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Why does it feel worse to be early than to rush and stress and arrive a little late?

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Cadets from the nation's Merchant Marine academies are finding lots of demand and great salaries because of a shortage of licensed mariners.

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Republican chances of keeping the House are surging, as panicked Democrats scramble to offset back-to-back-to-back redistricting blows.

Why it matters: Democrats feel good about their midterms affordability message. But they're nervous about the math for retaking the House now that Republicans appear (for now) to have won this year's redistricting wars.

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• And they are wondering why the party spent $65 million on a losing effort.
• "F*****ck!!" one House Democrat texted Axios' Andrew Solender after Virginia's Supreme Court invalidated the state's new congressional maps.
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) vowed to pursue "all options to overturn this shocking decision."

Zoom in: Depression dominated Democrats' public statements and private text threads as the party absorbed its third redistricting loss in 12 days.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to Virginia's aggressive D+4 redistricting on April 21 by unveiling maps on April 27 that carved four additional Republican seats into Florida's 20-8 map.
• The U.S. Supreme Court opened the door on April 29 to another four or five Republican seats across the South by weakening Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
• Then Virginia Supreme Court's ruling Friday turned a slight GOP advantage into a clear edge.

Zoom out: The significance of the Virginia ruling may seem seismic today. By November 2026, it could look incidental.

• If the political environment turns sharply against Trump and Republicans — fueled by rising inflation and sinking consumer confidence — Democrats may not have to worry about the X's and O's of redistricting.
• Even with Friday's ruling, Virginia Democrats are confident they can unseat one — and maybe two — of the state's four House Republicans in November.

Between the lines: Democrats are taking comfort in another trend: their candidates have consistently over-performed in special elections this cycle compared with Trump-era turnout.

• In Michigan on Tuesday, the Democratic Senate candidate won by 19 points in a district former Vice President Harris carried by less than 1 point in 2024.

What they're saying: "A sad day indeed, but I'm proud of Virginians' willingness to stay true to our state's motto after 250 years," said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). "That spirit is needed now more than ever."

• "We respect the court. But we will keep fighting for a democracy where voters — not politicians — have the final say," said state Del. Don Scott, the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

The other side: Gratitude and exultation defined the Republican response.

• "I thank the Supreme Court for its courage in standing up for what is right," said Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) who would have seen her seat eviscerated by the new maps.
• "This win is yet another sign Republicans have the momentum heading into November. We're on offense, and we're going to win," said Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (R-N.C.)

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When someone writes a love song, many assume it's for their significant other. In this case, it was written for a girl he had met once. "Hey There Delilah" is an iconic love song, where the singer, Tom Higgenson, is pining for a girl who is "a thousand miles away." The song was released in May of ...

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The Supreme Court weakened minority voting rights and prompted Republicans in four states to move to redistrict as part of Trump's push. A court nullified Democratic redistricting in Virginia.

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Soccer — or football as it's known around the globe — was far from mainstream in the U.S. leading up to the 1994 World Cup. But in the end, the tournament was considered a resounding success. How exactly did that happen?

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The cars that debuted at the Beijing Auto Show demonstrate that the Chinese market is now at the forefront of electrification and intelligence. These are the 19 most intriguing models we saw.

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A rapid trip with the prime minister to Armenia highlighted the new era of amity between Canada and the European Union. We examine what that can and can’t do for Canadians.

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Guitarists have continued to champion the track decades later, praising its raw emotion, layered sound, and unforgettable energy.

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Tyler Goodspeed's sweeping new book dismantles the idea that downturns follow predictable patterns: history is the only thing guaranteed to keep repeating.

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The alleged rivalry between Michael Jackson and Prince is well-known in music folklore. Did their rivalry start because of a moment at a James Brown concert?

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‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Friends’ are both two of the greatest shows of all time. However, Jerry Seinfeld claims that ‘Friends’ is a copy with “good-looking people.”

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Security was tight in Moscow as Putin and several foreign leaders attended the parade, even as a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire eased concerns about possible Ukrainian attempts to disrupt the festivities.

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Amex's Steve Squeri and Delta's Ed Bastian clicked so well that they are now buddies in pursuing both profit and fun.

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The plane suffered an engine fire but was safely evacuated. Details were not available about the person the Frontier Airlines pilots said was hit.

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To paraphrase John Updike, the hub fans bid the CEO kids adieu.