Monday, July 7 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Monday. Welcome back from the long weekend. The holiday has been irrevocably changed due to the devastating flooding in Texas. | - Texas camp confirms 27 dead
- Heroic rescue efforts in Texas
- Weather forecasting under scrutiny
- Texas braces for more flash flooding
- Administration refutes Epstein conspiracies
- Elon Musk launches third party
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This is absolutely gut-wrenching: |
At least 81 people, including 28 children, have died after catastrophic flash flooding in Texas on the Fourth of July. Camp Mystic, a Christian children's camp, confirmed that 27 campers and counselors died, calling it an "unimaginable tragedy." A dozen people from the camp, including 11 campers and one counselor, are still unaccounted for, according to the sheriff's office. What happened?: Heavy rain dumped more than a month's worth of rain in parts of Texas, causing the Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in less than an hour. This washed away areas along the river, including part of a children's camp. Rescuers are still frantically searching for survivors. But search crews are up against time and aware their window is closing. President Trump has signed a disaster declaration to ramp up resources for the situation. |
The big question — how did this happen?: |
The deadly flash flooding has raised questions about preparing for these types of weather events, as well as warning the public. Some have pointed fingers at the Trump administration's cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) for underestimating the fatal event. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) suggested that the NWS cuts should be investigated. Keep in mind the NWS has defended its forecast. And the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) slammed "the mainstream media" for "deliberately lying about the events leading up to the catastrophic flooding in Texas." The DHS then posted its timeline of its forecasting. 🔎 Read DHS's timeline What we know about the warning, per ABC News: The first flood watch alert was issued Thursday afternoon. An urgent warning was issued around 4 a.m. "Local officials have said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area." The looming questions, per CNN: "The National Weather Service warned of 'life-threatening flooding' along the river in a series of alerts in the early morning hours. But questions remain about how many people they reached, whether critical vacancies at the forecast offices could have affected warning dissemination, and if so-called warning fatigue had been growing among residents in a region described as one of the most dangerous in the country for flash flooding." |
➤ TEXAS IS BRACING FOR MORE RAIN: |
➤ NORTH CAROLINA IS ALSO GETTING PUMMELED: |
Tropical Depression Chantal passed through North Carolina last night, dumping heavy rain and causing flash flooding. Roughly 80 people have been rescued by boat, per CBS 17 News. |
Time: Experts Question If Weather Service Was Operating at Its Best Ahead of Texas Floods Amid Trump's Cuts The Washington Post: How the cataclysmic Texas floods unfolded, minute by minute NPR: How good was the forecast? Texas officials and the National Weather Service disagree |
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Will this put an end to the conspiracy theories?: |
President Trump's Justice Department and FBI have determined there is no evidence that notorious convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein kept a "client list" or blackmailed powerful figures, according to a new memo reviewed by Axios. They also determined there is no evidence that Epstein was murdered in jail. Citing the memo, Axios also reports that no one else involved in the case will be charged. Why this matters: This memo debunks conspiracy theories that have floated surrounding Epstein and his death. It is the first time the Trump administration has officially rebutted the theories. Remember when several MAGA influencers were given binders labeled "The Epstein Files" at the White House in February? |
➤ ELON MUSK JUMPED IN TO TROLL HIS EX-FRIEND:
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We have a start date for new tariffs: |
"President Trump is set to send out a first batch of letters Monday to other nations informing them of new tariff rates, but those tariffs won't go into effect until Aug. 1, White House officials said." For context: "Trump has in recent days teased that his administration will begin informing countries of the tariff rate they will pay to do business in the United States, essentially punting on efforts to broker trade deals with dozens of other nations after he paused 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days." Yes, but: "But his top economic officials said Sunday that the new tariff rates would not go into effect for a few weeks still, once again providing potential wiggle room for further negotiations." Read Brett Samuels's reporting in The Hill Keep up: Catch the latest on the tariff deadlines in today's Evening Report. Click here to sign up! | |
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The House and Senate have pro forma sessions. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
4 p.m.: Trump signs executive orders.
6:30 p.m.: Trump hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the White House. |
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🍝 Celebrate: Today is National Macaroni Day. 🦫 I came out of Buc-ee's with both claustrophobia and some excellent snacks: The mega convenience store and gas station with a cult following is expanding. Here's a list of where it is planning to expand |
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