NATIONAL

Tragic Floods in Texas Reveal the Perils of Anti-government, Anti-Regulation Conservatism: Flash floods overwhelmed Kerr County in Texas, leading to over 130 deaths and 170 missing, including several children at Camp Mystic. Emerging reports reveal how mistrust of government and lack of public infrastructure led to the disaster: 

• Refusal of Federal Funding: Kerr County officials had previously rejected federal grants to install advanced flood warning systems. In many rural Texas communities, there is a deep-seated skepticism of federal involvement, which has historically led to the rejection of FEMA programs and climate resilience funding.

• Cuts to NOAA and NWS: Key NWS regional offices—including San Antonio and San Angelo, covering the flood zones—had multiple vacancies when the floods struck.

• Massive Call-Handling Failures: Internal FEMA documents reveal that two days after the floods, around ⅔ of calls to its disaster assistance line went unanswered. Prior to the disaster, Florida’s Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, did not renew call-center contracts, triggering abrupt staffing gaps—calls dropped from ~3,000 to 846 in a day, then plunged to only 16% answered two days later. NY TIMES, CNN, TEXAS TRIBUNE 
  

Similar FEMA response failures have been reported in South Dakota. 

US Supreme Court Clears Way for Trump Officials to Resume Mass Government Firings: the justices on Tuesday lifted a lower court order that had frozen sweeping federal layoffs known as “reductions in force” while litigation in the case proceeds. The U.S. State Department immediately fired more than 1,300 employees Friday in line with a dramatic reorganization plan from the Trump administration that critics say will damage America’s global leadership and efforts to counter threats abroad. THE GUARDIAN, AP NEWS

DESI NEWS

Green Card Holders Impacted by Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill:  Low-income green card holders still within the mandatory five-year waiting period for Medicaid, along with refugees and domestic violence survivors, would be among those most affected by the loss of subsidized health insurance under the measure. NEWSWEEK

CORRUPTION ALERT

Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Personal Friendship:  US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Brazil with a crippling tariff of 50% after alleging that President Lula is undertaking a “Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!” over charges against its right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, who has bragged about his closeness with Trump, is facing trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against Lula. CNN

‘Alligator Alcatraz' built with help from Republican donors: The shameful detention center in Florida for people seized by ICE is being built with lucrative contracts handed to Trump and DeSantis donors. ROLLING STONE, AP

Trump's Bill Makes It Easier For Rich To Buy A Personal Jet: Part of the spending package that just passed the Senate is the permanent restoration of the 100% “bonus depreciation” federal law, which allows businesses to write off the full amount of qualifying items in the year of purchase. The policy is often associated with big-ticket luxury items, such as private aircraft, and its institution last decade led to a boom in jet sales. FORBES

HEALTH & SAFETY

FEMA Will No Longer Go Door-to-Door to Assist Disaster Victims:  FEMA, that has come under fire for its terrible response to floods around the country, is making significant changes to how it will respond to disasters on the ground this season, including ending federal door-to-door canvassing of survivors in disaster areas. MOTHER JONES

GOOD NEWS FOR PROGRESSIVES

Thank You TSB Volunteers, Your Efforts Paid Off (part 2)! State laws that let a 10-member committee of the Legislature override regulations are unconstitutional, a majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The ruling hands the administration of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers a victory in an ongoing battle with the Legislature’s Republican leaders. URBAN MILWAUKEE

JUST THE HEADLINES

• Grok, the AI-powered chatbot created by Elon Musk’s xAI, began pushing antisemitic tropes after Elon Musk vowed to fix its “liberal bias.”

• President Trump on Monday extended his administration’s hiring freeze of all federal civilian positions for another three months, leaving in place the moratorium into the start of fiscal 2026.

• TSA to end shoes-off policy for airport security screenings.

• The Internal Revenue Service agreed in a court filing that churches can endorse political candidates without fear of losing their tax-exempt status. 

• Elon Musk says he has formed a new U.S. political party, the ‘America Party’
  

TAKE ACTION

Just as our win in Wisconsin shows, local and state elections are a great way to combat the forces of fascism and authoritarianism at the federal level. This November, TSB is working on elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. These state offices protect the American people from the worst impacts of federal policy that is geared towards the wealthy. Join us as we make an all out push to get Democrats out to vote. Write to us at tsbmarcomm@gmail.com with the subject line “I want to help.”