At Least 82 Dead After Floods Devastate Texas

Good morning.

I love snail mail — but this isn’t exactly pen-pal material. The US is gearing up to send out “take it or leave it” tariff letters starting today, outlining the hikes countries will face once the 90-day pause ends on Wednesday. They’ll go to about 100 countries over the next few days, though it’s still unclear who’s actually on the list. While economists warn the tariffs will drive up consumer prices, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shrugged off the concern yesterday as “tariff derangement syndrome.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to the White House today for his third visit since President Donald Trump returned to office. At the top of the agenda: pushing forward a Gaza ceasefire. (Israel just sent negotiators to Qatar to try to advance talks with Hamas.) Now, let’s get to the rest of the news…

— Marina Carver / Senior Editor / Brooklyn, NY

What's Happening

US News

At Least 82 Dead After Floods Devastate Texas

What's going on: Forecasters had predicted a storm was coming for Texas, but they didn’t expect it to drop four months’ worth of rain in a matter of hours. Early Friday, the Guadalupe River in Kerr County (north of San Antonio) surged more than 26 feet. Roads washed out, homes flooded, and entire areas were cut off. More than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours — including some who were found clinging to trees. But the human toll has been devastating: At least 82 people died across six counties, including 28 children in Kerr County alone, where 10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still unaccounted for, according to authorities. A local official said they’ll keep going “until everybody is found,” but steep terrain and continued rain are slowing efforts. It’s unclear how many more people are missing.

Tell me more: President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, unlocking federal resources for emergency crews. Still, the tragedy has sparked tough questions. Analysts say staffing shortages at local National Weather Service offices may have made it harder to coordinate evacuations and warnings. While some positions were already unfilled, The New York Times reports that vacancies doubled in two offices after Trump's return to office. Local preparedness is also under scrutiny. Kerr County doesn’t have a formalized local emergency alert system. One official said installing one would’ve been too costly. Meanwhile, some critics have blamed forecasters — but meteorologists insist there was no way to predict how quickly the storm would intensify.

Related: What We Know About the Texas Flooding Victims (Axios)

Politics

The GOP's Big Beautiful… Backfire?

What's going on: Now that President Trump’s expansive agenda package has been signed into law, Republicans are trying to sell it to voters. But the pitch may be tough. Analysts warn that some of the bill’s provisions — including cuts to Medicaid and food assistance — could hit many working-class Americans, including core Republican voters. Before the bill passed, 53% of voters opposed it, according to June polling. And more than half of Republican voters (51%) say they or a family member have received Medicaid at some point, per KFF numbers. All told, roughly 12 million people may lose health insurance by 2034, the Congressional Budget Office says. But Republicans are trying to shift the spotlight to the bill’s more popular provisions, like tax cuts and border security, and accuse Democrats of voting against those measures.

What it means: Some political analysts say this law could end up being an albatross for Republican politicians, especially with midterms ahead. They point to 2018, when Democrats regained ground after Republicans tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act the year before. But Dems face a challenge too: keeping attention on the law and shaping the public narrative around it. For Republicans, one potential advantage is timing. The starkest measures — like the proposed work requirements for Medicaid — won’t take effect until after 2026. Still, experts warn the political fallout could land in 2028, just as VP JD Vance, Trump’s likely successor, is expected to run for president.

Related: Elon Musk’s “America Party” Wants Your Feedback (AP)

Sports

Wimbledon Is Officially the Ben Shelton Show

What's going on: Somebody needs to tell the British that the Americans are coming, because 22-year-old Ben Shelton is leaving his mark at Wimbledon — on and off the court. He’s gone viral this past week for his antics between serves. At one match, he told the crowd his sister had been at every round of the tournament but had to head back to work. His public plea for her boss to give her more PTO worked, but it also earned him some boos after tennis fans found out who her employer is. Then came his googly-eyed exchange with girlfriend and soccer powerhouse Trinity Rodman. Whether it’s his charm, his game, or the lingering Challengers effect, Shelton has made us all tennis fans.

Tell me more: On Thursday, Shelton was just one serve away from defeating Rinky Hijikata when officials suspended the game because of “poor light.” Shelton argued he just needed “60 seconds” to finish it. He wasn’t far off. The next day, he closed it out in 70 seconds — and booked his spot in the third round. According to ESPN, he’s the fourth American man in the last 20 years to win his first three Wimbledon matches in straight sets. It doesn’t hurt that he was ranked number 10 in the world last month either. As the Wall Street Journal put it, Shelton’s skills and showmanship are putting American tennis players back on the map. Next up: a match today against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Let’s see if he can keep the streak — and the energy — going.

Related: Switzerland Is Getting Ready for a Women’s Soccer Tournament…With New Traffic Lights (theSkimm)

Settle This

Joey Chestnut made a massive comeback at this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. How many dogs did he down?

Extra Credit

Eat

We know, we know: You’ve been burned by “exciting” summer salads before. But this Scoop It Up Kale Couscous Salad from Ambitious Kitchen actually delivers. A happy jumble of flavors and textures, the protein-packed bowl of goodness is loaded with finely chopped kale, tender chickpeas, pebbly pearl couscous, salty feta crumbles, tangy pickled red onions, plump Castelvetrano olives, and a zippy lemon vinaigrette. Scoop it up, as the name suggests, with pita chips, tortilla chips, or even a boring old spoon — and either way, you’ll feel like you’ve got your life together. Even if you’re eating it over the sink.

Game Time

Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.