NPR News: 05-09-2026 2AM EDT

Alabama's legislature approved a new congressional map amid backlash over racial discrimination claims. Following a Supreme Court ruling that barred race as a factor in redistricting, Republicans, holding a supermajority, redrew lines after federal courts rejected the prior version for diluting Black voters' influence. Protests broke out outside the state house, with one woman dragged from the gallery for disrupting proceedings. GOP House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter referenced crowds arriving by bus, highlighting the contentious atmosphere as Southern states accelerate changes to bolster Republican representation.

Trump Announces Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire

President Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, set for Saturday, March 9th through Monday, March 11th, coinciding with Russia's Victory Day commemoration of its World War II defeat of Nazi Germany. In a social media post, Trump stated he proposed the pause, which Putin and Zelenskyy accepted, and it includes exchanging 1,000 prisoners. He noted ongoing peace talks in the war. Zelenskyy had previously suggested a truce last year, and ending the conflict remains a key Trump administration foreign policy aim, though recent efforts shifted to other issues like Venezuela before refocusing.