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America Party, Texas Flood, & Drug Imports
News without the noise
Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,087 words, a 4-minute read.
What’s on tap:
Hunger grows in the US
Trillions of shares traded so far this year
Minneapolis’ hidden sewage cave
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Big Stories
America Party
Elon Musk announced the formation of a new political party after breaking with Trump.
The world's richest person launched the "America Party" on July 5, one day after President Trump signed massive spending legislation that Musk had tried to stop. Musk wrote on X that "we live in a one-party system, not a democracy" and declared the new party would "give you back your freedom." Musk had spent $290 million helping Trump get elected and led the Department of Government Efficiency before breaking with the president over the bill.
Trump's "big beautiful bill" includes tax cuts, increased military and immigration spending, and deep Medicaid cuts while adding $3.4 trillion to the national debt. Musk actively tried to rally congressional opposition and threatened to support primary challengers, writing that Republicans "who voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their heads in shame!"
Musk plans to target 2-3 Senate seats and 8-10 House districts in 2026, aiming to win enough seats for his party to control key votes. The strategy puts him in direct conflict with the Republican Party he spent millions to elect, threatening to split conservative voters in competitive races.
Texas Flooding
A Texas flash flood killed at least 82 people near San Antonio.
Gov. Abbot said 49 people are confirmed unaccounted for. Ten girls and an employee from Camp Mystic remain missing after it was destroyed Friday before dawn. The flood struck during the July 4th weekend when the area's century-old camps were packed with visitors. Search crews continue to look for survivors amid rising waters, ongoing flooding, and the threat of water moccasins.
The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, catching residents and campers by surprise in an area locals call "flash flood alley." Survivors described clinging to trees and fleeing to attics as fast-moving waters swept away homes and vehicles. One 13-year-old camper said rescuers tied ropes for girls to hold while crossing a bridge with water "whipping around their legs."
Questions are mounting over why some camps weren't evacuated after flash flood warnings were issued hours before the storm hit. While nearby Mo-Ranch moved hundreds of campers to higher ground after monitoring the weather, Camp Mystic was still operating when the flood struck.
Food Insecurity Grows
More Americans are struggling to afford food despite a booming economy.
Food insecurity has nearly doubled since 2021, with 15.6% of adults now saying they sometimes or often don't have enough to eat, according to Morning Consult data. Food banks report demand has surged 120% over three years, even as the stock market hits record highs.
The rise began in 2022 when Congress scaled back pandemic-era SNAP benefits and the expanded Child Tax Credit, which had driven down poverty rates. Philadelphia-area food bank executive George Matysik says, “as soon as the government support pulled back, we started to see the numbers go up,” as families lost assistance and grocery prices climbed.
Food policy experts expect the crisis to worsen under President Trump's recent legislation, though many changes won't take effect until 2028. The bill tightens SNAP work requirements, raising the age limit from 54 to 64 for adults who must work to receive benefits. It also removes exemptions for more parents. Congressional Republicans argue the cuts will push people into jobs, but millions are expected to lose benefits entirely.
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Quick Stories
US News
President Trump signed an executive order requiring higher national park entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping lower prices for Americans, potentially generating over $90 million annually for improvements. (More)
Treasury Secretary Bessent announced tariffs will return to higher April levels on August 1 for countries without trade deals, extending the original July 9 deadline by three weeks for negotiations. (More)
Tropical Storm Chantal hit South Carolina Sunday morning with 50 mph winds, bringing dangerous flash flooding and life-threatening surf conditions as it moves inland across the Carolinas with heavy rain. (More)
World
Colombian police arrested the alleged mastermind behind the assassination attempt of conservative senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, who remains in intensive care after being shot during a speech. (More)
Paris opened three Seine swimming spots after 40 years of cleanup efforts, ending a century-long swimming ban caused by severe sewage pollution that made the river completely unsafe for bathing. (More)
Israel sent a delegation to Qatar on Sunday for Gaza ceasefire and hostage talks with Hamas despite Netanyahu calling the militant group's proposed changes to the deal "unacceptable." (More)
Business & Economy
US stock markets closed higher on Thursday (S&P +0.83%, Nasdaq +1.02%, Dow +0.77%). A better-than-expected jobs report fueled the S&P and Nasdaq to record highs. (More)
OPEC+ countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, decided Saturday to pump an additional 548,000 barrels of oil daily starting in August, which could help lower gas prices for American drivers. (More)
Individual investors traded a record $6.6 trillion worth of stocks in the first half of 2025, buying $3.4 trillion despite market volatility from tariffs, war, and economic uncertainty. (More)
Sports & Entertainment
Mexico beat the United States 2-1 in the Gold Cup final Sunday with a late header from captain Edson Álvarez, dealing a disappointing blow to American World Cup preparation efforts. (More)
Jurassic World Rebirth ruled the Fourth of July holiday box office with $318.3 million globally in five days, earning $147.3 million domestically and $171 million internationally. (More)
Joey "Jaws" Chestnut reclaimed his Nathan's Famous hot dog eating title Friday with 70.5 hot dogs consumed, while Miki Sudo also won her 11th consecutive women's championship, eating 33 dogs. (More)
Science, Health, & Tech
San Diego startup Gallant raised $18 million to develop the first FDA-approved ready-to-use stem cell therapy for pets, targeting painful mouth conditions in cats by early 2026. (More)
Scientists found that diquat, now used instead of glyphosate in Roundup, is more toxic and harms organs worse than the original ingredient. It is banned in most other countries. (More)
Researchers discovered a 125,000-year-old Neanderthal "fat factory" in Germany where they systematically broke animal bones to extract marrow, showing these early humans were much more sophisticated than previously thought. (More)
Extra Credit
Visualizing how many US pharmaceuticals are imported from China.
Watch: Why water towers are built that way.
Underground sewage lake lurks beneath Minneapolis.
AP’s best movies of 2025 (so far).
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