FEMA's response to Texas flood slowed by Noem's cost controls  —  As monstrous floodwaters surged across central Texas late last week, officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency leapt into action, preparing to deploy critical search and rescue teams and life-saving resources, like they have in countless past disasters.

Brazil will respond to Trump's 50% tariff with ‘reciprocity,’ says da Silva … Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that his country will respond with reciprocity to U.S. President Donald Trump's newly announced 50% tariff rate on his country's exports …

Comey Tracked by Secret Service After Post Critical of Trump  —  After the former F.B.I. director put a picture on Instagram of seashells arranged to say “86 47,” law enforcement tailed his car and tracked his cellphone, steps usually reserved for serious threats.

Trump says the president of Liberia, where English is the official language, speaks ‘good English’  —  Trump's remarks came during a meeting in Washington with the leaders of several African nations.  Many people who live in Liberia are descendants of freed American slaves.

Trump on Brennan, Comey probe reports: “Maybe they have to pay a price”  —  President Trump responded Wednesday to reports that former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are being investigated over allegations that they made false statements to Congress during the Russia probe.

X Chief Says She Is Leaving the Social Media Platform  —  Linda Yaccarino, whom Elon Musk hired to run X in 2023, grappled with the challenges the company faced after Mr. Musk took over.  —  Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive of X and a top lieutenant to its owner, Elon Musk …

GOP Senators Had No Idea They Voted For Controversial Gambling Tax  —  How the sausage is made in Washington: In the dark and behind closed doors.  —  WASHINGTON - The massive tax and spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law last week contains a provision limiting tax deductions …

Over 2,000 senior staff set to leave NASA under agency push … Many of those leaving also serve in NASA's core mission sets, according to the documents.  Those leaving include 1,818 staff serving in mission areas like science or human space flight, with the rest performing mission support roles like IT …

Measles Cases Hit Record High, 25 Years After U.S. Eliminated the Disease  —  Experts worry that if vaccination rates do not improve, deadly outbreaks will become the new normal.  —  There have now been more measles cases in 2025 than in any other year since the contagious virus …

Biden's physician declines to cooperate in GOP probe of former president's mental fitness  —  Kevin O'Connor, who served as Joe Biden's physician while the former president was in office, is refusing to testify in a closed-door interview as part of the House GOP probe into Biden's mental acuity.

Trump officials used shadowy website to target pro-Palestinian academics for deportation, court records show … The federal judge currently overseeing a trial in the case unsealed the deposition transcripts, which contain hundreds of pages of sworn testimony by administration officials about the campus deportation effort.

Trump Administration Renews Attacks On Harvard With Negotiations Uncertain  —  The Department of Homeland Security issued administrative subpoenas seeking data about the university's international students, while two federal agencies challenged Harvard's accreditation.

Exclusive: Evidence of cell phone surveillance detected at anti-ICE protest  —  Mobile network anomalies consistent with cell phone surveillance were detected at a July 4 protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Washington state.  Those anomalies, according …

Governor Abbott Announces Special Session Agenda  —  Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation identifying 18 agenda items for the upcoming Special Session that begins at 12:00 PM on Monday, July 21.  —  “We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session …

U.S. Pushes More African Countries to Accept Deported Migrants  —  Five countries whose leaders held talks with Trump at the White House were sent a U.S. proposal to accept deportees, document shows  —  WASHINGTON—As President Trump met Wednesday with the leaders of five West African countries …

California awaits disaster relief as GOP offers full support of Texas  —  California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on a trip to South Carolina this week highlighted the plight of Los Angeles communities still reeling from January's devastating wildfires.  —  For months, California Gov. Gavin Newsom …

Noem claims 1 in 6 survivors of Lahaina wildfires had to ‘trade sexual favors’ for supplies … The study found that women had “survival sex” with “a landlord, an employer, family members, friends and acquaintances.”  —  Khara Jabola-Carolus, one of the authors of the Tagnawa report …

ICE Is Searching a Massive Insurance and Medical Bill Database to Find Deportation Targets  —  Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have gained access to a massive database of health and car insurance claims and are using it to track down people they want to deport …

Slingshot Poll: The NYC Mayor's Race, July 2-July 6  —  Slingshot conducted a poll of registered voters in NYC from July 2nd to July 6th.  The poll provides an early look at the electorate after the Democratic primary and ahead of an intriguing general election on November 4th

Putin, Undeterred by Trump's Words, Escalates His War Against Ukraine  —  The Russian leader is convinced that Moscow's battlefield superiority is growing, and that Ukraine's defenses may collapse in the coming months, according to people close to the Kremlin.

Federal workers fear Trump will fire them after court ruling: ‘We are toast’  —  Next steps aren't clear, but the White House says it plans to resume mass government layoffs.  —  Some federal workers cried.  Some shook their heads and began updating their résumés.

'They're killing us': Immigrants complain of inhumane conditions inside NYC holding site … We rely on your support to make local news available to all  —  Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025.  Donate today  —  Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

ICE accused of racial profiling in detentions of Latino U.S. citizens  —  A growing number of U.S. citizens — many of them Latinos — are reporting they were detained for various periods by immigration agents in what critics say were instances of racial profiling and overzealous policing.

DOJ Demands Access to Minnesota's Voter Rolls  —  The U.S. Department of Justice is demanding access to Minnesota's voter rolls, as well as proof of the state's compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), according to a letter exclusively obtained by Democracy Docket.

Texas to take up congressional redistricting in special session  —  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the state Legislature will focus on redistricting during a special session later this year, as Republicans look to defend their narrow House majority in 2026.

Appeals court throws out right-wing influencer's conviction for 2016 election interference  —  A federal appeals court on Wednesday threw out a right-wing influencer's conviction for spreading misinformation online about ways to vote in the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to stifle Democratic turnout.

Elon Musk Consulted Curtis Yarvin, Right-Wing Thinker, on Third Party  —  The two men spoke about Mr. Musk's push to create the America Party before the midterm elections.  Mr. Yarvin has expressed support for a monarchy, along with provocative ideas about race.

Trump taps Sean Duffy as interim NASA administrator  —  President Trump said late Wednesday that he was tapping Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to lead NASA on an interim basis after Trump yanked his original nominee for the post.  —  “Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in handling …

Trump administration sues California over egg standards that drive up prices  —  The Trump administration on Wednesday sued California over egg policies, saying it has driven up prices.  —  The administration has prioritized reducing the cost of eggs, which skyrocketed under …