What You Must Know: This week, Washington is a research in contradictions. Hakeem Jeffries broke a report with a nine-hour speech blasting Trump’s newly signed “Massive Stunning Invoice,” which threatens deep cuts to healthcare and social applications. The Supreme Court docket cleared the best way for Trump’s plan to chop the federal workforce prefer it’s final season’s vacation finances, whereas Texas reels from lethal floods that uncovered gaps in emergency response. Haitian immigrants secured a authorized win to maintain their protected standing by way of 2026, and the Nationwide Park Service would favor all of us kindly shut up about, nicely… historical past.
Hakeem Jeffries Delivers Report 9-hour Speech Blasting BBB
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries delivered a record-breaking 9-hour speech Thursday night time, slamming the newly signed “Massive Stunning Invoice” as a direct assault on working-class People. Talking from the Home flooring, Jeffries criticized the invoice’s proposed cuts to Social Safety enlargement, healthcare entry, and environmental protections, calling it “a merciless blueprint for inequality.” His marathon remarks broke the earlier report held by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, drawing applause from fellow Democrats and sparking backlash from GOP leaders.
Quotable: “Budgets are ethical paperwork,” Jeffries stated, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “And in our view, Mr. Speaker, budgets ought to be designed to elevate folks up. This reckless Republican finances that we’re debating proper now on the ground of the Home of Representatives tears folks down.”
Supreme Court docket Greenlights Trump’s Federal Workforce Downsizing Plan
The U.S. Supreme Court docket on July 8 cleared the best way for the Trump administration to proceed with a sweeping plan to downsize the federal workforce. The Court docket’s choice overruled decrease courtroom orders that had briefly blocked the initiative, which goals to scale back authorities spending by eliminating redundancy and inefficiency throughout federal businesses. The plan is being coordinated by the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE). Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning that the choice to permit sweeping federal workforce cuts bypassed vital congressional oversight and threatened democratic accountability.
What’s subsequent? Federal businesses will proceed with deliberate layoffs and restructuring efforts geared toward decreasing the scale of presidency employees. This might have an effect on hundreds of federal workers throughout a number of departments. Critics warn that speedy downsizing may disrupt important authorities companies, delay initiatives, and cut back total effectiveness in public applications.
Central Texas Floods Depart Over 100 Lifeless, Dozens Lacking After Historic Rainfall
Central Texas skilled catastrophic flooding from July 4 to July 7, with the loss of life toll climbing previous 100, and 172 folks nonetheless lacking as of July 8. The catastrophe primarily affected Kerr County, together with the Guadalupe River Basin, the place water ranges rose quickly as a consequence of 5 to 11 inches of rainfall in a brief interval.
The larger image: Residents within the Central Texas flood zone have voiced frustration over an absence of well timed communication from native officers in the course of the disaster. Many reported receiving little to no advance warning earlier than floodwaters surged, leaving communities unprepared for the speedy and devastating rise in water ranges. Households in hardest-hit areas, together with these close to the Guadalupe River Basin, expressed issues that outdated communication methods and inadequate outreach hindered efficient catastrophe response. Officers have acknowledged challenges in coordinating alerts amid the unprecedented flooding however face rising strain to enhance communication infrastructure to raised shield residents in future emergencies.
The “Massive Stunning Invoice” has Been Signed Into Legislation. What Occurs Now?
States should now implement many provisions of the Massive Stunning Bill, a course of anticipated to set off administrative overhauls, tighter eligibility screening, and new compliance methods, significantly for Medicaid and SNAP. As governors and legislatures decide learn how to roll out stricter work necessities and navigate funding restrictions, some might select to restrict enrollment, cut back profit ranges, or shift extra prices onto native businesses. The end result may very well be important variation in public help entry throughout states.
Background: President Trump signed the “Massive Stunning Invoice” into regulation on July 4, launching one of the important overhauls of federal spending in many years. The laws imposes sweeping cuts to applications like Medicaid and SNAP, introduces new work necessities, and presents non permanent tax aid for seniors. Almost 12 million People might lose well being protection below stricter Medicaid guidelines, whereas an estimated 5 million threat dropping meals help as a consequence of expanded work mandates.
Decide Blocks DHS From Chopping Haiti TPS Early; Standing Now Protected By means of Feb. 2026
A federal choose has blocked the federal authorities from ending Non permanent Protected Standing (TPS) for Haitian immigrants, preserving protections by way of February 2026. The ruling, issued on July 1 by District Court docket Decide Brian M. Cogan in New York, discovered the Trump administration’s 2018 try to terminate TPS for Haitians to be “arbitrary and capricious,” violating federal regulation.
The affect: The choice presents aid to just about 200,000 Haitian nationals who’ve constructed lives within the U.S. after fleeing political instability and pure disasters. Many stay in mixed-status households, and advocates say the ruling protects them from separation and deportation. Haitian-American leaders referred to as the result a serious victory, particularly in states like Florida and New York, the place massive Haitian communities reside. The Division of Homeland Safety prolonged TPS by way of early 2026 final 12 months; the ruling now ensures that safety stays legally enforceable.
New Nationwide Park Indicators Advise Guests to Report “Detrimental Historical past”
Nationwide Park Service indicators now instruct guests to report any shows deemed “damaging about both previous or residing People,” a transfer critics say might whitewash historical past. The Division of the Inside issued a June memo directing all parks—together with Manzanar Nationwide Historic Web site and Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park—to submit QR-coded signage soliciting public suggestions on “damaging” content material, in addition to areas needing restore or enchancment.
Critics’ take: Public response to the brand new Nationwide Park Service indicators advising guests to report “damaging” historical past has been swift and overwhelmingly vital. Social media customers, historians and former park guests have flooded remark sections and park hotlines with issues that the initiative encourages censorship moderately than transparency.