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July 7, 2025
Texas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local disaster warning systems this year
(Texas Tribune) For the last three days, state Rep. Wes Virdell has been out with first responders in Kerr County as they searched for victims and survivors from the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday morning. Virdell’s closeup view of the havoc wreaked on his district has made a lasting impression, he said, and left him reconsidering a vote he made just a few months ago against a bill that would have established a statewide plan to improve Texas’ disaster response, including better alert systems, along with a grant program for counties to buy new emergency communication equipment and build new infrastructure like radio towers. “I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now,” said Virdell, a freshman GOP lawmaker from Brady.
Go to discussion'You need fewer bureaucrats': Chip Roy uses TX flood as excuse to cut government
(Raw Story) Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) argued that the government should be cut in response to the deadly flooding in Texas over the weekend. In a Sunday interview on Fox News, host Lisa Boothe asked Roy if there was "blame to be assigned" for the deaths of more than 50 people. "Yeah, I mean, in classic Washington, D.C. fashion, everybody wants to politicize everything," Roy replied. "Look, there's going to be time to go review what can be done differently."
Go to discussionTrump planning to visit Texas after deadly floods
(WFAA) President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects to visit Texas this week after deadly floods left at least 82 dead and dozens more missing across the state. Trump told reporters Sunday that he will "probably" visit the Lone Star State on Friday. "We wanted to leave a little time. I wanted to do it today, but we'd just be in their way. Probably Friday," Trump said.
Go to discussionU.S. measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spread
(Washington Post) The United States has reached its highest annual measles case tally in 33 years, hitting at least 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia. The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength. The nation surpassed infections reported in 2019, reaching the largest number of cases since 1992, when officials recorded more than 2,100 infections, according to data published Friday from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI).
Go to discussionSummers: No economist 'without a strong political agenda' says Trump bill good for economy
(The Hill) Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers railed against President Trump’s massive tax and spending bill, saying no objective economist would characterize the legislation as a boon to the economy. “There is no economist anywhere, without a strong political agenda, who is saying that this bill is a positive for the economy. And the overwhelming view is that it is probably going to make the economy worse,” Summers told ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos in a Sunday interview on “This Week.”
Go to discussionDemocrats going after Trump's megabill tell their own stories of needing Medicaid and other aid programs
(CNN) As Democrats rush to define President Donald Trump’s domestic policy and immigration law, a handful of liberal candidates are relying on their personal experiences with programs facing key cuts to highlight the broad scope of the legislation and target Republicans who voted for it. Randy Villegas, who is challenging California Republican Rep. David Valadao in a district with one of the country’s highest concentrations of Medicaid recipients, said that the program covered his mother’s prenatal care when he was born. Arizona’s JoAnna Mendoza credits government assistance programs for allowing her to serve her country as a Marine.
Go to discussionCBP Wants New Tech to Search for Hidden Data on Seized Phones
(Wired) United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is asking tech companies to pitch digital forensics tools that are designed to process and analyze text messages, pictures, videos, and contacts from seized phones, laptops, and other devices at the United States border, according to documents reviewed by WIRED. The agency said in a federal registry listing that the tools it’s seeking must have very specific capabilities, such as the ability to find a “hidden language” in a person’s text messages.
Go to discussionTrump says Musk is 'off the rails' and calls his new political party 'ridiculous'
(The Guardian) Donald Trump called Elon Musk’s decision to start and bankroll a new US political party “ridiculous” on Sunday. “Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it but I think it’s ridiculous,” the president told reporters traveling with him back to the White House from his New Jersey golf club. He then elaborated, at great length, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,” the president wrote. “He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States”.
Go to discussionBeshear: Democrats will 'have strong candidates' in rural states
(The Hill) Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said Sunday that Democrats “will have strong candidates” in governor’s races in rural states led by Republicans. “Your name frequently comes up as a contender for the 2028 Democratic primary for president. You said, ‘I’ll think about it after next year.’ What will make you decide that that’s going to be a yes, you’ll run for president?” CNN’s Dana Bash asked Beshear on “State of the Union.” “So, my primary obligation and what I’m putting all my energy towards is to be the best governor of Kentucky that I can be,” the Bluegrass State governor responded.
Go to discussionDOJ, FBI conclude Epstein had no "client list," died by suicide
(Axios) President Trump's Justice Department and FBI have concluded they have no evidence that convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a "client list" or was murdered, according to a memo detailing the findings obtained by Axios.
Go to discussion