It is Sunday, May 10th. I'm Antonia Hilton, filling in for my friend Ali Valshi.

This election year, we are getting some October surprise level news in May.

The past 10 days have shifted the midterm picture and turned the tit-for-tat redistricting

war into a significant structural Republican advantage. In what felt like the blink of an eye,

the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act inspired at least four southern states

to attempt mid-decade redistricting with the explicit goal of dismantling predominantly black

congressional districts. Tennessee has already signed a new map into law. Louisiana lawmakers

met to discuss a new map this week. Republicans in Alabama and South Carolina are assessing

their options as well. On Friday, Republicans received another boost. In a split decision, the Virginia Supreme Court

threw out a map approved by voters in a statewide referendum last month on a procedural issue.

Republican gains via redistricting might. They might cushion some midterm losses for the GOP right now.

Democrats are still favored to take the House. But the national

environment is something President Trump and his party cannot ignore. Trump's approval rating,

according to a new NPR PBS-Marris poll, sits at 37%. 59% disapprove of his job as president.

That is Trump's joint lowest approval rating across both

terms via Marist. In that same poll, when registered voters were asked which congressional

party's candidate they're more likely to vote for in their own district this November,

Democrats beat out Republicans by a 10-point margin. Voter concerns are mostly focused on the economy.

61% of adults said in a new U-Gov economist poll

that the economy was getting worse.

31% say inflation and prices are the most important issue to them.

15% say it's jobs and the economy.

...