The text discusses creating a thematic map of current drought conditions in the United States using data from the US Drought Monitor. The author guides through the steps to design and style the basemap, add the reference layer with state labels, project and style the drought monitor readings, and customize additional map elements such as a legend, title, and data source citation. The final map combines these elements to display drought severity across the United States, using a multi-hue sequential ramp color scheme. The author also provides a bonus template for comparing drought readings over different time periods.