What's Happening

US News

President Trump's Dual Tests in Texas and Trade

What’s going on in Texas: Harrowing stories are emerging from across the state after flash floods killed more than 100 people — one of the country’s deadliest floods in nearly a century. Authorities rescued one young girl who was found floating on a mattress. In another case, a man stood on top of a meter box for hours until the water receded. One father tried to kayak through floodwaters to rescue his parents and two young daughters nearby, but didn’t make it in time. Search teams are still out, but a local mayor warned they aren’t likely to find more survivors. About a third of the victims were young girls from Camp Mystic, where 10 campers and a counselor are still missing. NBC reports about five million people remain under flood watch. The White House confirmed President Donald Trump will be visiting central Texas on Friday.

What’s going on with trade: President Trump extended a 90-day pause on widespread tariffs (again) — and upped the ante. On Monday, he hit several of America’s biggest trade partners with fresh levies. Japan and South Korea received near-identical letters saying they’ll face 25% tariffs starting in August. Five other countries got similar warnings, with some rates reaching 40%. Trump also threatened to tack on an extra 25% for any country that retaliates. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted this isn’t a new deadline for negotiations — but said it’s now on other countries to decide how to respond. So far, the White House has only reached three trade agreements (despite promising “90 deals in 90 days”).

Related: Meanwhile, Measles Cases Reached a 33-Year High in the US (WaPo Gift Link)

Sports

Is the WNBA's Fandom Taking a Toxic Turn?

What's going on: The WNBA’s growth has led to record TV ratings, attendance, and revenue. But the success has also come with an uglier side: “Tribalism” leading to aggression, heckling, and harassment. Long-time fans say the atmosphere at games has changed. What began as a space to celebrate and uplift women athletes is slowly becoming an arena of profanities. Players have taken notice too. Over the past year, the league has seen an increase in verbal and online abuse directed at athletes, including racist and anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments. Many followers are disheartened by this new, aggressive energy — especially as ticket prices rise alongside demand.

What it means: Analysts partly blame the spike in harassment on the league’s growing audience. More men are tuning in, and some experts say that brings a different kind of baggage — including more machismo. Others say the rise in sports betting is also fueling fan aggression. The problem isn’t limited to the pros either: The NCAA reports that women’s basketball players receive threats at three times the rate of their male peers. Meanwhile, the WNBA launched a new campaign to push back on hate and harassment. Bottom line: Growth is good — but it’s not the same thing as progress.

Related: “Slap in the Face” — Why WNBA Stars Aren’t Happy With the League (CBS Sports)

US News

DOJ Says No Epstein "Client List," No Murder, No New Docs

What's going on: On Monday, the Justice Department dropped a new, highly anticipated memo about Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker. It said there’s no evidence he ever kept a “client list,” blackmailed powerful figures, or was murdered, Axios reports. The DOJ also released 10 hours of security video showing nobody entered his jail cell during that time frame the day he died by suicide. The update came months after the DOJ teased its findings, with Attorney General Pam Bondi telling Fox News in February that a so-called “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now to review.” The department says it has no plans to release any new documents on the case.

What it means: The DOJ’s decision isn’t sitting well with news hounds, true crime fans, and right-wing conspiracy theorists who’ve remained fixated on the Epstein case. Some are questioning the integrity of DOJ leaders, with one far-right influencer calling the update a “shameful coverup.” Analysts and some folks on the left have implied that the DOJ only took this action after Elon Musk insinuated on X that Trump was in the Epstein files — without providing evidence. (Musk later deleted the post, and Trump strongly denied the claim.) The White House defended the DOJ’s actions and called them a commitment to “transparency.”

Related: Where Are the Women of #MeToo Now? (The New Yorker)