Today’s news is about power.

Who gets to vote under fair maps. Who gets heard when workers and families stay home. Who gets to lead inside the Democratic Party. And who pays when war gets more expensive.

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Here’s the news:

Louisiana could redraw its House map before voters cast ballots: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is planning a move that could pause next month’s primary elections so state lawmakers can draw a new congressional map first. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana unlawfully used race when it created a second majority-Black House district. The political effect could be huge. A new map may help Republicans gain one or two House seats as both parties fight for control of Congress. This matters because voters are already being asked to trust a system where the rules keep changing close to Election Day.

A May Day economic blackout is planned across the country: Organizers are calling for people to take part in a one-day action tomorrow, May 1, with a simple message: no school, no work, no shopping. Labor unions, community groups, and Democratic organizations are helping plan events in cities across the country. One organizer said more than 3,000 actions are expected nationwide. The goal is to use economic pressure to send a message about workers’ rights, immigration enforcement, voting rights, and the direction of the country.

Janet Mills drops out of the Maine Senate race: Maine Gov. Janet Mills has suspended her campaign for the Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Mills said she no longer had the money needed to compete against Graham Platner, a progressive newcomer who has led her in polls. Platner is now on track to become the Democratic nominee. This is a major blow to the Democratic establishment and shows how much the party’s base is pushing for younger, more combative leadership.

The war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far: Pentagon officials now estimate the war in Iran has cost $25 billion in just two months. That money is mostly tied to replacing weapons, moving ships and planes, running bases, and repairing damage. To put that number in plain terms, $25 billion is close to NASA’s annual budget. It is also more than the annual budget of many federal agencies. And it is not the final bill. The war is in a fragile cease-fire, but the cost is still growing.

Oil and gas prices are climbing: Oil prices hit a wartime high above $120 a barrel before pulling back in volatile trading. The average price of regular gas in the United States rose to about $4.30 a gallon, up 27 cents in one week. That hits families fast. Higher gas prices can also make food, flights, shipping, and basic goods more expensive. This is one of the ways war reaches people far from the battlefield: through the bills they pay every day.

That is the throughline this morning: the cost of power.

Sometimes that cost shows up in a courtroom. Sometimes it shows up on a ballot. Sometimes it shows up at work, at school, or at the gas pump. But regular people keep being asked to carry the weight. They are asked to pay more, trust more, wait longer, and accept decisions made far above them. That is why this moment matters. Democracy is not just about what happens in Washington. It is about whether people still have a real voice in the systems that govern their lives.