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Nicole Fallert here. Had the day off? Catch up with our news quiz. We have the news to know on Tuesday, from a Texas runoff election to a dispatch from a Great Lakes cruise.
The national spotlight on Tuesday will be on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s runoff election against U.S. Senator John Cornyn for the GOP nomination for November’s Senate race. Paxton is a staunch MAGA ally who earned the endorsement of President Donald Trump days before the runoff, which was called after neither he nor Cornyn earned over 50% of the votes in the March primary.
In a month jam-packed with elections, the unique race serves as yet another litmus of Trump’s endorsement in the midterms. Paxton has Trump’s backing, bucking Cornyn, who has occasionally opposed the president.
American Music Awards
This year’s American Music Awards relished in nostalgia. The Memorial Day awards featured performances from the Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes and a win for the Black Eyed Peas for best throwback song for “Rock That Body.” And yes, Hilary Duff was back on stage on the heels of her new album “luck… or something.”
Travel
USA TODAY Travel Reporter Nathan Diller ventured on a single cruise through the Great Lakes. The voyage offered a convenient, low-stress way to visit destinations and attractions he’d long hoped to see. The region is seeing high demand, too, with more than 25,000 passengers expected to sail there this year, according to Cruise the Great Lakes, up 5% from 2025.
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.