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U.S. NEWS

Texas Flood

A flash flood tore through the Texas Hill Country early Friday, killing at least 70—including 21 children. 

The Guadalupe River surged over 20 feet in under an hour, swallowing homes, RVs, and cabins. Among the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls ages 7-17 located on the river. Up to 13 inches of overnight rainfall inundated the camp, prompting a chaotic emergency evacuation as floodwaters reportedly swept some cabins away. 

Eleven campers and a counselor remain unaccounted for; 5 deaths have been confirmed, including the camp’s director, who died saving campers. 

Search-and-rescue crews—over 400 emergency personnel plus Coast Guard and DHS support, aided by drones and helicopters—are combing the area by air and water. Governor Abbott has mobilized the National Guard to assist and issued a disaster declaration for 15 counties.

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BE DOERS
Times of tragedy are also times of opportunity. We’re matching $2,000 in donations to victims of the flooding in Texas. Your donation can be to any organization helping, but our match is going to our partner, Operation Blessing, a faith-based nonprofit with boots on the ground and a record of doing great work. 

(Email a picture of your gift to [email protected] for it to count towards our match.)

“Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”  
Hebrews 13:16 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Big Beautiful Bill Law

Republican lawmakers met President Trump’s July 4th deadline for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

The final vote was delayed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) 8 hour and 44 minute speech, the longest House speech in history, but ultimately confirmed 218-214 (two Republicans and all Democrats voted “nay”). President Trump signed it Friday afternoon at the White House, complete with a B2 bomber flyover.

The law accomplishes much of Trump’s domestic agenda, making 2017's tax cuts permanent and funding immigration enforcement; critics dislike the projected cost—an additional $3.3T in national debt and lost Medicaid coverage for 11.8M Americans over the next decade.

On Thursday, at a rally in Iowa, Trump suggested America’s 250th birthday celebration next year will include a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House, with 25K fans in attendance.

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Verse to consider when overwhelmed by politics… “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 
Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) (read full passage)

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U.S. NEWS

Split Verdict

Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on two of five charges.  

The disgraced hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution—one involving his ex-girlfriend, former singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another involving an anonymous woman; Combs was acquitted of more serious charges—sex trafficking and racketeering (a form of organized crime involving extortion). 

Both Combs’s and Ventura’s lawyers considered the verdict a victory. Combs’s team pointed to the case as an example of “what the system can do,” while Ventura’s lawyers said that by coming forward, she “left an indelible mark” on the entertainment industry and “the fight for justice.”

Combs faces up to 20 years in prison but is expected to receive less than 10; he will remain in custody until his sentencing (the date is still TBD).

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Whether justice is served or not in American courts, we can always count on perfect justice and inexhaustible mercy from the courts of heaven. The Lord is not swayed by the power and wealth that tempt us toward partiality, and his verdicts restore what sin has broken.

“The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.” 
Deuteronomy 32:4 (CSB) (read full passage)

Tariff tensions are reheating up. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned yesterday that countries without trade deals by August 1 could expect import duties to “boomerang” back to April’s Liberation Day levels. A three-month tariff pause ends Wednesday, with just 3 of 90 countries having made deals. Bessent says letters outlining new rates are being signed, sealed, and delivered this week.
 

New political party, who dis? Elon Musk announced on X Saturday that he’s forming a new political party—dubbed the “America Party”—after his recent feud with President Trump over the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The world’s richest man said he hopes to win about a dozen battleground Congressional seats and give Americans “back [their] freedom”—though he hasn’t given details on party ideology.
 

Prime Minister Netanyahu is headed to the White House as truce talks between Israel and Hamas resume. On Friday, Hamas said it responded “in a positive spirit” to a new U.S.-backed 60-day truce plan but had a few amendments. Israel has reportedly accepted the original terms as is and called Hamas’ requested changes “unacceptable.”
 

The U.S. job market didn’t take a summer vacation in June. Instead, 147K jobs were added, beating expectations of ~110K, while unemployment dropped from 4.2%  to 4.1%. Most of the gains were in government (especially education) and healthcare, while private-sector hiring slowed. Wage growth was modest (+0.2% monthly), and labor force participation dipped.
 

For the first time in 16 years, Oasis is performing live. The British band, known for hits like “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall,” kicked off their 41-date world tour in Wales on Friday. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher arrived hand-in-hand—a departure from the last time they appeared onstage (in 2009), which ended with thrown punches.

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