So much News and it is only Wednesday… Here a Few Headlines Citizen Ben is Focused On
This week in America continues this year’s feeling of a pressure cooker ready to blow. From deadly floods in Texas and secret Epstein files rattling Washington, to a Republican power grab in the middle of a disaster zone, every headline feels like the opening scene of a political thriller. Meanwhile, inflation ticks upward, the dollar falls, deportation raids spark street protests, and Trump realizes his boyfriend, Putin, is playing him. Buckle up: the stories shaping the nation this week aren’t just dramatic, they’re defining.
1. Devastating Central Texas Floods
In early July, Central Texas was hit by historic flash floods, with rainfall equivalent to nearly four months’ worth of precipitation pouring out in just hours. The tragedy has claimed at least 134 lives, including over 100 in Kerr County, and left more than 100 missing. Rescue operations are challenged by renewed rains, and federal and state resources have been mobilized under disaster declarations by both Governor Greg Abbott and President Trump. It stands as the deadliest inland flooding event in the U.S. since 1976. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is under fire for her delayed response to the crisis. Noem says criticism of federal response to Texas flooding is ‘all politics’.
2. Texas Republicans Push GOP-Favoring Redistricting During Crisis
Amidst flood recovery efforts, Texas Governor Greg Abbott convened a special legislative session to redraw congressional maps, aiming to create five new Republican-leaning districts. This move, reportedly encouraged by Donald Trump, has sparked controversy: even GOP lawmakers fear it could destabilize other seats, while Democrats are already planning legal challenges over what they see as racial gerrymandering.
3. Epstein Files Ignite a Rift Between Republican Leaders
Tension over the Jeffrey Epstein files is boiling up within Republican ranks. House Speaker Mike Johnson is breaking with President Trump by publicly demanding their release, a move met with pushback from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Trump dismisses the files as “fabricated,” deepening fractures in GOP unity. Listen to the Podcast
4. Inflation Rises Amid Tariff Tensions
June’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 2.7% year-over-year, up from 2.4% . Analysts attribute this uptick to tariffs on apparel and furnishings, which are pushing the core CPI further away from the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. With pressures from rent and energy costs, the Fed is now expected to delay rate cuts until at least September. On top of that, the dollar has lost its Value. Read Related Article
5. Immigration Enforcement & Civil Unrest
The Trump administration is intensifying immigration enforcement, pulling 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles but continuing aggressive ICE strategies and deportation policies. This has spurred widespread protests, particularly in L.A., San Francisco, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and beyond, against mass deportations and federal enforcement tactics. Read Related Article
6. U.S. Shifts on Ukraine: Sending Patriots, Plus Major Putin Announcement Expected
Marking a significant policy pivot, the U.S. is now accelerating military aid to Ukraine, including Patriot air-defense systems funded by the EU. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg recently arrived in Kyiv, ramping up support amidst intensified Russian aggression.
7. “The Big Beautiful Bill” Refused to Die — Threatening Rural Health Care
What the administration cheerfully branded as the One Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) is proving far less so for rural America. What was sold as a package of sweeping tax cuts and modernization is now triggering $1 trillion in Medicaid slashes over the next decade, while unveiling a meager $50 billion relief fund for rural health systems that experts say can’t come close to covering the gap.
Rural hospitals, already operating on thin margins, face imminent collapse; more than 300 may close simultaneously, and over 700 are in jeopardy. One small-town clinic in Curtis, Nebraska, a staunchly Republican stronghold- is scheduled to close by September.
While the bill requires states to develop transformation plans to qualify for aid, experts caution that billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts, new paperwork, and work requirements will result in coverage gutted for up to 12 million low-income Americans. Read Related Article or The Podcast
It Matters
- Climate & Crisis: The Texas floods highlight America’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure.
- Polarized Politics: Texas redistricting and the Epstein file dispute illustrate deepening partisan divisions and internal fractures within parties.
- Economic Volatility: Inflation tied to trade policy underscores the delicate balance between political objectives and economic impacts.
- Social Upheaval: The immigration crackdown is sparking real-world resistance, reflecting broader discord over federal authority and human rights.
- Global Stakes: Shifts in U.S. policy on Ukraine signal a recalibration of American influence abroad, especially in Europe and Eastern Europe.
- If Congress doesn’t revisit BBB provisions, rural families will face the real-world consequences of clinic closures, ambulance deserts, and longer drives for basic medical help—all under a bill that claims to be “beautiful.”
Expect, Watch, Monitor
- Expect court challenges and protests in Texas on both the flooding aftermath and redistricting.
- Watch for the Justice Department’s next move on the Epstein documents.
- Monitor inflation data and Fed signals—rate decisions could hinge on these trends.
- 📢 Believe in truth and accountability? Share this.
citizenben.substack.com.
