Thursday, May 28, 2026

Supercharged storms in 2026

PLAY | Shopping | eNewspaper

The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu May 28 2026

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here’s the news to know:

•	Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
•	Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on the driver's cause of death.
•	They had major medical crises. Doctors called them panic attacks.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Thursday, from warnings in the 2026 hurricane forecast to an executive order on mail-in voting allowed to go into effect.

El Niño can mean early season Gulf storms

Grave warnings are coming from the nation's leading hurricane forecasters as the 2026 hurricane season begins. Devastating early season storms can and do occur, even during El Niño, and could happen again.

Hurricane Agnes in 1972 holds lessons for today: Like 2026, a strong El Niño was developing in the Pacific Ocean when Agnes formed in 1972. Agnes became – and remains – one of the costliest storms ever to strike the U.S. mainland.

Agnes also underscores why Ken Graham, National Weather Service director, stresses the dangers of hurricane season this year to the millions who live far inland from the point of landfall.

More news to know now

•	Trump convened the cabinet. President Donald Trump’s move to get in the same room with his closest advisors comes as Iran hostilities flared up. Meanwhile, no relief on gas is coming soon, an analyst says.
•	Two confirmed dead after chemical tank explosion in Washington. Nine others are presumed to have been killed after a tank containing about 600,000 gallons of chemicals ruptured, spilling a substance called "white liquor" across the plant.
•	Tightening mail-in voting: A U.S. judge on Thursday declined to block Trump's rules on mail-in voting in a loss for the Democratic Party, whose lawyers argued that it could disenfranchise millions of voters.

Take a look

The emotional toll of spelling

Abhinav Bere, 14, of Midland, Texas, reacts during the preliminaries of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2026.

Josh Morgan, USA TODAY

The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee continues Thursday in Washington, DC, with nearly 250 students competing for the title and a $50,000 prize. Meet the contestants.

NBA

Can the Knicks really win the NBA finals?

New York (and its fans) are scouting their future opponent. Whom should they prefer to face: the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs? Though the Knicks appear likely to enter the NBA Finals as underdogs regardless of opponent, USA TODAY Sports analysis say it should be Spurs . The primary reason is because of San Antonio’s inexperience in the playoffs.

Before you go

•	You wouldn't believe what groceries cost 20 years ago.
•	This tiny blue octopus captured the internet.
•	"Dutton Ranch" is the biggest original series launch for Paramount+.

Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

Alabama pushes Supreme Court for map ruled unfair to Black voters

Protest signs are displayed on the exterior steps of the Alabama state capitol building during the National Day of Action: All Roads Lead to the South rally against redistricting efforts, in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. May 16, 2026.

Alabama wants the Supreme Court to let it use a House map that would flip a Democratic-held seat. A lower court said the map is unfair to Black voters.

READ MORE