July 9, 2025
President Trump Announces U.S. Will Send Weapons to Ukraine
He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.
President Donald Trump during a televised cabinet meeting on Tuesday, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comments come after Pres. Trump’s announcement earlier this week that the U.S. will resume sending weapons to Ukraine after a pause last week. Pres. Trump says Ukraine needs to defend itself amid intensifying attacks from Russia and a wall in ceasefire negotiations.
Learn More:
- Trump to Resume Sending Weapons to Ukraine (The Wall Street Journal Gift Link)
- Trump Says Putin Throws ‘a Lot of Bullsh-t,’ Considers Sanctions Bill (Time)
More Than 150 People Still Missing from Texas Floods
Just in the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing. We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Tuesday in a news conference; the possible death toll of the Texas flooding over the weekend could surpass 200. The flash flooding early Friday morning caused at least 109 deaths so far, with crews continuing search and rescue efforts. Gov. Abbott also added in his news conference that the Texas emergency alert system will be addressed during a special legislative session later this month after receiving criticism it did not work effectively during the floods.
Learn More:
- At least 111 dead and more than 170 still missing in catastrophic Texas flooding, officials say (CNN)
- At least 161 people missing in Texas floods as death toll rises to 109 (The Washington Post Gift Link)
SCOTUS Says Pres. Trump Can Temporarily Proceed With Changes at Federal Agencies
The Constitution does not erect a presumption against presidential control of agency staffing, and the President does not need special permission from Congress to exercise core Article II powers.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer (attorney representing Pres. Trump) on the Supreme Court’s decision allowing Pres. Trump to temporarily move forward with reductions and restructuring at federal agencies. The ruling does not represent a final decision on whether such changes are constitutional — but it does block a lower court ruling from May that halted the administration’s changes. Only one justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented, saying, “This decision is not only truly unfortunate but also hubristic and senseless.” What this order means for federal agencies remains TBD. In response, a coalition of unions, nonprofits and local jurisdictions issued a joint statement, saying, “This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution.”
Learn More:
by Emily Hooker, based in Texas
