The gerrymandering dilemma.
Republicans are wavering over whether and how to redistrict red-state cities; the coronavirus lambda variant is puzzling scientists. Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. The Republican gerrymandering dilemma  - In red states in the South and Midwest, Republicans are weighing whether to "crack" blue cities when drawing new redistricting maps, given both the potential for electoral expansion and the history of successful Democratic legal challenges. [Politico / Ally Mutnick]
- In Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, Republicans must decide how to approach blue urban districts as congressional Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, urge their state-level counterparts to use caution so as to not trigger lawsuits. [Politico]
- Like in 2010, the GOP has an advantage when it comes to redistricting, though a number of states have since implemented protections against gerrymandering. Republicans will control the process in 20 states; Democrats will lead in 11 others. [Pew Research Center / Drew Desilver]
- Republicans famously weaponized the map-drawing process in 2010, helping them take control of the House. Over a decade later, electoral changes, particularly as suburban voters move to the left, will make districts harder to manipulate. [The Wall Street Journal / Chad Day, Cameron McWhirter, and Dante Chinni]
- The GOP-led Tennessee state legislature will have an opportunity to gerrymander by cracking Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)'s Nashville district and bolstering their congressional delegation from seven members to eight out of nine. But doing so could make safe Republican districts more competitive, given the blue tilt of the city's suburbs. [CNN / Alex Rogers]
- Similar dilemmas exist in Texas and Georgia, where legal challenges could mount if Republicans attempt to break up majority-minority districts. [CBS News / Michael Li]
- Democrats have some ability — though in fewer states — to all-but-eliminate Republican seats through the redistricting process as well, including in Maryland. The Democratic supermajority in the state legislature could draw the maps in such a way that Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), the state's only congressional Republican, would likely find reelection impossible. [The Washington Post / Meagan Flynn and Ovetta Wiggins]
Lambda variant reported in Australia - A new coronavirus variant — the lambda variant — has spread to almost 30 countries. Australia detected its first lambda variant case this week, and the United Kingdom has reported six lambda infections. [The New Zealand Herald / Mitchell Van Homrigh]
- The lambda variant was named last month by the World Health Organization. It was first discovered in Peru in December 2020. [Yahoo! News / Nick Whigham]
- Lambda has become especially widespread in Peru, where it accounted for more than 80 percent of reported cases in May and June. [Euronews / Luke Hurst]
- Though a study on lambda has not yet been peer reviewed, it may be more contagious than other variants. [The Independent / Peter Stubley]
- Lambda is the WHO's seventh variant of interest thus far, a designation lower than a variant of concern, which currently includes the alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants. [The Financial Times / Clive Cookson and Gideon Long]
Gas prices are projected to increase by 10 to 20 cents per gallon in August, according to AAA. [The New York Times] - Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and author Ta-Nehisi Coates are joining the faculty of Howard University, where Hannah-Jones will lead the school's new Center for Journalism and Democracy. [The Root / Zack Linly]
- Ohio Senate candidate and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance, a Republican, said he regrets his since-deleted tweets criticizing former President Donald Trump. [Politico / Maeve Sheehey]
- After learning that the city of New Orleans had not planned for a July 4 fireworks display, actor Will Smith funded a fireworks show for the city himself. [People / Ale Russian]
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