Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for May 8, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Redistricting pressure is mounting across the South. The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the state’s redistricting map, narrowly approved by voters last month. It’s a major blow for Democrats, who had hoped to net up to four more House seats, NOTUS’ Manuela Silva reports.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed state legislation that could trigger new primary elections in four congressional districts using a previously struck down congressional map — if federal courts lift an injunction requiring Alabama to use a court-drawn map that created a second district with a substantial number of Black voters. Tensions ran high at the statehouse as both chambers voted.

South Carolina could head into a redistricting special session soon — and a White House-endorsed map is shaking up state Republicans. State lawmakers held their first hearing today.

Louisiana’s state Legislature held a public hearing today as Republicans propose cutting one or both of the state’s majority-Black districts.

THE ADMINISTRATION

The Defense Department dropped nearly 80 years’ worth of UFO-related material, NOTUS’ Jackie Llanos and Torrie Herrington report, including blurry images from videos captured by the military this year and in 2025 labeled as “unidentified aerial phenomena.” Another document purports to show three clustered lights above the moon’s terrain captured during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

• The Pentagon said additional files will be released on a rolling basis.

The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs last month — nearly double what economists predicted and a second consecutive monthly gain — while the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%, the Labor Department announced. The health care sector again led much of the growth with 37,000 added jobs in April.

• The Federal Reserve is still not expected to lower interest rates over the next year, particularly if the labor market continues to strengthen.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today, after the Italian leader distanced herself from the White House over the Iran war.

• Rubio also met with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who said Italy could contribute to a postwar effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

ONE MILK, PLEASE

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Matt Berman, Missy Khamvongsa and Andrew Burton. If you liked it, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please subscribe — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at finalnotus@notus.com.