World News: 'Roe was egregiously wrong from the start'

Tuesday, May 3

'Roe was egregiously wrong from the start'

A leaked draft of a SCOTUS opinion shocks the nation, Russia may try to annex parts of Ukraine and more news to start your Tuesday.

Good morning, Daily Briefing readers. A stunning leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion suggested the court is considering a decision that would overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. Voters will head to the polls in Ohio and Indiana as the two states hold their primaries. And more wild weather is on tap for the central United States.

It's Jane, with Tuesday's news.

🏛 The leaked draft abortion opinion adds more fuel to the already raging fire of the debate over Roe v. Wade.

👗 Met Gala 2022 best dressed: See Kim Kardashian as Marilyn Monroe, Blake Lively's NYC nod, and more.

🚨 Alexis Patterson has been missing since 2002. Odds are you don't know her story.

Alexis Patterson, missing 7-year-old girl (handout)

Handout

🎤 "American Idol": Laine Hardy returned to perform in a special reunion episode, days after his arrest.

⚖️ Supreme Court deliberations are supposed to be secret. So how did a draft abortion opinion leak?

🏆 All 19 "American Idol" winners, ranked. How does your favorite fare?

💐 Mother's Day is just around the corner. The experts at Reviewed found 24 thoughtful last-minute gifts guaranteed to arrive on time.

🏠 Read how interior home designer, entrepreneur and former actress Bridgid Coulter creates sustainable style through mindful design.

🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, hear the latest reaction after a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion suggested justices were considering overturning Roe v. Wade. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.

Leaked draft of Supreme Court Roe v. Wade opinion shocks Washington, nation

Shockwaves were still being felt Tuesday in Washington and across the U.S. after a draft Supreme Court opinion published by Politico Monday suggested the court is considering a decision that would overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. The stunning leak of a draft opinion, which USA TODAY could not independently verify, set off an unexpected firestorm around one of the nation's most divisive culture war issues and simultaneously raised questions about the court's deliberations and its ability to keep those discussions secret. "Roe was egregiously wrong from the start," Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the draft obtained by Politico . "We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled." Within hours of the leaked report, throngs began to congregate in front of the high court in Washington to celebrate and condemn what would be a politically seismic ruling.

A crowd of people gather outside the Supreme Court on Monday night.

Alex Brandon, AP

⚖️ Graphics: What did the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling actually say?

'Weaker' Russian military may push toward annexing parts of Ukraine

The British military said Tuesday on Twitter that it believes the Russian military is now "significantly weaker, both materially and conceptually" after suffering losses in its war on Ukraine. It added that, "Recovery from this will be exacerbated by sanctions." The statement from the British comes amidst the possibility that Russia may try to abduct local mayors in Ukraine's eastern region and install Kremlin "puppets" in the latest phase of the war. A top State Department official said Monday the strategy would be part of a push toward annexing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine and to "engineer a referendum" about having those areas join Russia. Dmitri Alperovitch of public policy nonprofit Silverado Policy Accelerator said the focus in Ukraine's south and east is the last major offensive Russia's military can undertake for a while . This phase of the war, Alperovitch said, is likely to end "one way or another" in the next four to five weeks.

Just for subscribers:

🖋 Opinion: Supreme Court opinion drafts do not leak. Abortion may be at risk, but so is the court's sanctity.

🚔 Timeline: Alexis Patterson vanished one month before Elizabeth Smart. Here's how their cases differ.

⚓️ Russian boats were sunk by Ukraine drone strikes near Snake Island, the site where Ukrainians refused to surrender to a Russian warship, military officials report.

✈️ JetBlue tried, but Spirit said it wants Frontier: How will fliers fare?

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Trump looms over Republican Senate primary in Ohio

Ohio Republicans will select their Senate nominee Tuesday in a race to succeed retiring Rob Portman. Seven candidates are vying for the nomination: former state treasurer Josh Mandel, "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance, investment banker Mike Gibbons, former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, state Sen. Matt Dolan, and businessmen Mark Pukita and Neil Patel. Vance is the favorite to win after nabbing Donald Trump's endorsement; he jumped in the most recent Fox News poll from a distant third to leading the pack, though about a quarter of voters still are undecided. But that hasn't stopped Vance's rivals from trying to sell themselves as the "Trump candidate." Ohio is one of two states holding its primary Tuesday. Indiana, Ohio's neighbor to the west, is the other.

Severe storms, tornadoes expected in central US throughout the week

More wild weather is on tap for Tuesday. Cities such as Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, could both see severe weather as the storm risk area shifts into the Ohio Valley region. Yet another severe weather outbreak is likely on Wednesday and Thursday with severe storms in the forecast from the southern Plains through the southern U.S., the National Weather Service said. On top of the severe weather threat, the Storm Prediction Center issued a "critical risk" of fire weather over the southern Rockies. That threat is due to gusty winds, dry fuels and low relative humidity. Authorities were encouraged by a forecast for Tuesday of improving humidity and shifting winds. Still, the blaze in New Mexico is expected to keep growing, putting it on track to possibly be one of the largest and most destructive fires in the state's recorded history.

ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday

🔵 "I can't believe we survived": Mariupol evacuation underway; Russia may try to abduct officials and others. Live Ukraine updates.

🎵 Wynonna Judd tearfully honors Naomi Judd at Country Music Hall of Fame induction: "My heart is broken."

🥎 James Madison University's softball team canceled the remainder of the season following the death of player Lauren Bernett.

🔴 Authorities issued a warrant for an Alabama corrections officer who disappeared with an inmate: What we know.

👴 A 100-year-old man broke the Guinness World Record for working at same company for 84 years.

Celebrate your favorite educators on Teacher Appreciation Day

Take time to shout-out the important educators in your life Tuesday, which is Teacher Appreciation Day, also known as National Teacher Day. The National Education Association says National Teacher Day is "a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives." National Teacher Day originated as an idea by former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1953 when she pleaded to Congress that there needed to be a day when teachers were recognized, according to School Specialty. Despite receiving congressional support, the first National Teacher Day did not occur until March 7, 1980.

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📸 'Gilded Glamour' at the Met Gala: Stars stun on fashion's biggest night 📸

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Mike Coppola, Getty Images

The 2022 Met Gala, co-chaired by Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda, invited celebrities and fashion icons to bring their own takes on the "Gilded Glamour" theme. There was plenty of black lace, metallic shine, feathered designs and dramatic shades to be found on Monday's red carpet.

Are we bummed there was no Zendaya, Rihanna or Lady Gaga in attendance this year to show off their always iconic fashion senses? You bet. But plenty of fashion-forward stars including Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Janelle Monáe showed up and gave us stunning, memorable looks.

Scroll through the gallery to see some of the biggest looks of the night.

Contributing: The Associated Press