Scrutiny over Texas flood alerts and conservative anger after Epstein memo release: Morning Rundown
Here's what to know today.
In deadly Texas floods, one town had what some didn't: A wailing warning siren
The death toll as a result of devastating floods in Central Texas rose to at least 104 people across six counties, officials said yesterday. The majority, 84, were killed in Kerr County, including 27 campers and counselors at the 99-year-old Camp Mystic. Seven people were killed in Travis County; four in Burnet County; six in Kendall County; and one in Tom Green County.
Search and recovery efforts are still underway, though the likelihood of finding survivors is growing slimmer.
This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
As the aftermath of the floods comes into clearer view, questions and criticisms have emerged about the timing of the weather alerts sent to people in the area. Some Texas officials have blamed the National Weather Service, arguing it didn't do a good enough job of forecasting rainfall and issuing timely flooding alerts.
In Kerr County, a flood watch was issued Thursday afternoon, and an urgent flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. Friday morning. Downriver in the town of Comfort, a flash flood alert for Kendall County came at 7:24 a.m. Friday — and a wailing siren urging residents to flee provided a last-minute alarm for anyone who hadn't responded to previous warnings.
There were zero fatalities in Comfort, according to Danny Morales, assistant fire chief of the city's volunteer fire department.
It's impossible to know whether a siren system in Kerr County would have saved lives. The systems are meant to alert people who are outdoors, not in bed indoors, as many victims were. And many people in Kendall County were already awake and aware of the dangerous flooding when they were alerted of the threat to their area.
But Tom Moser — a former Kerr County commissioner who began looking into a warning system for his area 10 years ago, after deadly floods in nearby Hays County — believes a system would have been valuable. Records show there were disagreements among officials about the need for a siren system, and the county didn't have the funding it needed.
'I don't know if it could have been 100% preventable,' Moser said of the current disaster's death toll. 'But it could have been improved.'
More coverage of the Texas floods:
Photos and maps show the severity of the flooding along the Guadalupe River.
NBC News' Morgan Chesky, who grew up in Kerrville, wrote about what it's like returning home to cover the tragedy. His parents evacuated in the early hours of Friday morning, and their home is still standing, Chesky wrote, 'but we have friends who this has personally affected.' Read the full essay here.
Community members, like 22-year-old Samuel Cummings, and volunteers from profit organizations have joined authorities in the search for survivors. Cummings, who grew up in Kerrville and swam the Guadalupe River as a kid, said the tragic sight of remnants from Camp Mystic — girls' Crocs, tennis shoes, volleyballs and water bottles — left him 'choked up.'
Trump to push back tariff deadline but unloads new threats
A pause on reciprocal tariffs that had been set to end this week will be extended to the end of the month, the White House said, after President Donald Trump pushed the deadline to Aug. 1. The announcement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt that Trump would sign an executive order came hours after the president published two letters addressed to Japan and South Korea, threatening them with 25% duties and higher ones for items deemed to have been transshipped through their countries. Later in the day, Trump posted letters threatening duties as much as 40% on goods from Laos and Myanmar, 30% on goods from South Africa and 25% on goods from Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
However, Trump's ability to impose the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is under court review.
The pushed-back deadline and threats represent a return to the back-and-forth, on-again, off-again state of affairs that has prevailed before and after Trump's April 2 speech announcing extreme import duties on dozens of countries. While some markets saw dips in light of Trump's threats, some Wall Street analysts are optimistic that this new round of uncertainty may not weigh as heavily on stocks this time around — though it could prove to be a setback for the Federal Reserve. Read the full story here.
More politics news:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump at the White House. Both leaders complimented each other on their alliance in the conflict in Iran and struck an optimistic tone on a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, who along with his wife was injured in a shooting spree that took the life of a fellow lawmaker, was released from intensive care.
Both Republicans and Democrats bet Trump's megabill can help them win big in the 2026 midterms. Here's how.
Conservative anger over Trump admin's latest Epstein memo
A new two-page memo published by the FBI and Justice Department concluded after an 'exhaustive review' that there is no evidence of an 'incriminating 'client list'' or evidence that would lead to additional prosecutions in the case of convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. The memo also concluded that Epstein died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019 and that no evidence was found to suggest he had participated in blackmail.
The findings closely mirror what news outlets have reported for years, but the findings have done little to quell conservative internet and media personalities who have reacted to the memo with skepticism and anger. Elon Musk, who has recently feuded with Donald Trump, reposted a post that suggested a larger government cover-up. Several conservative personalities echoed that idea, including Mike Benz, who worked in the State Department during Trump's first term, and said he believes there is a vast 'deep state' conspiracy. Another commentator said the memo is part of a 'shameful chapter' in U.S. history. Read the full story here.
Read All About It
A man was killed after an exchange of gunfire with Border Patrol agents in South Texas that also left an agency employee and two officers injured.
The Army veteran accused of killing his three daughters in Washington state and disappearing into the wilderness may have been spotted in Idaho.
The leader of an 'orgasmic meditation' business condemned what she believes is a double standard in how her case ended versus Sean Combs' case.
Jasper Philipsen, a Tour de France sprint favorite, crashed out of the race just two days after taking first place on opening day.
'Love Island USA' contestant Cierra Orta left the villa after viewers uncovered old social media posts that contained a racial slur.
Staff Pick: The rising cost of home construction
When the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs at the beginning of April, we wanted to better understand how these policies could affect readers' daily lives. After hearing concerns from home builders about the effects on their businesses, we decided to explore how the cost of building a new house could change due to tariffs.
To get the numbers we needed for a representative sample, we designed a model house, determined every material required to build it and then used trade data to identify which countries the U.S. most relied on for each item. Our interactive visualization takes readers through the step-by-step construction of a house, showing how tariffs could add thousands to home prices at a time when the U.S. is already grappling with a severe housing shortage.
Industry experts we spoke with explained that tariffs don't just add direct costs. They create downstream effects that force builders to pause projects and scramble for alternatives. As additional tariffs loom on the horizon, builders face mounting pressures to make decisions about materials and pricing. According to Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders, it's only a matter of time before consumers feel the effects. — Alex Ford, interactive visual designer
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
This week is stacked with deals. To start, Amazon Prime Day is officially here, and NBC Select has a roundup of the 33+ best deals. We also have a list of everything to shop for or skip during the four-day sale. And while we're at it, we dug into the history of Prime Day, and our editors rounded up their 100 favorite Amazon finds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
10 hours ago
- NBC News
Challenge of predicting Texas floods and SCOTUS allows for mass federal layoffs: Morning Rundown
Meteorologists and forecasting experts say the severity of the deadly Texas floods couldn't have been predicted. The Supreme Court allows Donald Trump to move forward with mass firings. And more pet owners are opting into insurance for their furry family members. Here's what to know today. How extreme weather, geography and timing created Texas' flood disaster At least 161 people are missing after catastrophic floods tore through the Texas Hill Country, Gov. Greg Abbott said yesterday, as the desperate search for survivors continues. The death toll rose to at least 110 people. Meanwhile, scrutiny and questions are mounting about how and when people in the area received flash flood alerts. Among those questions: What actions were taken to notify residents? Were emergency alerts adequate, and who issued them? It was also unclear whether alerts were received on all phones. At a news conference yesterday, local officials and law enforcement in Kerr County couldn't provide basic details of the emergency response. While National Weather Service forecasters had warned broadly about flash flooding ahead of time, the best weather models could not have predicted precisely where the most intense rainfall would land, or that the deluge would stall out over a flood-prone basin, meteorologists and forecasting experts said. Texas state climatologist John Neilsen-Gammon called such a prediction 'next to impossible.' What did happen was that 'all the ingredients came together at the wrong place, at the wrong time, at night on a holiday weekend,' said David Gagne, a National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist. Though NOAA is working to build better weather models, that research is on the chopping block. As science reporter Evan Bush explains, a succession of thunderstorms fed by the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry hit the region. Weather charts showed that the south fork of the Guadalupe River took a direct and prolonged hit. Then, instead of moving on, the storms stalled and dumped 10-12 inches of rain over six hours. Making matters worse, the area — consisting of steep hills and narrow canyons that rapidly funnel water from smaller creeks into swollen rivers — was filled with campers near the river's edge. If the storm had been even five miles in another direction, it would not have produced as much destruction, Nilsen-Gammon said. More coverage of the Texas floods: A 10-year-old who was at Camp Mystic on the night of the floods described the overnight evacuation from her cabin and helicopter flight to safety hours later. The Hunt Store has been a community hub in the small Texas town for decades. And it still is, even after sustaining damage in the floods. Supreme Court allows Trump to move forward with mass firings The Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump, at least temporarily, to move ahead with plans to impose mass firings of the federal workforce and reorganize various government agencies. The decision affects 19 federal agencies, as well as the White House-adjacent Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management and U.S. DOGE Service. The court's decision yesterday was a response to a ruling from California-based U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who blocked Trump's plans in May, saying that while the president can seek to make changes to the workforce, there are limits when they are done wholesale. The Trump administration, however, argued that the president does not need permission from Congress to carry out his duties as stated in the Constitution. The justices made clear that their order is not about the legality of any individual agency reduction in force or reorganization plan, only the legality of Trump's executive order and an administration memo related to workforce plans. Ketanji Brown Jackson, the only justice to provide a written dissent, sharply criticized the decision as 'hubristic and senseless.' Read the full story here. More politics news: Trump said there would be 'no extensions' past the new Aug. 1 deadline for U.S. trading partners to negotiate new deals or face significantly higher tariffs on goods imported from their countries. Trump also said he will impose a 50% tariff on copper imports and would soon announce tariffs at a 'very, very high rate, like 200%,' on pharmaceutical imports. Trump promised more military aid to Ukraine while expressing mounting frustration toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. An unknown person or group used an AI voice to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and contacted at least five high-level government officials, according to a State Department cable. Rural hospitals brace for painful choices Small-town hospitals are buckling under strain from Trump's sprawling domestic policy bill, signed into law last week. It includes sweeping cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and could result in millions of Americans losing health care coverage. The package includes $50 billion for rural hospitals, though it won't be enough to offset the Medicaid and ACA cuts, one expert said. Now, hospitals are already considering how to adapt to a shifting budget, even if some of the Trump bill's changes won't take effect for a few years. Some smaller hospitals are already closing their doors due to growing financial strain. The Nebraska-based Community Hospital said last week that it's shutting down its medical center in Curtis, a town of around 900 people. In Hugo, Colorado, Kevin Stansbury, the CEO of the Lincoln Community Hospital and Care Center, said he may soon have to start cutting services for patients at the 25-bed rural hospital. And in Kansas, Benjamin Anderson, CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said he's evaluating how the only hospital for many residents of South Central Kansas will be able to keep offering all of its services, which include hospice and home care, women's health and pediatric care. The town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, which was hit last year by devastating wildfires, saw dangerous flooding after heavy rain in the area. One video showed a home being swept down a river. A new report includes evidence adding to claims that Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon of war during its Oct. 7 terror attack. Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing has sacked Christian Horner as the team principal and chief executive after 20 years in charge. Travelers no longer have to take off their shoes to go through security checkpoints at airports across the country, thanks to an updated TSA rule. A new lawsuit accuses top officials at the New York City police department of giving promotions to unqualified 'friends and cronies' and a former police commissioner of selling promotions for up to $15,000. My cat Macaroni is pretty unusual, and not only because he can whine loud enough to be heard two floors down or because he's missing a back left paw — but because he's insured. Most pet owners don't buy coverage for their animals. Of the nearly 90 million dogs and almost 74 million cats in the U.S., both species' insured rates remain in the single digits. But that's changing fast, as business intern Evie Steele reports. Spending on pet insurance has grown by at least 20% each year since 2020, hitting more than $4.7 billion last year, according to one industry estimate. Evie found consumers have strong opinions on whether pet insurance is worth it — most policies don't cover pre-existing conditions — but analysts broadly expect the market to keep growing. — Rich Bellis, senior business editor NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified The discounts are just starting on the second day of Amazon Prime Day. Here are the best smartwatch deals from brands like Apple, Samsung and more. And other retailers are offering major sales, too, like Target and Walmart. You can also find deals on vacuums from brands like Dyson, Shark and others.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
How Americans think the government should respond to natural disasters, according to recent polls
Most of the U.S. adults who have experienced major flooding in the past five years think climate change was at least a partial cause, according to polling conducted earlier this year, before the deadly Texas floods. But while Americans largely believed the federal government should play a major role in preparing for and responding to natural disasters, an analysis of recent AP-NORC polls shows less consensus about whether the government should be involved in combating climate change to try to keep extreme weather from getting worse. The polls from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research were conducted in February and June, before catastrophic flooding in Texas killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left others missing. The polls found that Americans generally had a high level of confidence in the National Weather Service and their local weather report, and most thought the federal government should play a central role in alerting Americans to weather events. That trust could now be undermined, as officials face scrutiny over flood preparations and the timing of alerts and evacuations. Although meteorologists warn that human-caused climate change can make bad storms worse, it's unclear if overall views of climate change — and the government's role in combating it — will be altered. Many have experienced recent major flooding About 2 in 10 Americans said they had experienced major flooding in recent years, according to the February poll. And among those, about 7 in 10 said climate change was at least a partial cause of the recent weather events they had experienced. That's in line with the share of Americans who have been affected in the past five years by any severe weather event, including extreme heat, droughts, hurricanes or extreme cold. Those living in the Northeast and the South were more likely to say they had been personally impacted by major flooding in recent years. Most see a role for government in tracking weather events About 7 in 10 Americans believe the federal government should have a 'major role' in tracking weather events and warning people about them, according to AP-NORC polling from June. That includes about 8 in 10 Democrats, compared with roughly two-thirds of Republicans. About 8 in 10 Americans want the government to provide aid to affected communities and help with rebuilding efforts, the June poll found. But there was less agreement on whether the government should be combating climate change to try to keep extreme weather from getting worse. Just over half, 56%, of U.S. adults say the government should have a key role in combating climate change to try to prevent extreme weather from worsening. Scientists have said climate change has led to frequent and more extreme alterations in weather patterns. About 8 in 10 Democrats say the government should play a major role in fighting climate change, compared with about 3 in 10 Republicans. Confidence in the National Weather Service was high before the floods Following the disaster, National Weather Service and local officials disagreed about who was ultimately to blame for the lack of awareness about the flood severity. The AP-NORC polling showed that before the Texas floods, Americans placed a relatively high level of trust in the National Weather Service and their local weather report. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults said in the June survey that they were 'extremely' or 'very' confident in the National Weather Service or their local weather provider. Another 4 in 10, roughly, were 'somewhat confident' in the National Weather Service or their local weather report. Confidence in the Federal Emergency Management Agency was lower. Before the floods, only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults said they were 'extremely' or 'very' confident in FEMA, while about 4 in 10 said they were 'somewhat" confident. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Devastating floods hit New Mexico as houses swept away in deluge after Texas death toll climbs to 111 with 173 missing
FLOOD CARNAGE Devastating floods hit New Mexico as houses swept away in deluge after Texas death toll climbs to 111 with 173 missing MORE devastating floods have hit several locations in America, with homes being swept away in New Mexico. It comes as Texas still reels from its deadly flash floods that claimed the lives of more than 110 people, with a further 173 still missing. 4 A house is carried away by flash flooding in New Mexico Credit: AP 4 Tucker Davis, who lost his home in last year's South Fork Fire, walks his dogs as flash flooding moves through a river in Ruidoso Credit: Reuters 4 Streets have turned into rivers in the mountain town of Ruidoso, NM 4 Emergency first responders in midtown Ruidoso, New Mexico Credit: Reuters In New Mexico, the mountain town of Ruidoso was slammed by a sudden flash flood Tuesday afternoon, sweeping away a father and his two sons. Videos shared online showed homes being swallowed by raging waters as streets turned into rivers. The National Weather Service (NWS) Albuquerque warned: 'A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! 'Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!' The flooding, fuelled by heavy rains on wildfire-scarred land, sent the Ruidoso River surging 15 feet in an hour, reaching a possible record 20.24 feet. Emergency crews have launched nearly 100 swift-water rescues since the flash flood emergency was declared Tuesday afternoon. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford called the flooding "catastrophic" in a radio interview on Tuesday night. He said: 'This one hit us harder than we were expecting.' In Chicago, torrential downpours Tuesday night overwhelmed drainage systems, prompting a flash flood warning that lasted into early Wednesday. What we know so far... At least 110 people lost their lives and a further 173 people are still missing Families of Camp Mystic girls were sent a chilling note letting them know if their daughters lived or died Haunting pictures show empty bunks after 27 girls and counselors were killed Trump is set to visit Texas on Friday as Karoline Leavitt hits back at 'depraved lie' against US President Dad dies in floods after refusing to let go of still-missing sons Staffing shortages may have impacted coordination with local emergency teams as the torrential rainfall hit on July 4 torrential rainfall hit on July 4 Other victims include the niece of the Kansas City Chiefs' owners, and sisters who were found dead with their hands locked together Rain fell at a staggering rate of six inches per hour, submerging viaducts and closing stretches of the Dan Ryan and Eisenhower Expressways. The National Weather Service urged residents 'not to attempt to travel' due to a 'dangerous and life-threatening' situation. Water rescues were reported across several neighbourhoods, including areas near the United Center where over five inches of rain fell in just 90 minutes. Meanwhile, North Carolina is reeling from the deadly aftermath of Tropical Storm Chantal, which dumped nearly a foot of rain across the central part of the state. Three storm-related deaths are being investigated, local outlet WSOC TV reports. Governor Josh Stein called it "a historic weather event" and praised emergency crews for their door-to-door rescue efforts. 'Storms like this show us what is best about North Carolina,' Stein said during a visit to Mebane, where homes were destroyed and dozens of roads remain impassable. It comes as the death toll from Texas' catastrophic floods continues to rise, now at 111 with at least 173 still missing. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that first responders 'will not stop until every person is accounted for.' President Trump is set to visit Texas on Friday, though his administration has come under fire amid claims that National Weather Service staffing cuts may have delayed warnings. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding an investigation into whether vacancies and outdated systems contributed to the scale of the tragedy. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, called the accusations 'a depraved lie,' insisting the NWS 'did its job' and the floods were 'an act of God.' Read our Texas floods blog for the latest updates...
