The World Population Review puts Trump’s approval rating among Louisiana voters at 49 percent, down nine percentage points from five months ago.

ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says presidential approval ratings often decline when the economy struggles.

“People are feeling the affordability issues, they are paying more for groceries, they are paying more for gas, internationally the news is not great with the war dragging on in Iran,” Cross said.

Trump’s national approval rating is even lower. According to The Economist, 35 percent of Americans approve of the president’s job performance.

Cross says the numbers could be a warning sign for Republicans as they head into the 2026 midterm elections.

“If you go back to President Barack Obama in 2010, he took some major hits and his party lost 60 seats in the mid-term election,” Cross said.

Cross says it is not unusual for a president’s popularity to decline during his time in office and reversing the trend could be difficult for Trump.

“Coming to some conclusion with regard to the war with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz would help, but at this point he’s been under water for his entire Presidency, he’s never had a 50 percent approval rating nationally, there’s very little he can do,” Cross said.

Brees’ former head coach in New Orleans, Sean Payton, was his presenter. During his speech, Brees talked about the impact Payton had on his career and how his coach pushed him to reach his full potential.

“Coach, you were brilliant, I saw myself as an extension of you on that field,” Brees said. “I always had something to prove to you, and I always wanted to make you right, and I know you trusted me and that allowed both of us to be great.”

Brees spent his first five NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers before signing with New Orleans as a free agent in 2006, just months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

What followed became one of the most important chapters in Saints history.

Brees quickly became the face of the franchise and helped lift the spirits of a city working to rebuild. He and the Saints reached the pinnacle in 2009, winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship.

During his Hall of Fame speech, Brees delivered an emotional message to the people of New Orleans, reflecting on what the city and its people meant to him.

“You accepted me, you embraced me, you believed in me, but more importantly you trusted me with the soul of the city, and I would have died to protect that calling,” Brees said.

Brees also took time to recognize many of the people who helped him throughout his career, including the late Saints owner Tom Benson, current owner Gayle Benson, general manager Mickey Loomis, his wife Brittany and his children.

And he didn’t forget the hundreds of teammates who shared the field with him during his 20-year NFL career.

Brees gave his former teammates credit for helping him keep going and for being an important part of his journey to Canton.

“Yes, it was for the love of the game, yes it was a relentless attempt to master my craft, yes it was the grind of the challenge and preparation and the thrill of gameday, but do you know what it really was, for the love of my teammates,” Brees said.

For Saints fans, Brees’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame represents more than the recognition of an extraordinary NFL career.

His arrival in New Orleans came at a pivotal moment for the city. His success on the football field became intertwined with New Orleans’ recovery, and his leadership helped create some of the most memorable moments in Saints history.

Brees entered the Hall of Fame Saturday as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of his generation.

But his emotional speech made clear that his greatest pride may not be in the numbers or the individual honors.

It is in the people, the city and the teammates who made the journey possible.

Miguez represents a New Iberia-area district in the state Senate, but his primary residence is outside the boundaries of the 6th Congressional District.

Throughout the three-day qualifying period, there had been speculation over whether Miguez would run in the 5th or 6th Congressional District. He waited until just hours before qualifying closed to officially enter the 6th District race.

Miguez’s decision came two days after fellow Republican state Senator Rick Edmonds qualified for the race and criticized Miguez for not living in the district.

Edmonds said in a statement that he was glad Miguez had finally decided which district to run in. Edmonds also accused Miguez and his supporters of being “panicked” after Miguez lost President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Miguez pushed back against Edmonds’ criticism after qualifying.

“That was an old race, with old district lines, those district lines have changed, but what hasn’t changed is my support for the America First Agenda,” Miguez said. “I plan to work hard to earn his endorsement in this new race.”

Miguez acknowledged that his primary residence is in New Iberia, citing his homestead exemption. However, he also questioned whether Edmonds lives in the 6th District.

“I hope that if he were elected, he would actually move to Louisiana, as well as I, and live in the district and serve peoople, because I intend to do that.

The 6th Congressional District race features 10 candidates on the open primary ballot: six Republicans, three Democrats and one Libertarian.

The seat became open after Fields announced he would not seek reelection.

“We have eight confirmed heat-related deaths so far. Seven of them are 65 years or older, and three of the eight are associated with substance use,” Greenstein said.

From 2023 through 2025, LDH recorded 172 heat-related deaths. Adults ages 65 and older accounted for 38% of those deaths. Greenstein says the number of elderly heat-related deaths signs a call to action for every family, neighbor and caregiver.

Greenstein urges you to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible, drink plenty of water and wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. He also urges you to know the signs of heat illness.

“A racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, weakness; heavy sweating or unusual thirst can give the signs of heat-related illness,” Greenstein explained.

“This district runs on three things: Agriculture, healthcare and education. I’ve worked firsthand with all three, and I’m the only candidate in this race that can say that,” Cordell said.

Cordell, a Republican, joins GOP state lawmakers Stewart Cathey, Michael Echols and Gabe Firment, who qualified earlier this week.

Also, Democratic state Representative Pat Moore from Monroe entered the race before qualifying concluded on Friday afternoon.

The November election is an open primary, and Cordell believes she will appeal to all voters.

“I’m used to working across the aisle. My work with regents has been for higher education; and education is for everybody,” Cordell noted.

You can read more about the other major Republican candidates to qualify here.

Michael Echols, Gabe Firment among handful of candidates qualifying for district five open primary

“The choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting Attorney General, who may not run that department effectively under President Trump and who may not be as good as Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy noted.

Blanche’s former role as Trump’s personal lawyer and his involvement in a controversial IRS settlement have raised questions about his independence. Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski say they’ll oppose him, so Cassidy’s vote was critical to Blanche’s confirmation.

Cassidy got emotional while announcing he will support Blanche for AG.

“I’ll be criticized for this vote; what’s new? But people of Louisiana can be assured that I worked hard to understand the issue and to make the right decision,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy says he came this decision after speaking with two sitting U.S. Attorneys in Louisiana. Both David Courcelle and Kurt Wall supported Blanche’s nomination. The outgoing U.S. Senator also took into account former U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s endorsement of Blanche.

“When former Attorney General Bill Barr endorsed Mr. Blanche, he said ‘Mr. Blanche will run the department as effectively as anyone can under President Trump.’ Some have called that ‘fake praise.’ I don’t think that it is; I think it is a reality,” Cassidy stated.

It’s unclear when the U.S. Senate will vote to confirm Blanche.

“Warrantless mass surveillance is what these flock cameras do. They record the license plates. They can share them without warrants. They can share them with all the different police entities across the country,” McCormick explained.

Flock Safety estimates its technology was used by law enforcement in nearly a million cases nationwide last year, or about one in every five cases. McCormick says there is no doubt the cameras are effective, but Louisianians should not have to sacrifice their freedom for security.

“I’m not going to sit here and make the argument that you can’t solve more crimes like this. I’m going to make the argument that you’re violating the U.S. Constitution and taking away the freedom and liberty of law-abiding citizens,” McCormick said.

McCormick says lawmakers and advocacy groups across the country have voiced opposition to these cameras, and the sentiment is shared in Louisiana.

“I’ve had hundreds, if not thousands, of responses from people that don’t want this. It’s amazing how united the people in Louisiana are against these cameras,” McCormick noted.

Proponents of the cameras argue they capture information about vehicles of interest, not the people inside them. Flock Safety estimates the cameras have been used to help locate around 10,000 missing persons in 2025 and reports 40% of customer agencies report their technology was used in recovering half or more of the stolen vehicles in their jurisdiction.

“I don’t think there’s a greater story in the history of sports than what the New Orleans Saints have meant to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region; and the way that we banded together to fight through some really difficult times, and yet to come out stronger on the other side,” Brees said.

Brees thought his NFL career might be over after an injury to his throwing shoulder ended his career with the Chargers in 2005. Instead, he led New Orleans to its only Super Bowl title and retired as the NFL’s all-time passing leader. He says there are so many people to thank along his 20-year career.

“What an incredible story. Maybe even an unlikely story. And yet, every step of the way, it was just filled with these moments that shaped me and molded me and just gave me so much gratitude,” Brees noted.

Brees will be enshrined alongside running back Roger Craig, linebacker Luke Kuechly, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and kicker Adam Vinatieri. He says that every interaction he has with a current Hall of Famer gives him more appreciation for the honor he is about to receive.

“This is my opportunity to convey my appreciation and gratitude to so many of the people, the places that were a part of this journey. That’s what I’m looking most forward to; all the people I’m going to have a chance to see and appreciate,” Brees stated.

“They seem to have gotten more focused on national politics and all these other issues that don’t matter to most people,” Forbes said.

Forbes says the people of the sixth district have serious issues that need to be addressed, and he feels that Republicans aren’t addressing them.

“Gas and diesel prices and everything else with them are going through the roof. They passed a law that gives tax breaks to rich people while we’re cutting funding for education and health care,” Forbes noted.

Garcia previously qualified in the fifth district and has shifted her focus to the sixth district, since she lives within that district’s boundaries. She echoes Forbes’ sentiment that affordability is one of the biggest issues facing the people of her district.

“All of us are having struggles with paying our bills under these wages; with the inflation, with the tariffs, with the gas prices, with groceries,” Garcia said.

Garcia says the issues facing the people of the sixth district do not have an “R” or a “D” next to them.

“Even the way that they drew the lines; the way that they are, I don’t think that it genuinely makes that much of a difference, in the sense that these are non-partisan issues that cross all parties and lines,” Garcia noted.

Going into the third and final day of qualifying, Forbes and Garcia will so far appear on the open primary ballot with four Republicans. Of course, everyone in the sixth district – and the fifth district – is waiting to see what Blake Miguez decides to do.

“Attorney General Liz Murrill is saying that the plea deal should have remained in effect, the court should have never vacated it; so she hasn’t even gotten to the merit as to why he’s innocent or not. She’s just saying he pled guilty, that should hold,” Webster said.

Webster’s investigation for Verite News and ProPublica found Brooks accepted the plea deal before learning prosecutors had withheld potentially exculpatory evidence, including fingerprints recovered from beer cans handled by the gunmen.

“Elvis’ fingerprints did not match the fingerprints found on those cans. That was the key piece of evidence that later led to his exoneration,” Webster explained.

Webster reports that since Murrill took office in 2024, she has opposed compensation requests in 22 of 23 wrongful conviction cases. Brooks, who now lives on a $994 monthly Social Security check, says the compensation process has been torturous.

“He hasn’t even had a hearing yet, and he filed his claim two years ago. So you can only imagine what that experience has been like for him,” Webster noted.

Murrill declined to comment on Brooks’ case.