New York Times

1. U.S. Troops in Middle East Wait for the Next Big Moment

   The U.S. military is essentially on standby as officials give contradictory signals about the status of the Iran war effort.

2. War and Energy Shortages Boost China’s Influence in Asia

   The war in Iran has left China’s neighbors appealing for help, handing Beijing the kind of sway it has long sought.

3. Trump’s Indiana Victory Shows His Enduring Grip on Core Republican Supporters

   Low approval ratings? MAGA divisions? The president was able to turn out party loyalists in an Indiana primary to help him oust Republican state lawmakers who had crossed him.

4. Iran War Looms Over Vance as He Visits Iowa

   The vice president, a skeptic of the war, made his first visit of the cycle to the state that will kick off the 2028 nominating process.

5. Tennessee Republicans Unveil New Congressional Map Carving Up Majority-Black House District

   The General Assembly is expected to quickly approve the map, which slices up Memphis, a majority-Black city that makes up most of the state’s lone Democratic district.