Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. For a second day, senators grilled defense

Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Iran war and a huge proposed defense budget increase. NPR's

Quill Lawrence reports. Secretary Pete Hegseth cited high military recruiting numbers as evidence of

support for the Iran war. Senators like New York Democrat, Kirsten Gillibrand,

pushed back. What I'm concerned about is we are not safer, and I would just like to know why

you have not sought the support of the American people, and three out of five Americans are against

this war today. I believe we do have the support of the American people, and we have briefed

regularly what this mission looks like and why it's critically important that we undertake today. I believe we do have the support of the American people and we have briefed regularly

what this mission looks like and why it's critically important that we undertake it.

Jill Abram pointed to the errant U.S. airstrike that killed more than 100 Iranian schoolgirls

and Iran's blockade driving up prices as reasons the war is unpopular.

Hegseth said the biggest U.S. adversaries are Democrats and some Republicans

who doubt the war. Quill Lawrence NPR News. Louisiana is suspending primary elections for its

U.S. House seats. The decision comes after yesterday's Supreme Court decision that ruled the state's

congressional map amounts to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

It had been redrawn to create a second majority black district in 2024.

NPR's Ashley Lopez reports.

Louisiana's Republican Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced that most of Louisiana's

primaries, including a closely watched Senate primary, will proceed as scheduled, but not the

House seats. Early voting

in the state starts on Saturday and voting ends on May 16 for the state's primaries. Absentee

voting has already been underway. Republican Governor Jeff Landry said the state is sending notices

...