NPR News: 05-03-2026 8AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 3, 2026, 8AM EDT

Main Theme:
A concise roundup of major news stories shaping the morning, including Supreme Court decisions affecting Alabama's voting districts, changes in Bay Area immigration courts, Russia-Ukraine conflict updates, new Oscar eligibility rules, and a historic Kentucky Derby win.

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Key News Stories and Discussion Points

1. Alabama Redistricting and Supreme Court Ruling

[00:25 – 01:27]

• Supreme Court Decision:

  • The US Supreme Court ruled that race should not be a factor in drawing voting districts.
  • Alabama lawmakers will convene a special session following this decision.
  • This directly affects Congressman Shomari Figures (D) and the future of District 2.

• Potential Impact:

  • Previous Supreme Court order (2023) mandated a second Black-majority congressional district in Alabama, which is now called into question.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “We got elected to represent a certain part of the state of Alabama in District 2, and that's what we spend our time doing. I worry about things that I can control. I do not stress out about things that I cannot control.” – Congressman Shomari Figures [01:03]
  • Alabama’s Attorney General wants the Supreme Court to overturn an injunction protecting District 2’s map until 2030.

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2. Bay Area Immigration Court Closure

[01:27 – 02:19]

• Context:

  • Department of Justice closed the San Francisco immigration court, shifting cases to Concord.
  • Official rationale: cost-saving.

• Concerns:

  • Significant reduction in immigration judges.
  • Over 15,000 cases in limbo.
  • Potential increased delays and logistical barriers for migrants.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “We're talking about 15,000 cases that are in limbo in San Francisco. It's a major hub of immigration in the United States.”
    — Bill Hing, law professor, University of San Francisco [01:55]

• Advocates’ Fears:

  • Reduced access to legal help.
  • Some migrants must travel farther for hearings.

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3. Ukraine’s Attacks on Russian Oil Infrastructure

[02:19 – 03:19]

• Events:

  • Ukrainian uncrewed sea vessels (drones) struck two tankers near Russia’s Novorossiysk port.
  • Recent successes include attacks on Russian oil tankers, patrol boats, and air strikes on the Primorsk oil port.

• Broader Impact:

  • The Kremlin warns increased attacks could further push global oil prices higher.
  • Part of Ukraine's effort to disrupt Russia’s “shadow fleet” shipping oil.

• Notable Quote:

  • “This is the third successful attack by Ukrainian sea drones in the past week… Ukrainian navy struck two Russian patrol boats guarding the Kerch Bridge… Ukrainian drones struck Primorsk… sparking a fire.”
    – Hanna Palomarenko reporting from Kyiv [02:39]

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4. Academy Awards Rule Changes

[03:19 – 04:31]

• Overview:

  • Significant updates for the 99th Academy Awards, focusing on AI protections and international film eligibility.

• Key Rule Changes:

  • Only humans, performing with their consent, are eligible for acting/writing awards.
  • No eligibility for AI-created performances (e.g., “Tilly Norwood” cited by name).
  • Human actors can be nominated for multiple performances in the same category.
  • International films broaden their eligibility paths—winners of top festival prizes (e.g., Cannes) now qualify directly, rather than only as official country selections.

• Notable Quote:

  • “The Academy now explicitly states that only roles, quote, demonstrably performed by humans with their consent are eligible for acting awards. In other words, AI creations like Tilly Norwood cannot hope to win a best actress Oscar anytime soon.”
    – Chloe Veltman [03:42]

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5. Historic Kentucky Derby Win

[04:31 – 05:04]

• Event:

  • Cherie Devoe, the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, trained Golden Tempo, the winning horse.

• Trainer’s Reaction:

  • “I, I don't even have any words right now. I, I just can't just so, so, so happy.”
    – Cherie Devoe [04:31]

• Looking Forward:

  • The win propels Golden Tempo towards the remaining Triple Crown races, next being the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Shomari Figures on Supreme Court Ruling:
  “I worry about things that I can control. I do not stress out about things that I cannot control.” [01:03]
• Bill Hing on Immigration Case Impact:
  “We're talking about 15,000 cases that are in limbo in San Francisco.” [01:55]
• Chloe Veltman on AI in the Oscars:
  “AI creations like Tilly Norwood cannot hope to win a best actress Oscar anytime soon.” [03:42]
• Cherie Devoe on Derby Win:
  “I, I don't even have any words right now. I, I just can't just so, so, so happy.” [04:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Alabama Supreme Court and Redistricting: 00:25 – 01:27
• Bay Area Immigration Court Closures: 01:27 – 02:19
• Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Tankers: 02:19 – 03:19
• Oscar Rule Changes: 03:19 – 04:31
• Kentucky Derby Win: 04:31 – 05:04

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This episode delivers a brisk, highly informative overview of top stories shaping national and international headlines early on May 3, 2026.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Lawmakers in Alabama will hold a special session on Monday following the U.S. supreme Court ruling that race should not be a factor in drawing voting districts. Pat Duggans of Alabama Public Radio says that PUTS One Democratic U.S. house member in the crosshairs.

[Pat Duggans]

Congressman Shomari Figures is up for reelection this November in Alabama. That is assuming his district is still there. The U.S. supreme Court ordered Alabama to create a second black House seat in 2020, 23. Now those same justices say race doesn't matter. Figures has said he doesn't worry about the uncertainty.

[Interviewee / Spokesperson]

We got elected to represent a certain part of the state of Alabama in District 2, and that's what we spend our time doing. I worry about things that I can control. I do not stress out about things that I cannot control.

[Pat Duggans]

Alabama's attorney general wants the US Supreme Court to overturn an earlier injunction that keeps District 2's map in place until 2030. For NPR News, I'm Pat Duggans in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

[Windsor Johnston]

Immigration advocates in the Bay Area say it just got harder to apply for asylum. The Department of Justice closed an immigration court in San Francisco and moved operations to nearby Concord. The federal government calls it a cost saving move. But critics point to a sharp reduction in judges and warn the changes could lead to delays. Bill Hing, a law professor at the University of San Francisco, says the impact could be significant.

[Interviewee / Spokesperson]

We're talking about 15,000 cases that are in limbo in San Francisco. It's a major hub of immigration in the United States.

[Windsor Johnston]

The shift could change where the cases are heard across the region. Advocates say that might make it harder for migrants to find legal help and requires some to travel farther for court hearings. Ukrainian uncrewed vessels have struck two tankers in the Black Sea that are used to transport Russian oil. The Kremlin says the attacks on energy infrastructure could push global oil prices even higher. It's the latest in a series of strikes Ukraine's president says are targeting Russia's so called Shadow Fleet. NPR's Hanna Palomarenko reports from Kyiv.

[Hanna Palomarenko]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing the sea drones striking the sterns of the vessels. The tankers were in the waters near the port of Novorossiysk in Russia. This is the third successful attack by Ukrainian sea drones in the past week. Earlier, two of the uncrewed vessels struck a sanctioned tanker southeast of Russian city of Topse. The next day, Ukrainian navy struck two Russian patrol boats guarding the Kerch Bridge, which connects occupied Crimea with Russian territory. And in an attack by air, Ukrainian drones struck Primorsk Sunday, Russia's largest oil exporting port on the Baltic Sea, sparking a fire. Hanna Polomarenko and per news.

[Windsor Johnston]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced several significant rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards next year. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The update's focus on areas including AI protections and expanded eligibility for international films.

[Chloe Veltman]

The Academy now explicitly states that only roles, quote, demonstrably performed by humans with their consent are eligible for acting awards. In other words, AI creations like Tilly Norwood cannot hope to win a best actress Oscar anytime soon. Writing categories now have a similar requirement. And those flesh and blood human actors can now be nominated for multiple performances in the same category if those performances are voted in the top five. Another big change. International films can still be the official selection of their countries, as was previously the case, but now they can qualify by winning the top prize of a major international festival such as the Palme d' or at Cannes. This means the film itself is now officially the nominee, not the country. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

History was made at the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday. For the first time, a woman trained the winning horse trainer Cherie Devoe says Golden Tempo rose to the moment. I, I don't even have any words right now. I, I just can't just so, so, so happy. For Golden Tempo, the wind sets the stage for the rest of the Triple Crown. Next up is the Preakness in Baltimore. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.

[Interviewee / Spokesperson]

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