
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.
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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.

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The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Heat advisories and warnings issued for Southeast and Midwest as temperatures and humidity soars
It's always hot in the summer in the U.S. Southeast, but even by the standards of Florida and the Carolinas, the steamy heat wave on tap for the region Saturday into the coming week is a little extreme. The National Weather Service issued heat advisories for a large swath of the East Coast from central Florida to Virginia through much of the weekend. Highs in the upper 90s F (mid 30s C) were forecast for central Florida, with heat indexes reaching 105 degrees F to 110 degrees F (40.6 C to 43 C). The outlook was similar up through Georgia and the Carolinas into Virginia. Extreme heat warnings were out for much of eastern North Carolina, as far inland as Raleigh, and extending into a corner of South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach. Forecasters warned of dangerously hot conditions with temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 F (38 C) in some areas on Sunday and heat indexes up to 115 F through Sunday evening. 'Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. the weather service advised. "Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay informed.' The weather service said several major metropolitan areas in the Southeast — including Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg in South Carolina, and Atlanta in Georgia — were expected to face an extreme heat risk for several days, with minimal overnight relief. It said over 30 million people would likely be affected at the peak of the heat wave through midweek. A hot, humid weekend was also in store for the Midwest. Extreme heat watches were out for eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and southern Minnesota. Heat indexes were expected to reach 96 F (36 C) on Saturday and go even higher on Sunday in Minnesota. And an extreme heat warning was out for the St. Louis, Missouri, area through Tuesday evening, with highs around 99 F (37 C) and heat indexes around 110 F forecast for Monday and Tuesday. Parts of Iowa were hit by storms Saturday morning that dumped between 2 and 5 inches (5 to 13 centimeters) of rain in some areas and triggered flash flood warnings.


Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
MIKEY SMITH: 7 wild Donald Trump moments as protests rage against Scotland visit
The weather is breezy with occasional drizzle, which may dampen his hopes of a few rounds of golf - while angry protesters tell him to go home Hello from Turnberry, Scotland where Donald Trump is enjoying the first day of a nice, relaxing holiday. The weather is breezy with occasional drizzle, which may dampen his hopes of a few rounds of golf. But hey, at least he gets to spend tomorrow with EU chief Ursula Von Der Leyen and Monday with Keir Starmer. He arrived late last night on Air Force One at Prestwick Airport, before being whisked down the coat 35 miles or so to the resort in a huge motorcade, headed up by the infamous Beast limousine. He's already been spotted driving a motorcade of golf carts around the course this morning. So far the locals I've spoken to are mostly ...'meh' about Trump's arrival. A handful have said they like the guy because he presumably brings money to the area. Other long-term residents told me the course has never made much money anyway. Which was true until last year - when it went from a profit of £186,000 in 2023 to £3.8 million. Here's what's happened since Trump World arrived in Scotland that you need to know about. 1. Trump claims he was never given a briefing about his name being in the Epstein files On the tarmac at Prestwick airport last night, Trump claimed he had never been given a briefing that indicated his name was included in the Epstein files. That directly contradicts reporting from the Wall Street Journal earlier in the week, which said he'd been given such a briefing in May - and was told his name appeared multiple times. And he said himself last weekend that he'd been given a short briefing by Attorney General Pam Bondi - but indicated at the time that his name was not in there. 2. He got a few strokes in before the rain Trump was spotted on the golf course at Turnberry getting a bit of peace before it started raining. A major security operation has surrounded US President Donald Trump as starts his private visit to Scotland. The president headed to his Trump Turnberry resort - which he bought in 2014 - after arriving in the country on Friday night. On Saturday morning he was seen on the golf course there, wearing a white cap and driving a golf buggy. Ahead of that, a large number of police and military personnel have been spotted searching the grounds at the venue in South Ayrshire. Various road closures have been put in place, with limited access for both locals and members of the media. Having seen how the President is protected in the US, I'm confident saying the exclusion zone around the resort is larger and the police presence greater than anything he gets in the States. Normally around 300 secret service agents travel with the President, backed up by teams from local law enforcement and specialised teams. But the estimated number of police assigned to Turnberry this weekend is reportedly around 5,000 - which is more officers than protect the White House. 3. Protests planned, but maybe not on Trump's doorstep Co-ordinated anti-Trump protests are being held in Edinburgh and Aberdeen today to mark the US President's arrival. A rally outside the US consulate in Edinburgh kicked off at noon. In Aberdeen, the group that gathered in the city centre were seen waving banners with anti-Trump slogans - with one demonstrator even dressed as the president with a large papier mache head. Some members of the crowd also showed their support for Palestine, waving Palestine flags. 4. He really doesn't want to talk about giving Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon After he was a little vague before leaving Washington about the prospect of a pardon for convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell , who was paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's madam for many years, Trump swerved the question yet further on arrival in Scotland. He claimed he had "not really been following" his Justice Department's two-day re-interview with Maxwell in prison - which was being conducted by his former personal lawyer, now Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "A lot of people have been asking me about pardons," he said. "Obviously, this is no time to be talking about pardons. "You're making a very big thing over something that's not a big thing." It also emerged last night that Maxwell had been given "limited immunity" in the meetings with Blanche - meaning she can't be prosecuted over anything she reveals in them, so long as she tells the truth. Her attorney David Oscar Markus - who is a friend of Mr Blanche, and appeared on his podcast last year - said Maxwell "answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability." He added: "She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question, so we're very proud of her." Maxwell, whom he is proud of, is serving 20 years for five counts of sex trafficking. 5. Cancel the windmills! Among other topics Trump decided to be more angry about than Jeffrey Epstein upon his arrival in Scotland was the preponderance of renewable energy sources in Europe. Trump's war on windmills started in Scotland, remember - back when he had a lengthy legal battle with the Scottish government over the windmills visible from his Aberdeenshire course. And he's basically been radicalised on the subject, and will believe any nonsense conspiracy theory about them killing whales and giving people earache or whatever. Last night he said to European leaders: "Stop the windmills. You're ruining your countries. I really mean it. It's so sad. You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds and if they're stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans." Because windmills are so much more ugly than, for example, large coal mines or oil fields. Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the world attempts to keep up with Trump's antics, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 6. The trade deal is 'done' Trump was asked at the airport what the remaining sticking points were in the trade deal with the UK. He said there aren't any, suggesting there won't be any future changes. This will be a disappointment to the government, who were still kind of hoping there'd be some wriggle room on the 10% blanket tariffs. Despite Trump's words last night, a Downing Street source said the two leaders would discuss trade as part of their meetings on Monday. Asked what they'd be discussing, if not the trade deal, Trump said: "We're going to do a little celebrating because we get along very well." 7. Eric's coming, look busy I spoke to a shopkeeper near Trump's golf course last night, who gave a fascinating insight into the President's visits to Turnberry. "You can tell Eric's coming," he said, referring to Trump's son, who is joining the President on the trip. "Because of how the staff are acting." What did he mean by that? "They know Eric's really in charge of the resort, not Donald, and he's very particular so they're all more scared of him."


The Guardian
13 hours ago
- The Guardian
US heat dome causes dangerous conditions for more than 100 million people
More than a 100 million people in the US will face dangerous conditions over the weekend as a heat dome that has scorched much of the center of the country nudges eastward. Heat advisories were in place on Friday all across the north-eastern coast from Portland, Maine, to Wilmington, North Carolina, with the daytime heat index temperatures 10 to 15F above average in some places. Overnight temperatures will also be very warm and oppressively muggy, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). While thunderstorms, some of them severe, are expected to break the heat by Friday night for the north-east, heat and humidity will continue to build further south with the most persistent and dangerous conditions expected across the south-east and Tennessee Valley this weekend. The heat index is what the temperature feels like when humidity is taken into account. New York City is forecast to swelter under a 106F heat index on Friday afternoon – slightly higher than Phoenix, Arizona, the hottest major city in the US. In the south-east, the heat index could exceed 115F, risking the health and lives of people without access to sufficient cooling or adequate hydration, the NWS warned. 'This will be a long duration heat wave, with little to no overnight relief and high humidity levels, leading to an increased danger,' the federal service warned. High temperatures and high humidity increase the risk of heat exhaustion, heat illnesses and death, with children, older people and those with existing physical and mental health conditions at highest risk. Outdoor workers – gardeners, builders, farmers, and delivery workers – along with unhoused people and those with substance use issues are particularly vulnerable. A heat dome is a particular weather phenomenon where hot air is trapped over a region by a stalled high-pressure system causing high temperatures on the ground. With little cloud cover due to the stuck high-pressure system, the sun's rays directly hit the ground, further increasing the heat. While heat domes cause heatwaves – which are becoming more frequent thanks to the climate crisis – there can be heatwaves without heat domes. Climate scientists have found that heat domes are getting hotter due to global heating caused by humans burning fossil fuels. And while the latest dome in the US is moving slowly, it continues to cause dangerous conditions in parts of the mid-south to mid-Mississippi Valley, with heat alerts still in place from Oklahoma to West Virginia. In the so-called corn belt, the midwestern and some southern states where most corn is farmed, a phenomenon known as corn sweat exacerbates the humidity, and can increase the heat index by as much as 10F. This is due to the pores on the underside of maize leaves, where oxygen – and water vapor – are released, Justin Glisan , state climatologist of Iowa, said in an interview with CBS News. Meteorologists have also forecast flash flooding from north-east Kansas to much of Indiana, as well as possible scattered thunderstorms across parts of New England, the northern mid-Atlantic, and North Dakota. Meanwhile dry, windy conditions have triggered a red flag wildfire warning for parts of Utah and Oregon.