This afternoon, I sat down with Texas State Representative James Talerico, who’s currently in Illinois with his Democratic colleagues. Talerico made it clear he’s not intimidated by Governor Greg Abbott or Attorney General Ken Paxton, and said Texas Democrats are ready to remain out of state for as long as it takes to block Republican efforts to gerrymander Texas’ congressional districts. You’ll want to see this interview.
I’ll be bringing you nonstop, in-depth coverage as these high-stakes developments unfold. Stay sharp and stay tuned. With institutions like the mainstream media caving to the White House, independent media is more important than ever to ensure the truth comes out, even as this White House fires those it disagrees with. I’ve committed my full energy to this work, and I’m expanding. Your support directly fuels investigations, coverage, and independence. Join us here — your subscription matters.
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Here’s the news you missed today:
Donald Trump said Republicans are “entitled” to five more congressional seats under Texas GOP’s proposed maps, as Democrats fled to Illinois for a second day to deny quorum. Texas Gov. Abbott vowed to compel their return, while Illinois Gov. Pritzker warned of retaliatory redistricting.
The Texas House failed to reach quorum for a second day as dozens of Democrats fled to block a GOP redistricting plan backed by Trump that could cut five Democratic U.S. House seats. Gov. Abbott and AG Paxton threatened arrests and vacancy rulings; Democrats vowed to “fight fire with fire,” with blue-state governors weighing retaliatory maps.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to seek court orders to remove Democratic lawmakers from office if they don’t return by Friday to allow a GOP-led redistricting vote. Democrats remain in Illinois, backed by national party leaders, defying threats of fines, arrest, and bribery accusations.
Texas Senator John Cornyn urged FBI Director Kash Patel to help locate and arrest Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to block a quorum, calling their actions “potential criminal acts” and insisting they be investigated and held accountable.
The National Park Service announced plans to restore and reinstall the statue of Confederate General Albert Pike in Washington DC, which was toppled and burned during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. The statue is being cleaned and repaired for reinstallation by October, citing historic preservation laws and a Trump executive order to “beautify” the capital.
Donald Trump is threatening a federal takeover of Washington, D.C.:
The Trump administration is weighing whether to release a transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent two-day interview with Deputy AG Todd Blanche, CNN reports. The move comes as the House Oversight Committee subpoenas the Justice Department for records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Epstein scandal widened after the New York Times published letters from powerful figures, including Ehud Barak and Woody Allen, written for Epstein’s 63rd birthday, along with photos from his Manhattan mansion showing surveillance cameras, explicit art, and memorabilia tied to world leaders.
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the DOJ and 10 high-profile former officials, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Robert Mueller, and six ex-attorneys general, for Epstein-related records and depositions. The move escalates congressional demands for transparency as the DOJ weighs releasing a transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent interview.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer from FCI Tallahassee to the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp Bryan, Texas, sparked outrage among current and former BOP staff, who say sex offenders are rarely sent to such facilities. Critics called it a “travesty of justice,” speculating she may be cooperating with authorities.
While on the White House roof, President Trump told reporters he was “trying to build” nuclear missiles, then pointed upward and mimed a launch toward the sky.
Nebraska Republican Rep. Mike Flood was met with boos and “vote him out” chants at a Lincoln town hall, facing questions on Trump’s Medicaid cuts, immigration, and the handling of Epstein files. Flood defended the budget bill, denied supporting fascism, and backed releasing Epstein records.
Lara Trump claimed she’s never heard Donald Trump say anything racist, prompting Charlamagne tha God to laugh and remark, “It’s hysterical. People act like there’s no such thing as Google.”
From a Jordanian military plane, Gaza appears as a wasteland of rubble, dust, and graves — a patchwork of shattered walls, craters, and roads to nowhere, the remnants of cities destroyed not by nature or time, but by Israel’s offensive.
Israeli PM Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for a full military conquest of Gaza amid stalled ceasefire and hostage talks, despite opposition from security officials and warnings it could endanger the 50 remaining hostages, as humanitarian conditions in the territory reach catastrophic levels.
Hundreds of wildfires across Canada and parts of the US have triggered air quality alerts for 81 million Americans in 14 states, with cities like Detroit, NYC, and Chicago among the worst affected. Over two-thirds of Canada’s 747 active fires are out of control, fueled by drought and extreme heat.
A US Coast Guard report deemed the 2023 Titan sub disaster a “preventable tragedy,” blaming OceanGate’s poor safety practices, lack of oversight, and toxic workplace. Investigators cited negligence by CEO Stockton Rush, design flaws, ignored warnings, and hull damage from improper storage as key factors.
Tennessee executed Byron Black, 69, despite legal battles over whether his implanted defibrillator should be deactivated to prevent potential shocks during lethal injection. Black, who had multiple severe health issues and claimed intellectual disability, was convicted of killing his girlfriend and her two daughters in 1988.
Tesla shareholders filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Elon Musk and the company of securities fraud for overstating the safety and readiness of its Robotaxi program. The suit follows a failed June test in Austin, NHTSA scrutiny, and a $68bn market value drop after the rollout.
The National Weather Service will hire 450 meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians after DOGE cuts reduced staffing by over 550 since the start of Trump’s second term. The hires will focus on “front-line mission critical” positions, partially reversing losses that strained hurricane forecasting and response to events like July’s Texas floods.
