Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Access restored, for now

The Supreme Court restored access by mail for abortion pills, pending further review. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Mon May 4 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hi there! I'm Phaedra Trethan, a Phillies fan wishing godspeed to beloved longtime Yankees announcer John Sterling. ⚾️ 💔

In Monday's news:

The Supreme Court reinstated access to mail-order abortion pills — for now. ි
Ships are getting American military escorts in an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 🚢
One of fashion's biggest events, the Met Gala, happens tonight. We have all you want to know. 👗

But first: It's been one year since the world's Catholics got their first American pontiff. USA TODAY and our Network partners fanned out across the country to see how U.S. Catholics view Pope Leo XIV. ⛪️

Access restored — for now ⚖️

The Supreme Court on Monday reinstated mail-order access to the widely used abortion drug mifepristone , intervening after the FDA was ordered to revive a requirement that it only be prescribed after an in-person appointment with a doctor. The reinstatement, though, is temporary while the High Court continues to consider a lower court ruling on the issue. The drug, first approved in 2000, has been available via telehealth to women in states where abortion is effectively banned or restricted.

These women said they couldn't get life-saving health care in their home state. Now they're suing.

Emily Waldorf 1.png

Emily Waldorf was 17 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with cervical insufficiency. Under Arkansas near-total abortion ban, her medical team could not intervene. She had to wait five days for her condition to worsen before traveling out of state via ambulance for care.

Hardpin

US sinks Iranian boats

The U.S. military sank six Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz , a military official said, and a regional ally of the U.S. reported missile and drone attacks from Iran as tensions escalate weeks into a fragile ceasefire. The head of U.S. Central Command said the small Iranian boats were targeting commercial vessels in the waterway, which is still under Iranian control. The latest developments.

A man protesting artificial intelligence and the Iran war has taken up residence in a unique perch. ⛺️
Watch: U.S. ships escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. 🚦
The war, along with the economy and cost of living concerns, are dragging President Donald Trump's approval ratings to new lows.

Real quick

Nearly two dozen people were injured in a mass shooting at an Oklahoma campground.
A new survey finds Americans have a fear stronger than deathoutliving their savings. 🪦
Former New York City mayor and onetime Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani is hospitalized in critical but stable condition as he recovers from pneumonia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV this week, with the U.S.'s plans for Cuba a likely topic of discussion.

Fashion's big night 👗

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Met Gala brings high society and high fashion together for one night of over-the-top couture, but this year's theme — Costume Art — and its ultra-wealthy backers promise an even more indulgent vibe.

Co-chairs of this year's gala Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour will bring the glamor and its sponsors, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, will bring the bling (and a bit of controversy).

Who wore it best? Use USA TODAY’s Style Meter to pick the best look of the Met Gala. 💃
Photos: The best Met Gala looks through the years. 📸
Watch: What is "Costume Art"? See the exhibit at the Met. 🤩
The Bezos boycott: Why some aren't happy with the billionaire's role in the gala. 💰

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Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025, in New York City.

Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

Living history (and historic figures)

For historic reenactors and interpreters, bringing historic figures to life is more than dressing in period costumes and weekend cosplay . It requires preparation and research, a love of history, and a dedication to accuracy. It's also a calling, an art form, and a way to connect modern audiences with the heroes and ordinary people of the past. I talked with some actors who tell the stories of historic figures in Philadelphia as part of USA TODAY's ongoing USA 250 coverage.

"We know so much, but it's still ongoing work," said Jackson Pavlik, who portrays Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. "We're always preparing and always learning more."

David Scott Taylor (left to right), Coe Kummer and Keith Henley historic reenactors

David Scott Taylor (left to right), Coe Kummer and Keith Henley talk about the Revolutionary-era people whose stories they tell in Philadelphia's historic district.

Phaedra Trethan

A break from the news

Dolly Parton shared a message with fans about her ongoing health issues. Please live forever, Dolly. 💖
Photos: An estimated 2 million people packed a Brazilian beach to see Shakira. 📸
Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. These deals might help you save some dinero. 🌮 🌯

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and your favorite sports announcers. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 4, 2026.

Almost 150 people remained on the cruise ship after the deaths of three passengers. The risk to the public is low, World Health Organization says.

A United Airlines aircraft struck a light pole and a truck as it was coming in for landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
 

Video shows United Airlines flight crashing into tractor-trailer

The United Airlines flight also struck a light pole while landing at Newark Liberty Airport, the airline said.

Tim Andrews shows off his arteriovenous fistula that was created in a surgical procedure for dialysis while sitting for a portrait at his home in Concord, NH, on March 10, 2026. With his human kidney transplant, Andrews no longer needs dialysis.
 

'I'm gonna die anyways': How a risky experiment changed history

American Journeys: This medical odyssey gave him a new lease on life

A general view from the Washington Monument of the Lincoln Memorial as workers continue renovations on the Reflecting Pool, which is painted blue, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 2, 2026.
 

Trump posts AI image of himself, Cabinet members in Reflecting Pool

President Donald Trump posted an artificially generated image of himself lounging in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with Cabinet members.

Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner shooting, sits in the courtroom during a hearing after being charged with attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, in Washington D.C., U.S., April 30, 2026, in this courtroom sketch.
 

'I'm sorry,' judge tells DC press dinner suspect on jail conditions

A judge grilled the jail housing Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of trying to kill President Donald Trump at a press dinner, over Allen's treatment.

Invasive zebra mussels can attach themselves to and kill larger native mollusks.
 

Gross, invasive mussels are an 'urgent' problem for US

The mussels can wreak havoc on waterways. A new contest offers thousands of dollars for ideas to stop the spread.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) takes questions as Senate Democrat leaders hold a press conference following their weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 21, 2026.
 

GOP Senate majority slipping as Trump drops in popularity: experts

Polling and fundraising are looking good for Democrats in critical Senate contests, but they still face an uphill climb to a majority.

Out-of-service Spirit Airlines aircraft rest at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear on May 2, 2026.
 

The airline people loved to hate, and why they’ll miss it

Spirit Airlines was sometimes the butt of jokes, but these travelers are seriously sad to see the budget carrier fold.

Britney Spears attends the premiere of "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" in Hollywood on July 22, 2019.
 

Britney Spears pleads guilty to reckless driving in DUI case

Britney Spears has settled her DUI case by pleading guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving.

John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on radio, on Aug. 17, 2012 at Yankee Stadium.
 

Suzyn Waldman remembers John Sterling as truly one of a kind

Suzyn Waldman spent decades beside John Sterling. She says nothing captured him better than the night he cried through a perfect call.

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