ABC News Live Prime: May 12, 2026

追加: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]Tonight on ABC News Live Prime, energy costs drive consumer prices to a three-year high.

[00:00:08]The latest inflation numbers show Americans are now paying hundreds of dollars more a month for gas, groceries, and the overall cost of living. The war in Iran is having a major impact on the US economy and your money. The national average for gas hovering around $4.50 per gallon and is expected to keep rising. I'm Mary Bruce in Beijing where President Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi. But before leaving Washington, President asked how much the financial situation at home is affecting the negotiations with Iran. The president saying quote, "Not even a little bit." The number of Hont virus cases is growing. Health teams across 10 states are now tracking 18 people who either returned home early from the cruise or traveled on a plane with a sick passenger. None are showing signs of illness. I'm Victor Okendo outside that quarantine facility in Omaha, Nebraska. The World Health Organization warning of the potential for more infections. I'll tell you why.

[00:01:02]>> The alleged terror threat targeting the famous Lou in Paris. Museums in the US now on alert. A group of black Alabama voters backed by the ACLU is fighting to block a move by state Republicans to reinstate a congressional map that had been ruled a racial gerrymander. This follows a decision by the Supreme Court clearing the way for Alabama to put in place a new House map ahead of the midterm elections. Alabama just one of several states across the South scrambling to redraw congressional maps.

[00:01:31]Will this plan backfire on Republicans?

[00:01:38]>> No Doubt embarks on its first Vegas residency at the Sphere. We sit down with a band for their first interview in more than a decade for a look behind the scenes at their brand new show.

[00:01:50]>> From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is Prime with Lindseay Davis.

[00:01:59]Good evening everyone. I'm Lindseay Davis. Thank you so much for streaming with us. We begin with the war in Iran and the financial toll it's taking on millions of Americans here at home.

[00:02:08]Today, the Department of Labor released new numbers which showed prices are up 3.8%. 8% over last year, making inflation the highest in three years.

[00:02:16]Gas prices are hovering around $4.50 a gallon on average and only expected to go up with the Memorial Day weekend ahead. Groceries, too, now at record prices, as some of you have likely already noticed. And with so many families struggling to make ends meet, President Trump says he doesn't take into account Americans financial situation as he works to make a peace deal happen with Iran. Our chief business correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, leads us off >> tonight. From skyrocketing prices at the pump to all-time highs for beef, families are feeling the pain from the biggest jump in the cost of living in 3 years. The US government says prices in April jumped 3.8% compared to last year.

[00:03:00]Energy prices in the wake of the Iran war, fueling the surge. Gas up 28.4% year-over-year. The national average for regular now 4.49 a gallon. For diesel 563 a gallon.

[00:03:14]>> To fill that fuel tank right there on this Kenworth it would cost that's 100 gallons. So it cost me about $710.

[00:03:21]>> Trucker Kyle Cameron says before the war broke out that same fillup would have cost him about $465.

[00:03:29]Diesel prices impact shipping all across the country. And that's one of the reasons that grocery prices jumped such a large rate month over month.

[00:03:39]>> Beef at an all-time high, up 14.9%.

[00:03:44]Ground beef now more than $7 a pound.

[00:03:47]Tomatoes up 50%. Coffee up nearly 30%.

[00:03:52]Our Alex Perez met Chicago shoppers feeling the pain.

[00:03:55]>> I could buy milk for $1.99 a couple three weeks ago. 229. Now, >> airline fairs are up more than 20%. By one estimate, the American household is spending $642 more per month for the same stuff as they did 3 years ago. And for the first time in 3 years, wages aren't rising faster than inflation.

[00:04:17]>> Inflation at 3.8%, wage gains at 3.6% in the past year. And that's why people are really feeling pinched and that they have to stretch every dollar.

[00:04:28]>> President Trump rejecting the idea that the pain Americans are feeling from inflation will influence his negotiations with Iran.

[00:04:37]>> The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans financial situation. I don't think about anybody.

[00:04:47]And Lindsay, a new poll shows that 75% of Americans believe the war with Iran has had a negative effect on their finances, but it's not just energy sensitive categories where we're seeing prices climb. Housing prices are up 3.3% from a year ago. Lindsay, Rebecca, thank you. And we'll have more on the impact of inflation coming up. Plus, a look at how household debt is reaching a new record high. At this hour, President Trump is on his way to China. The war in Iran threatens to overshadow the major diplomatic summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xiinping.

[00:05:21]Before he left, the president was pressed by reporters on the stalled talks with Iran. And he said he doesn't need the Chinese leader help to end the war. Our chief White House correspondent, Mary Bruce, is traveling with the president already in Beijing.

[00:05:34]>> Tonight, President Trump setting off for China, a trip he had already postponed once because of the war in Iran.

[00:05:41]>> This is going to be a very exciting trip. A lot of good things are going to happen.

[00:05:44]>> Trump had hoped to arrive in China victorious over Iran with momentum to fuel new deals on trade and technology.

[00:05:52]Instead, the war is at a standstill. On Capitol Hill, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warning the president to remember China is one of Iran's closest allies.

[00:06:02]>> Does China buy 90% of Iranian oil? Mr. Secretary, >> China buys a very large percentage of oil.

[00:06:12]>> Okay. 90% is pretty large. So, President Trump, when you go to China, realize that the person you're talking to is propping up Russia and Iran.

[00:06:23]>> Trump insists he doesn't need Chinese President Xi's help to end the war.

[00:06:28]>> We're going to have a long talk about it. Uh, I think he's been relatively good to be honest with you.

[00:06:36]>> Mary Bruce joins us now from Beijing.

[00:06:38]And Mary, what are the expectations for this meeting between the two leaders?

[00:06:43]>> Well, Lindsay, the president had high hopes for this trip, looking to reset this critical relationship. He's bringing with him here over a dozen American business leaders, including Apple's Tim Cook and Elon Musk on the agenda. Everything from tariffs to the challenges of AI. But Lindsay, the war with Iran is looming large over all of this.

[00:07:02]>> Sure is. Mary Bruce in Beijing for us.

[00:07:04]Mary, thank you. Joining us now is Bonnie Glazer, a China expert and managing director of the Indopacific program at the German Marshall Funded nonpartisan think tank. Thank you so much for joining us. What will you be watching for in particular on President Trump's trip to China?

[00:07:20]>> Well, I will be watching uh to see what the presidents actually focus on in their meeting. There are reports that they will perhaps talk about the war in Iran and some of China's support that it's been giving to Iran uh including dual use components uh and also of course buying oil from Iran at a discount and in violation of US sanctions. Uh there's also possibly uh an agreement on the table to launch a bilateral dialogue on artificial intelligence which might build on some of uh the agreements that were reached during the Biden administration. And given the growing risks that I think many people see with uh AI, I think that would be interesting to have uh the two countries uh cooperate on something.

[00:08:10]>> What do you think is the biggest goal of this trip from the Chinese perspective?

[00:08:15]I think Cinping wants to maintain a modicum of stability in the USChina relationship. He wants to demonstrate to his domestic public that he can manage this very important relationship and that he can keep the United States at bay. In other words, not imposing a very harsh export controls on China going forward in areas like semiconductors.

[00:08:39]Do you think that the president can convince China not to support Iran in this war?

[00:08:47]>> I think that it is unlikely that President Trump can convince China to stop buying oil from Iran. Uh but it is possible that uh he might convince Cinping uh going forward to be more cautious in the capabilities that China provides to Iran. It's been reported, for example, that China provided satellite imagery to Iran that enabled it to target US bases in the Middle East. Iran would not have had that capability otherwise. And so that's an area where perhaps China could be a little bit more careful.

[00:09:25]>> What has the war done to the credibility of the US in the region?

[00:09:31]Well, I I think that uh the Iran war has created problems for many countries in uh in many regions. Uh I focus on the Indo-Pacific region and countries uh there are hurting because they are not getting their deliveries of uh of oil that come through the straight of Hormuz. And I think that US allies in the Middle East uh are concerned about the fact that the strait remains closed and that this conflict uh has worn on quite a long time. So uh I think many countries including China by the way would like to see this conflict come to an end and see the straight of Hormuz open.

[00:10:12]>> And lastly, what would your advice be to President Trump as he heads to Beijing?

[00:10:18]Well, I think that President Trump should uh understand that uh China has some strengths in dealing with the United States and recognize that the United States also has leverage over China. And I think he actually knows that he knows that China needs the US market. It needs US chips. Uh the United States is also in a very strong position. So he should drive a hard bargain. uh but he should seek to extract some uh some concessions from China as well. It's important to go beyond just trying to convince China to buy American goods. I want to see that too. The US should sell more soy and corn and beef. Uh but uh we should we should try to get China to modify its policies that are damaging uh US interests.

[00:11:10]>> Bonnie Glazer of the German Marshall Fund, we thank you so much for your time.

[00:11:14]Thank you.

[00:11:16]>> Now to the HANA virus outbreak. Tonight, we're hearing from one of the cruise ship passengers in quarantine in Nebraska. This is the World Health Organization warns of the potential for more infections. Victor Okendo reports from Omaha tracking the very latest.

[00:11:30]>> Tonight, with a growing number of hunter virus cases, officials here in the US are monitoring more Americans who may have been exposed to infected passengers from that cruise ship.

[00:11:41]Health teams across 10 states are now tracking 18 people who either returned home early from the cruise or traveled on a plane with a sick passenger. None of them showing signs of illness. And we're also getting our first update on the 18 passengers in quarantine facilities. One symptomatic passenger in a bioontainment unit in Atlanta has tested negative for HANA virus and all 16 in Omaha are symptom free, including the only American to test positive for the virus who remains in bioontainment.

[00:12:09]Are you finding most people are willing to quarantine here or they're eager to get back home?

[00:12:13]>> Um, I think that they want to do what's what's safest for them. So far, everyone's been very cooperative.

[00:12:19]>> Tonight, the World Health Organization is warning of the potential for more infections because symptoms can take weeks to present.

[00:12:25]>> Good morning, everyone.

[00:12:26]>> Jake Rosemary, now in quarantine in Omaha.

[00:12:29]>> Here's my thermometer for temperature tech checks during the day. I have a stationary bike. More of the outer decks. He tells us he was relieved to get off that ship.

[00:12:40]>> I didn't think anything was wrong until we found out that it was hot virus and that's when I was was scared.

[00:12:46]>> I'm feeling well.

[00:12:47]>> Jake feels great, but has decided to stay for the full quarantine.

[00:12:51]>> My plan right now is um to stay for the four 42 days. I think that is the best decision that's for me and for my family and I know that here I'm in the best care possible.

[00:13:03]>> Victor Kendo joins us once again tonight from Omaha. So Victor, what can you tell us about the assessments these passengers will undergo in the coming days?

[00:13:12]>> Lindsay, so over the next few days, medical teams will perform twice daily symptom and fever checks. We should note so far everyone here is symptom free and stable. Lindsay, >> Victor Kendo for us. Thanks so much, Victor. FBI Director Cash Patel was in the hot seat today on Capitol Hill. He clashed with senators over his leadership of the agency and reports that accuse him of excessive drinking.

[00:13:35]Here's J. O'Brien on the tense hearing.

[00:13:38]>> You still have the confidence of the president.

[00:13:40]>> Tonight, the fireworks on Capitol Hill.

[00:13:42]FBI director Cash Patel grilled by Democrats about reports he has a drinking problem, >> episodes of excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and behavior that concern current and former FBI and DOJ officials. Is it your testimony that those allegations are categorically false?

[00:13:59]>> Unequivocally categorically false. And so there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you. Is that right?

[00:14:06]>> Nope. It's a total force. I don't even know where you get this stuff, but it doesn't make it credible because you say so.

[00:14:12]>> I'm not saying it, Director Patel. I It's been written and documented.

[00:14:16]>> You are literally saying it.

[00:14:17]>> No, I'm saying that these are reports.

[00:14:19]Uh, Director Patel.

[00:14:21]>> Patel drawing scrutiny after he was seen celebrating and pounding beers at the Olympics with the USA men's hockey team.

[00:14:27]The director insists he was in Milan on separate official business. He's now suing The Atlantic magazine after it reported on alleged bouts of excessive drinking.

[00:14:36]>> Are you willing to take the the the test that it's it's called the audit test that members of our active duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem.

[00:14:48]>> I'll take any test you're willing to take.

[00:14:49]>> I will take it. Doc, Director Patelli, I'll take it. You ready to take it?

[00:14:53]>> Let's go.

[00:14:53]>> Yes or no?

[00:14:54]>> Let's go. Side by side. I'll take it.

[00:14:57]>> Senator Patty Murray seizing on reports that Patel hands out bottles of bourbon emlazened with his name.

[00:15:03]>> If you want to pass out liquor or pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting.

[00:15:08]>> Patel firing back with a slew of FBI crime stats.

[00:15:11]>> This is what real leadership looks like at the FBI. Every one of you was given it. This is what's happened under my tenure at the FBI and the Trump administration. 20 point drop in the homicide rate. 45,000 violent offenders arrested last year. I appreciate the work of our FBI agents, but leadership, serious leadership is a concern.

[00:15:32]>> Jay O'Brien joins us now from Capitol Hill. And Jay, we know Director Patel was not the only senior administration official under pressure today. Tell us why the head of the FDA was also in the hot seat.

[00:15:41]>> Exactly right, Lindsay. FDA commissioner, Dr. Marty McCary, stepping aside, pushed out. He turned in his resignation today to President Trump.

[00:15:49]too had clashed for months. Most recently, sources tell ABC News over McC's opposition to Trump's push to authorize fruit flavored vapes. McCary was concerned it could encourage their use in young people. His departure has angered now some in the so-cal in the so-called Maha Moms movement, which was a critical health focused voter base that backed Trump in 2024. Lindsay >> Jay O'Brien for us. Thanks so much, Jay.

[00:16:14]Now to a shocking case from Southern California. The mayor of a town just outside of Los Angeles. has abruptly resigned after being charged with acting as an agent of China. Trevor Al has more on this unfolding case. Trevor, what can you tell us?

[00:16:28]Well, a very strange story here, Lindsay, because not only have we learned that she's been charged, we we have also learned she's planning to plead guilty to this charge that she acted as an agent of China. This is now the former mayor, Eileene Wang. She represented the town of Arcadia, which is about 20 to 30 minutes east of Los Angeles. The population there is majority Asian-American. She was elected to city council first in 2022, became mayor earlier this year. But before that, leading up to her election, according to prosecutors, she operated a website called US News Center, which claimed to be a source for Chinese Americans to get their news. But they say it was actually a way for her to communicate with the Chinese government and then filter propaganda and distribute it to the population here in the US. Now, not only has she been charged, but her former fiance was already sentenced earlier this year for the same charge acting as an agent of China. And in that case, prosecutors said that her former fiance helped her get elected so that we could have a politician here in the United States, a political star, in their words, that was friendly to the Chinese government.

[00:17:31]>> Really unusual here. What kind of punishment could Wang face?

[00:17:35]>> Well, this is I mean, no surprise. It's a serious charge. This is a felony.

[00:17:39]carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years. Now, it's not necessarily likely she would see that much because she is planning on pleading guilty as part of a plea agreement. The prosecution will be recommending a lighter sentence, but ultimately it will be up to the judge to decide what sentence she could see. We do know that former fiance of hers who's already serving time. He was sentenced to four years. She could really be looking at a hard time for this charge.

[00:18:01]>> Trevor Trevor all for us. Thanks so much, Trevor. We have disturbing new details in that horrific scene on a Denver airport runway. Today, authorities identified the man struck by a passenger jet, saying that he scaled the 8-foot security fence and cleared the barb wire in just seconds before making it onto the runway. Here's Gio Bonitez.

[00:18:20]>> Tonight, authorities revealing new details about the deadly security breach on a Denver runway just as a Frontier Airlines jet was roaring for takeoff.

[00:18:28]>> This was a horrible tragedy uh that has affected many people. 41-year-old Michael Ma identified as the man seen in surveillance video at 11:13 p.m. Friday, taking only 15 seconds to climb an 8-ft perimeter fence topped with barbed wire near that runway. Just 2 minutes later, he casually walks into the path of that passenger jet killed by its engine.

[00:18:50]>> There was an individual walking across the runway. We've got uh smoke in the aircraft. We're going to evacuate on the runway. The engine bursting into flames, smoke filling the cabin, passengers forced to evacuate by emergency slides.

[00:19:06]>> Denver's airport facilities are twice the size of Manhattan, and officials are now reviewing its perimeter security program, saying the airport received an intrusion alarm, but couldn't see Mott because of a herd of deer nearby.

[00:19:19]>> They did not initially see the trespasser. The camera view was alternating between the wildlife and the individual. Even if the fence was taller, we believe a motivated individual could find a way to penetrate it.

[00:19:34]>> And Lindsay, the medical examiner, believes Mott died by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, free confidential help is available 247. Just call or text the National Lifeline at 988. Lindsay >> Gio, thank you. The sports world is mourning the death of Brandon Clark. The 29-year-old Memphis Grizzlies player was found dead in a California home. Will Reeve has the latest. Tonight, the NBA community is mourning the death of 29-year-old Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clark. According to LAPD sources, Clark was found overnight dead from a possible drug overdose. His body located at a home in the San Fernando Valley. Narcotics were also found at the scene, sources say. Clark's agency confirming his death in a statement saying in part, "We are all beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clark. He was so loved by all of us here and everyone whose life he touched."

[00:20:27]>> Brandon Clark from Vancouver and Gonzaga University.

[00:20:32]>> The Grizzlies forward was picked in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft. He played with Memphis for all seven years of his career and signed a 4-year 52 million extension with the team back in 2022. But Clark's career was recently plagued by injuries. He appeared in just two games this season. His sudden death comes just weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas near the Tennessee border and charged with possession and trafficking of a controlled substance.

[00:20:58]And Lindsay, the Grizzlies saying in a statement tonight they are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clark, calling him an outstanding teammate and an even better person. Lindsay >> Will, thank you. And in other basketball news tonight, ABC has learned that former NBA player Jason Collins, the first Open League player in a major American men's sports league, has died.

[00:21:19]Collins came out in 2013 and played 13 years in the NBA. His family said he died from glyopblasto, an aggressive type of brain cancer. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Collins made the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.

[00:21:37]Collins was 47 years old. Coming up, we break down today's inflation report. How much more Americans are spending on average as prices keep climbing. We'll take a look at this by the numbers.

[00:21:48]Plus, why two Florida police officers are suing actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and the questions around LeBron James' future after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs.

[00:22:04]Welcome back everyone. The latest inflation report released today shows that inflation rose for the second straight month as the Iran war continues and the straight of hormuz remains closed. We'll speak with Elizabeth Schelsey in a moment for more on the report and economy overall. But first, let's take a look at the latest inflation data by the numbers. The report showed that prices had risen 3.8% in April compared to a year earlier, matching economist expectations. Prices were also up 6% month overmonth.

[00:22:33]Inflation is now at the highest level it's been in 3 years. The biggest driver behind these numbers was a spike in energy costs, which were shown to be up 17.9% from the year before. Gasoline specifically was up 28.4% from the year prior. Meanwhile, food and shelter prices overall had also gone up by more than 3% compared to the previous year. Moody's Analytics estimates that the average American household is spending $266 more each month on the same goods and services compared to a year ago because of inflation. Today, President Trump was asked the extent to which Americans financial situations were motivating him to make a deal to end the war. Here's what he had to say.

[00:23:15]>> Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon.

[00:23:21]I don't think about American financial situation. I don't think about anybody.

[00:23:26]I think about one thing. You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all.

[00:23:32]That's the only thing.

[00:23:34]>> Separately, Trump said that he expects inflation to go down once the war ends and claimed that it was higher under President Biden. For more on this new data, we're joined now by Elizabeth Schulzy. Elizabeth, what else stood out to you from this report?

[00:23:46]>> Well, Lindsay, when you think about that headline inflation rate 3.8%, 8%. It's It's remarkable how quickly it's gone up in a short amount of time. But really, another number that stood out to me is that 3.8% relative to what Americans are bringing home in their paychecks, which is going up at a 3.6% rate. That's average hourly wages over the past year.

[00:24:06]In other words, what we're looking at right now, Lindsay, is Americans paychecks are not going up as fast now as overall inflation for the first time in 3 years. that makes it a lot harder for households to absorb some of those price hikes when they're not making as much. It really does show why you see that kind of sentiment about the economy souring. But you also see that people are just more struggling to make those ends meet. Lindsay, >> would you say that the majority of these rising costs even beyond energy all tie back to the rising oil prices?

[00:24:37]>> I think that's a really important part of this story. There's no question about it. This number was driven by those higher fuel prices, higher gas, higher diesel translating into other parts of the economy. You see that with airfares, for example, up 21%. But there are a lot of pieces of this report that were going up even before the war. When you think about rent prices, that was a big spike higher in April. We've seen those persistently high rent costs. Uh utility bills like electricity were up. Uh some groceries even a big part of that. So tomatoes for example, they're up 50% for fresh tomatoes over the past year. That isn't just a fuel story. That is also tariffs. It's weather. It's a supply and demand story. Similar stories playing out for products like beef or fresh produce. I will say eggs are the one kind of bright spot there, Lindsay.

[00:25:23]We've seen a big drop in egg prices, down more than 50%, but overall a lot of those grocery prices had been going up and it's been made worse by what we've seen when it comes to fuel prices with the war.

[00:25:34]>> Yeah. There was also new data today on household debt which hit an all-time high. What can you tell us about those findings?

[00:25:41]>> Yeah, big number there, $18.8 trillion.

[00:25:44]And when you look at that breakdown of debt, the biggest amount of debt is in people's mortgages. You know, the cost of your home loan, auto debt, student debt, credit card debt, all those numbers above a trillion dollars. But we did see actually student debt, credit card debt, debt tick a little bit lower.

[00:25:58]One thing that I'm looking at that's really important to kind of watch going forward is the number of borrowers for student loans falling behind on their payments. That is now near the highest level since before the pandemic. If we do start to see signs of stress where more borrowers are delinquent, you know, right now the researchers I've talked to at the New York Fed, they put out this report. They say things look pretty stable, but if we start to see a growing number of borrowers falling behind, whether it's student debt, credit card debt, that would be a more concerning sign for the economy. It >> sure would. All right, Elizabeth, thank you. Thank you so much as always. Coming up, the new indictments handed down in connection with that deadly bridge collapse in Baltimore and why a pair of Florida police officers are suing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

[00:26:45]Welcome back to Prime. Here's a look at the stories making headlines right now.

[00:26:48]Officials are monitoring more Americans who were possibly exposed to cruise ship passengers infected with HANA virus.

[00:26:54]Health teams are tracking 18 people across 10 states who either returned home early from the cruise or traveled by plane with an infected passenger.

[00:27:03]None of those being tracked are showing signs of illness. FBI Director Cash Patel had a tense appearance in front of the Senate's appropriations committee for a budget hearing today. Patel sparred with the committee's ranking member, Senator Chris Van Galand, after the senator addressed reports of the director's alleged questionable behavior, including a report in the Atlantic, claiming that he has bouts of excessive drinking. Patel said the report was a total farce, and in one exchange said that he would be willing to take a test that's given to members of the military to determine if they have a drinking problem. The Justice Department revealed new indictments in the cargo ship crash that caused Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse in 2024, killing six construction workers. Prosecutors claim the two companies operating the vessel and a shoreline a shoreside technical supervisor lied to investigators and relied on an improper fuel pump, which was blamed in part for the crash. One of the companies, Synergy Marine, said that the NTSB's findings and evidence that the company provided to the government refuted any allegations of wrongdoing and they would defend against the allegations. Prosecutors were granted access to Tiger Woods prescription drug records in a court hearing related to his Florida DUI case. A judge approved access to the records as well as a request from Woods's lawyers for a protective order restricting who can see them. Woods was involved in a rollover crash in Jupiter Island in March. He has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. And still ahead, the group of black Alabama voters fighting against a Supreme Court ruling allowing the state to move forward with a new congressional map. And eBay rejects a takeover bid from GameStop. We'll tell you why.

[00:28:45]Tonight, a group of black Alabama voters backed by the ACLU is fighting to block a move by state Republicans to reinstate a congressional map that had been ruled a racial gerrymander. That map had only one majority black district in a state where more than a quarter of the voters are black. It follows a decision by the US Supreme Court late yesterday that cleared the way for the change. The justices are now asking a lower court to take another look at the dispute. The controversial move comes just months before this year's midterm elections, possibly giving Republicans an edge with control of Congress on the line. Let's bring in our senior Washington reporter Deon Dwire, who's closely following the redistricting fight. Devon, break down the significance of yesterday's ruling for us.

[00:29:24]>> Well, Lindsay, the Supreme Court did not explain its decision, but as you said, it's had the practical effect now of allowing Republicans to move forward with their preferred election map in Alabama, which, as you said, only has one majority black district instead of the current two. The bottom line, this decision could give Republicans yet another edge in this really head spinning redistricting battle and potentially here at the expense of the influence of minority voters. Alabama's Republican Governor K. Ivy said today she's moving forward with this map. Uh, and it's amazing, Lindsay. Just three years ago, a federal court said that map was an intentional racial gerrymander, violating the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. The Supreme Court, as you said, now forcing a lower court to look at the map again against a new tougher standard for discrimination. Uh there is still a chance that judge could block the map, say that it's too discriminatory. Uh but, you know, time is running out and things are really up uh on the line there in Alabama.

[00:30:26]>> And Alabama is just one of several states across the South rushing to redraw congressional maps. Could this plan ultimately backfire on Republicans?

[00:30:33]Well, a number of states are now racing uh to to redraw their maps after that Supreme Court decision that rolled back a key part of the Voting Rights Act.

[00:30:41]They want to eliminate majority minority districts. They also in doing so want to eliminate minority representatives in Congress. Those are largely Democrats.

[00:30:50]At the end of the day, Lindsay, a number of strategists I've been talking to say it is stating the obvious here, voters that will decide the outcome in all of these races. And so much of that depends on turnout. Um, and a number of strategists have acknowledged, Republican strategists have publicly acknowledged, Lindsay, that this could backfire. Uh, that no one knows how this will come out. You can redraw the maps all you want, but at the end of the day, there are no guarantees. Uh, and so we'll be having to watch those results very closely in all of these states now with new maps just months before the vote.

[00:31:24]>> And of course, we will be. Deon Dwire, our thanks to you as always.

[00:31:28]And we are joined now by Melissa Murray, NYU law professor, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny Podcast, and author of the newly released book, The US Constitution, a comprehensive and annotated guide for the modern reader.

[00:31:40]Melissa, thank you so much for joining us.

[00:31:42]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:31:43]>> Uh so again, we're just hearing uh that the governor of Alabama has already planned for primaries for four house seats, very swift action on the heels of the Supreme Court's ruling. give us a sense of of what's at stake here.

[00:31:58]>> So, what you need to know about Alabama is that in the wake of the 2020 census, Alabama drew new congressional maps. And there is this part of the state called the black belt where a number of black residents are located. It's about 25% of the electorate in Alabama are black people. They were dispersed throughout three congressional districts so that they had no they had no majority vote in any of those districts. That map was ruled as likely a violation of section 2. The Supreme Court in 2023 upheld that ruling. Alabama couldn't use that map.

[00:32:29]New maps were drawn. The map was determined, the new map that was drawn was determined to likely be an impermissible racial gerrymander. Again, a new map was drawn by a special master.

[00:32:38]And that map was used in the most recent election. And that resulted in two Alabama districts being represented by African-Americans, Terry Suil and Shamari Figures. It's the first time that Alabama has ever sent two individuals who are black to the United States Congress. Now, Alabama wants to use one of the maps that was previously invalidated, that has been determined to be an impermissible racial gerrymander in this upcoming election cycle, and that would clearly reverse the progress that had been made. So, the Supreme Court has basically set off a whirlwind of redistricting throughout the South in these districts that previously um may have had some chance for minority representation, but now likely will not.

[00:33:20]>> So, with this scramble of redistricting in particular across the South, >> what's the legality of it all?

[00:33:27]>> So, the court in their decision in Louisiana versus Kelly said that in order to establish a violation of section two of the Voting Rights Act, you have to show intentional racial discrimination. And in the case of Louisiana, the court said there wasn't necessarily racial discrimination. There was instead an interest in consolidating partisan advantage for the Republican party. The problem with that logic is that in many states and especially in the South, partisan affiliation and race are inextricably intertwined, which is to say that many black voters are likely to be Democrats. So if you are consolidating for Republican advantage and to get the Democrats out of the picture, you're likely disenfranchising or limiting the voting power of Africanameans. And so you can't necessarily show that it's intentional racial discrimination because the states are all saying it's about partisan, but partisanship and race run together.

[00:34:18]>> Help us to understand this dichotomy. So last year when Texas was looking to redistrict, it ends up going all the way up to the Supreme Court. the Supreme Court decides they're not going to intervene because it's too close to the 2026 elections. Then enter Louisiana and you had some justices potentially fasttracking it and then they rule and were even closer to the election. What how can that be?

[00:34:43]>> I can't make sense of that. Um it's completely inconsistent. Um the Texas primaries were in February. The court entered that decision in December refusing to allow the new maps to be used because it was too close in time.

[00:34:55]This is what's known as the PCEL principle that you don't change the rules of an election too close in time to the election. Here, there's already an election underway. So, the PCEL principle would appear to be even more pressing in these cases, certainly in Louisiana where they've suspended the primary while they get all of this sorted out and certainly here in Alabama. Why the court did this, why it departed from its established rules for certifying a judgment, nobody knows. Um, all we know is what the results will be and that will likely be the shifting of advantage to the Republican party throughout the South.

[00:35:28]>> Okay. Got to talk about the book, the US Constitution. Why now? I mean, obviously it would make sense as we're about to celebrate 250th anniversary of this uh this our our independence. But what makes this timing especially preient?

[00:35:43]>> So, when I started to write this book, it wasn't about this anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was literally about looking out and seeing all of these things happening and people asking, can they do that? Can the president do that? Can they send troops into the streets? And it seemed to me that we had a whole generation of young people who have been raised in the wake of No Child Left Behind, where we've devested school curricula of all kinds of things, but especially civics's education. And we have a generation that doesn't understand how our government works, or at least has a very thin idea of how our government works and how it should work. I wanted to write this to give every American the tools to be able to engage in how our government runs to make to ask questions of our government to ask whether or not this is permissible and to have good answers about what that might be. This is a users manual for everyone for the document that scaffolds our government and indirectly scaffolds our lives.

[00:36:33]>> Okay, just in the last 30 seconds based on what you've been seeing play out in the last year or so, does it seem that the government is acting in accordance with what the founding fathers intended?

[00:36:43]Our founding fathers were deeply worried about the prospect of a government that was too muscular, too assertive because they worried that even though that kind of government can do a lot of things and be efficient, it can tip over into tyranny very easily. They were deeply worried about the prospect of a standing army and the possibility of standing armies going into the streets to run roughshod over the rights of citizens. I think they would be very deeply concerned about the prospect of an executive branch that is so muscular, so assertive and certainly all of the things that the executive is doing right now. Melissa Murray, so appreciate your time and insight. Thank you. Coming up, why the man accused of stealing unreleased music from superstar Beyonce will no longer face a jury. Plus, we go behind the scenes of No Doubt's first Vegas residency at the Sphere as Gwen Stefani and her bandmates sit down for their first interview in more than a decade.

[00:37:33]A failed bid for eBay. Why two police officers are suing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and a selfie that's literally out of this world. These stories and more in tonight's rundown.

[00:37:48]In the Netflix movie The Rip, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon played a pair of South Florida officers who find millions of dollars in a house and grapple with the consequences. Now they're being sued by two real life police officers who say the thriller, inspired by a 2016 case, hits too close to home. Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, two sergeants in the Miami date Sheriff's Office, filed the lawsuit against the actor's production company, claiming the film has caused substantial harm to their personal and professional reputations, and they're seeking damages. A lawyer for the defendants has argued the film does not attempt to tell a true story. According to the Associated Press, eBay rejected GameStop's bid to take over the company, calling the unsolicited offer neither credible nor attractive. GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen told investors he was pursuing a takeover of the online resale platform after acquiring a 5% stake in the company, but eBay wasn't sold on the offer of turning GameStop's retail locations into drop off and pickup sites. GameStop stock was down more than 3% today as a result.

[00:38:53]The man accused of stealing unreleased Beyonce music in Atlanta plead guilty in court today, avoiding an impending trial. Kelvin Evans faced charges of criminal trespass and entering a vehicle with the intent to commit theft, according to the October 2024 indictment. The indictment stated that Evans allegedly entered a Jeep Wagon earer rented by a choreographer for Beyonce with the intent to commit theft.

[00:39:16]According to the original police report, the hard drives contained watermarked music, some unreleased music, footage plans for the show and past and future set list and were stolen before Beyonce stops in Atlanta on her Cowboy Carter tour.

[00:39:32]After the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs last night, LeBron James was non-committal about his future in the league and with the Lakers. The 41-year-old, who just finished his 23rd season, said he plans to re-calibrate with his family and talk with them and spend some time with them over the next several weeks as he considers his options.

[00:39:51]NASA's Mars rover, Perseverance, sent back a selfie from the red planet on its mission to collect and analyze geological samples. The photo was assembled from 61 separate images beamed back to Earth. Perseverance so far has collected 27 rock samples and traveled almost 26 miles in its 5 years on Mars.

[00:40:11]The rover was launched from Earth in 2020. And scientists are hoping the rover can last until 2031 to learn more about the origins of Mars.

[00:40:21]You may recognize him from the Apple TV show Ted Lasso, but now Christo Fernandez is going pro for real.

[00:40:28]Fernandez, who portrayed the fictional footballer Danny Rojas on the small screen, will now lace up his cleats for a real life team after a two-month trial with United Soccer League team the El Paso Locomotives. Before becoming an actor, Fernandez played competitive soccer in Mexico and then suffered an injury. He said the dream of competing professionally never truly left his heart.

[00:40:53]Time now for some 90s nostalgia. No doubt the SCA rockers led by singer Gwen Stefani are embarking on their first Vegas residency at the sphere. Our Ashen Singh got a chance to sit down with the band for their first interview in more than a decade.

[00:41:16]Once again, >> good.

[00:41:22]>> The multiplatinum rockers still dancing this time at Las Vegas's one-ofa-kind immersive sphere.

[00:41:29]>> None of this is real, by the way. This doesn't feel real. It just doesn't.

[00:41:33]You're asking questions and we're like, >> it doesn't feel like >> I don't think it's hit y'all that you guys are back together.

[00:41:39]>> It'll hit tomorrow night. After nearly 14 years apart, Gwen Stefani and her bandmates are part of a larger than-l life reunion.

[00:41:46]>> You know, when we first decided to do this eight months ago, Tom, Adrian, and I started getting together in Adrian's basement, and we just started jamming.

[00:41:54]>> We're almost playing as good as we used to.

[00:42:04]Underneath it all, they're now bringing their greatest hits and a museum grade collection of memorabilia to fans.

[00:42:12]>> It's overwhelming for us. And Gwen's seeing it for the first time right now.

[00:42:16]>> I'm just like, is this real?

[00:42:19]>> Frontwoman Gwen Stefani known today for her solo mega hits. Cuz ain't no girl >> from hollowback girl >> to no doubt's ever popular anthem just a girl.

[00:42:38]>> But before making it big as a musician, she was just a girl in Anaheim, California. her brother starting the band in their garage in 1986 with basist Tony Canal, guitarist Tom Dumont, and drummer Adrien Young.

[00:43:00]>> The alt rock band has gone on to sell over 33 million albums while winning two Grammys and touring the world four times over. But it wasn't an easy road to get there. We were on the outside looking in for years. I mean, it took I think we were together for nine years before we had a song on the radio.

[00:43:19]>> And you had an album out before then, too. Two albums.

[00:43:22]>> Uh, yeah. And also, we weren't overly confident that we had a lane, especially in the early '9s on alternative radio.

[00:43:29]You know, for me, it was a surprise that it that it took off like it did.

[00:43:34]>> We made our own lane.

[00:43:35]>> Making their own way in music and in love. I think no one's talking about the real like the dirt though.

[00:43:44]>> What's the dirt?

[00:43:44]>> The dirt. You broke up with me.

[00:43:46]>> Oh, >> that's the tragic kingdom, right?

[00:43:49]>> Hey, don't speak, man.

[00:43:50]>> We were writing all these like fun like sca songs and then we started writing all of these like real heartbreak like crazy like crazy stuff happened. And that's when I think the songwriting really started to go to another like level. Breakup ballads like Don't Speak, showcasing Gwen's heartbreak made into music.

[00:44:23]>> It was so innocent. We didn't care like about what people would think. We were just We just were looking forward to the next like time we could find like another 10 cents on the ground of our car after rehearsal to go to Del Taco.

[00:44:36]Here you are using tragedy as this propeller for kind of what became your mainstream beginning.

[00:44:42]>> The band was always the most important thing.

[00:44:45]>> Even when we were broke, the band was the most important thing to all of us for, you know, better or worse.

[00:44:51]>> I stayed in the band so I could hang out with Tony still, even though he broke up with me. I'm kidding.

[00:44:58]>> The soulful songwriter unlocking a new level of meaning in their music. When I discovered that I could write a song that that just kind of channeled through me that really expressed exactly what I was feeling, it was like this superpower that I just learned that I had. I mean, we broke up and I wrote this really mean song about him called Happy Now.

[00:45:22]>> Like calling him up and and like singing the lyrics over the phone and he's like, "That's really good." Those songs skyrocketing the band to success.

[00:45:36]Now more than 20 years later, the band is back together for their Sphere residency.

[00:45:41]>> When we do get back on stage, it is undeniable. There is a chemistry.

[00:45:45]>> There's a real comfort like looking across the stage and seeing your friends for four decades.

[00:45:49]>> Gwen, you're the first female artist to headline the sphere.

[00:45:54]>> Congratulations.

[00:45:55]>> Thank you. I'm just a girl. I'm just a girl. It's cool. Well, I mean, honestly, I think that any human being to be able to headline the Spear is it's just an honor, you know? It's it's the future.

[00:46:07]>> The immersive experience extending beyond the sphere where with the band as they see for the first time, their memories now curated for adoring crowds.

[00:46:16]It's been quite nostalgic. It takes you back to those places.

[00:46:19]>> The garage where it all started, recreated.

[00:46:22]>> I've had this for, you know, 25 years.

[00:46:26]Um, I had this custom made >> an early rehearsal ledger there, too.

[00:46:31]>> You had to write your name and say like how much money you could pay that night for rehearsals. And like mine, you could see on there, it's like $3 that I actually got from my dad.

[00:46:41]>> All among the special no doubt experience at the Venetian presented by Vibe. This is the prom photo right here.

[00:46:47]That is the actual photo.

[00:46:49]>> The best part was that I had I was going to Cypress College at that point. you were.

[00:46:53]>> And I had to leave the prom to go home because by midnight cuz my dad was like, "No, you're you got to come home." AND I'M I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

[00:47:02]>> OH, GOD. I don't got curfew.

[00:47:04]>> I can see every single person here.

[00:47:07]>> And on opening night at the Sphere, >> no doubt taking the stage to a soldout crowd of 20,000 fans. Your love keeps on coming like >> this residency at Sphere. Does it feel like putting a bow on No Doubt or does it feel like the next step for a band whose legacy is indomitable?

[00:47:33]>> Oh man, all of that.

[00:47:34]>> It could be a bow.

[00:47:35]>> Yes. Or it feels like a bow that might be untied.

[00:47:40]>> Our thanks to Ashen Singh for that. And that is our show for this hour. I'm Lindsay Davis. Be sure to stay tuned to ABC News Live for more context and analysis of the today's top stories.

[00:47:49]Thank you so much for streaming with us.

[00:47:51]Good night.