Iran war; Voting Rights Act; Jerome Powell; Fuel : NPR

Key Points:

• The Pentagon estimates the war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, with no clear end in sight as both the U.S. and Iran maintain blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a standstill in shipping traffic and economic pain on both sides.
• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Louisiana's 2024 election map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, weakening protections under the Voting Rights Act and potentially reducing minority representation across government levels.
• Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell plans to remain on the Fed's governing board after his term ends next month to help protect the central bank from political pressure amid ongoing tensions with the Trump administration.
• The war in Iran has nearly doubled U.S. jet fuel prices, significantly increasing costs for wildfire-fighting aircraft this summer, potentially doubling the fuel bill to nearly $100 million paid by taxpayers.
• Educators are increasingly moving away from homework due to mixed research on its effectiveness and concerns over AI use, though experts warn that reducing homework could harm math achievement amid already low scores nationwide.