NPR News: 05-08-2026 2PM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from May 8, 2026, delivers a roundup of developments across US politics, international relations, public health, domestic policy, disasters, and the economy, with Republican-favoring redistricting emerging as a key domestic theme.

Redistricting Advances Republican Positions

The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democratic-backed redistricting plan, a ruling that bolsters the Republican Party's efforts to redraw congressional districts and secure additional US House seats ahead of the midterm elections. In a related move, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a new congressional map that splits the state's majority-Black district covering Memphis, shifting the advantage to Republicans. These changes reflect ongoing battles over electoral maps that could influence control of the House.

US-Iran Ceasefire Under Strain

The US awaits Iran's response to a proposal aimed at ending their war, amid fresh clashes testing the formal ceasefire. Top House Democrat Adam Smith highlighted Iran's failure to meet US demands, describing negotiations over its nuclear program as weak. He noted no progress in curbing the program, stating, "We have not degraded their nuclear program at all during the course of this war." This stalemate underscores persistent tensions despite diplomatic overtures.