchen code
tonight we're digging into Health standards for restaraunts in georgia...after a photo taken at a restaurant in Fort Olgelthorpe went viral in our area.an anony
Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Ruling Could Fuel New Gerrymandering Era
The expected flood of new congressional maps is likely to produce fewer competitive districts, fewer ways for voters to hold elected officials accountable and more polarized politics.
Neyland Entertainment District: New renderings detail development plans
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A meeting agenda from the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees revealed the latest renderings of the planned Neyland Entertainment District. Tennessee Athletics plans…
Mark Sanford, former governor, drops out of District 1 race
Former governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford is dropping out of the race for the 1st Congressional District to launch a nonprofit
UT Board of Trustees to review updated plan for massive Neyland Entertainment District, condo, parking project
7 House seats could shift to GOP after voting rights ruling: Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball
Two nonpartisan election handicappers identified seven districts that could be at risk of being redrawn to favor Republicans following the Supreme Court’s Wednesday decision limiting the scope of t…
Abilene Taylor County Public Health District warns of Salmonella outbreak
ABILENE, Texas (AP) — The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District is warning residents about a salmonella outbreak linked to live backyard poultry .
RWJBarnabas Health, Newark Public Schools and Brigaid Reach Major Milestone in Transforming School Meals for Newark Students
RWJBarnabas Health today announced a major milestone in its partnership with Newark Public Schools and Brigaid to transform school meals in New Jersey’s largest school district, ensuring that all 41,000-plus Newark students are now offered fresh, healthy, scratch-cooked meals at least once per week, with the goal of expanding to daily offerings.
After Supreme Court Decision, Louisiana Weighs Redrawing House Maps
It was not immediately clear whether Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, would postpone the May 16 primary election for House races after the court ruled the state’s congressional districts unconstitutional.