Good morning, everyone. If you believe in holding power accountable and making sure the truth reaches the American people, your support means everything. Please consider subscribing today to help me keep this work going.
Here’s the news:
More than 20 young girls missing due to devastating flooding in Texas. Updates:
At least 24 dead, up to 25 missing after flash floods along the Guadalupe River caused by torrential rain on Friday. Many of those missing are young girls attending a local summer camp.
Catastrophic flooding hit near Kerrville, 104 km (64 miles) northwest of San Antonio, after the river rose 26 feet (7.9 m) in under an hour.
Flooding swept away mobile homes, vehicles, and holiday cabins during 4 July weekend celebrations. Rescue efforts ongoing: 237 people evacuated or rescued, including 167 by helicopter.
Affected area includes Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp. Massive emergency response: 14 helicopters, drones, and hundreds of personnel deployed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
State of emergency declared in several counties.
President Trump pledged federal support, stating, “We’ll take care of them.”
Kerr County officials shocked, citing no prior indication of disaster on this scale. Many of the local officials blamed weather predictions for not predicting that this would occur. Many are now questioning whether or not the cuts made to prediction services by the President played a role.
More rain forecasted, with additional flooding expected downriver, including near Waco.
All other news:
Faith leaders condemn Trump’s budget bill: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, joined by other Christian and Jewish leaders, criticized President Trump’s $1 trillion tax and spending package for its “unconscionable” cuts to Medicaid, food aid, and environmental protections, while funding immigration detention and deportation efforts; despite strong opposition, the bill passed Congress and Trump has signed it.
The Old Glory Club (OGC) is a nationwide, far-right, men-only fraternal network with at least 26 chapters in 20 U.S. states, including members from the military, legal, and civil service sectors. It promotes antisemitic and extremist ideologies through podcasts, conferences, and online content, and has ties to prominent far-right figures.
Experts warn the OGC represents a new wave of extremist organizing that builds offline social networks first to lower the barrier to far-right participation. Formed in 2022 and incorporated in 2023, the group has grown during Donald Trump’s political resurgence, pushing racist and violent ideologies.
Vicky Pebsworth, a longtime vaccine skeptic who believes vaccines caused her son’s autism (a claim disproven by extensive research), has been appointed to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), along with seven others handpicked by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now U.S. health secretary.
RFK Jr. ousted all 17 previous ACIP members in June, replacing them with ideological allies like Pebsworth, raising concerns from experts who question the objectivity and scientific integrity of a vaccine safety panel led by individuals with strong anti-vaccine beliefs.
Trump signals TikTok deal progress: President Donald Trump said the U.S. “pretty much” has a deal on the sale of TikTok and will begin talks with China—possibly with President Xi or his representatives—on Monday or Tuesday.
Honduran family released after courthouse arrest lawsuit: A Honduran mother and her two children, who filed what’s believed to be the first child-led lawsuit against immigrant arrests at courthouses under Trump-era policy, have been released from detention; their suit claims their arrest outside a Los Angeles immigration court violated their constitutional rights.
Transneft executive dies in fall: Andrei Badalov, 62, vice president of Russian state-owned pipeline giant Transneft, was found dead Friday after falling from his luxury high-rise apartment in Moscow.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant outage: All external power lines to the Russian-occupied plant were down for 3.5 hours due to suspected Russian shelling; power was restored, but the IAEA warned that nuclear safety in Ukraine remains "extremely precarious." Diesel generators were used to maintain reactor safety during the outage.
Massive Russian attack on Kyiv: Following a Trump-Putin phone call, Russia launched one of its most severe assaults yet on Kyiv, using over 550 drones and missiles. Zelenskyy called it a "deliberate act of terror" and a direct message about Moscow’s view on diplomacy.
Zelenskyy-Trump call: Zelenskyy and Trump discussed air defense, military production, and investment. Trump expressed frustration with Putin, stating, “I don’t think he’s there,” and acknowledged Ukraine would need systems like Patriot missiles due to ongoing attacks.
German support for Ukraine: Germany is in advanced talks with the U.S. to purchase more Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, with Chancellor Merz raising the issue with Trump during a recent call.
New Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap: Both sides announced a fresh exchange of prisoners, though neither disclosed numbers. Zelenskyy shared images of freed Ukrainian troops wrapped in national flags.
Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia: Russia reported downing 42 Ukrainian drones in several regions, including near St. Petersburg. No casualties or damage were reported, though operations at Pulkovo airport were temporarily suspended.
Upcoming European defense talks: French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a meeting with European leaders to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s defenses. The talks will be held via video link during Macron’s visit to the UK.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
Share this post