NEW: Trump is pushing to delay a ban on intoxicating hemp products that experts warn can be dangerous. Among the beneficiaries is Susie Wiles' son-in-law. Bret Worley, who married Caroline Wiles in June, runs a company that sells intoxicating hemp gummies & vapes with names like “Trainwreck.”

Trump Seeks a Boost for Hemp That Would Benefit a Top Aide’s Family (Gift Article)

At the White House’s request, senators tucked a change sought by the hemp industry into a crucial spending bill. It would benefit the son-in-law of Susie Wiles, the president’s chief of staff.

nytimes.com

If SCREEN were to pass, you'd be required to scan your face and upload an ID to access this site because it allows "harmful" material. This affects you even if you don't care about sex work or porn.

404 Media@404media.co · yesterday

Mike Lee's SCREEN Act, which heads to Senate Commerce Committee for markup on Wednesday, would expand age verification requirements to a nearly limitless scope of websites, and is supported by the architects of Project 2025.

Good point. This is just energy costs. So the $600/household figure doesn’t represent the whole shebang. bsky.app/profile/stev...

Steven Lyons@stevenlyons.bsky.social · yesterday

And that’s just fuel cost, correct? Imagine the cost of military expenditures on top of that.

Republicans held a hearing on Medicaid fraud today, so I asked a top health expert: what bill delivered the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history?   Yep. Trump's Big Ugly Bill.   Seems to me like the biggest Medicaid theft actually happened last year in Congress.

NEW: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he's willing to "micromanage" Corpus Christi's water crisis. But he's gone quiet on the financial troubles of an agency that could help expand the region's water supply — despite Abbott having appointed its entire board. With KRIS 6 News and @texastribune.org

Greg Abbott Blasted Corpus Christi for Its Water Crisis. A River Authority He Has Power Over Is Falling Apart.

The Nueces River Authority is working on a project that could expand the Corpus Christi region’s water supply. But the Texas governor has done little to address the agency’s financial problems, despit...

propublica.org

Don't let the American government decide what books you and your family are allowed to read. action.everylibrary.org/hr_7661 via @everylibrary.bsky.social

PETITION: Don't Let the Federal Government Regulate Your Reading

Not one country's freedom and liberty has ever been increased by banning books.

action.everylibrary.org

I’m going to be sick. Even the photo they chose — I painted in that exact spot during a concert one of my summers. From the 1970s to the 2010s, which includes the three years I attended. When my friends were there. Back to when some of their *parents* were campers. www.mlive.com/news/2026/07...

Epstein, 46 others linked to decades of sex assaults at Interlochen, over 70 victims

An investigative report two years in the making was released Tuesday, July 28, detailing decades of sexual abuse at Interlochen Center for the Arts by staff, trustees, visiting artists and Jeffrey Eps...

mlive.com

When Texas asked the data center industry to report how much water they consume, fewer than 1/3 of companies responded. Less than 17% responded to a separate, "mandatory" survey by the Texas Water Development Board.

With Texas’ Data Center Boom, Uncertainty Is the Business Plan

Proposed projects are driven by sketchy numbers nobody has to prove: inflated demand, water use most companies never report, power plans that route around ordinary review. Either way, the public pays.

texasobserver.org

Folks… check out the innovative new sustainability venture from my good friend Katherine. She’s my former CBS News climate producer, now she rescues and restores stuffies, finding them a new home. It’s located in Vermont. Also how can I add this to a sustainability list?

The Bunny Bin@thebunnybin.bsky.social · last wk.

Left national news to rescue secondhand stuffies, clean them, repair them, and rehome them. In a job market this bad, I don’t miss how much journalism broke my heart. Now I spend my days elbow-deep in something I can actually fix. (And yes, I’m positively drowning in toys.) 10/10 would recommend.

Breaking from Flatwater: Sexual abuse-related allegations at a state-run Kearney youth center are far more widespread than previously known, according to a new investigation, which says the center’s culture allowed the alleged abuse. Read more at flatwaterfreepress.org / link in bio

“There’s unfortunately very little airline staff can do to stop this. While there are rules regarding passengers who are disobedient or belligerent, preaching doesn’t necessarily cross a line.” You have got to be fucking kidding me.

Hemant Mehta@friendlyatheist.com · last wk.

Evangelist Whitney Lynn says she preaches on planes because she loves “a captive audience.” She's not alone. It's becoming a trend. If spreading your message requires listeners who can't escape, maybe it's not as compelling as you think. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/christian-...

DEVELOPING: The wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was shot multiple times last night in Northern Virginia, allegedly by their son, NBC News reports. nbc4dc.com/CrkunTr

Wife of Eric Bieniemy shot in Ashburn; couple's son arrested, authorities say

Mia Bieniemy, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was shot and seriously injured Sunday night in Northern Virginia.

nbc4dc.com

“.. The number of Amazon workers relying on the federal programs for the poor nearly tripled between February 2020 and September 2025 .. “.. And for the first time, ride-hailing and app-based food delivery companies .. ranked among the top three ..” $AMZN www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

good article and, crucially, a good list at the end of cookware/kitchenware lines that are still quality (and family owned)

@laperry2.bsky.social · 2w ago

www.worseonpurpose.com/p/your-cookw...

WHAT. A. STORY. The Kleptocrat Nesting Dolls Behind Trump’s Potemkin Gas Stations prospect.org/2026/07/20/k...

The Kleptocrat Nesting Dolls Behind Trump’s Potemkin Gas Stations - The American Prospect

How can Freedom Fuel afford to sell gas for $3.47 a gallon? That’s the wrong question to ask.

prospect.org

WSJ: Israel’s $50 Million Experiment to Change U.S. Public Opinion By Maggie Severns, Josh Dawsey and Natalie Andrews The Israeli government is trying to shore up its U.S. reputation with help from influencers, Trump insiders and millions of AI-driven texts. Gift link! @natalieandrews.bsky.social

Israel’s $50 Million Experiment to Change U.S. Public Opinion

The Israeli government deploys AI and payments to conservative media to try to beat back the tide of unfavorable U.S. views about its handling of wars in Gaza and Iran.

wsj.com

Politicians usually show up at the border to demonize & fear-monger. We just drove 750 miles from El Paso to the Valley to show off the beauty & potential of our border communities. We’re showing up for Texans along the border who've been left behind by both political parties.

A father in Idaho, speaking to police after his child died by suicide: “There is a huge amount of animosity, every single day, thrown at trans kids. The whole fucking country. The whole fucking administration, every single fucking day.” Please read this important story by @joyurcaba.bsky.social

Idaho pushed anti-trans laws for years. Then a teen died.

The life and death of May Pollard, 16, provides a window into the tragic effect that legislation and political rhetoric have had on trans people in America.

nbcnews.com

“.. Historically, candidates for state-wide office in Iowa .. have avoided criticizing the agriculture industry, opting instead for platitudes about how Iowa’s farms ‘feed the world.’ This year is different.” @politico.com #IAsen www.politico.com/news/magazin...

BISON: “.. So the Iran war is back on, and it's like we're in March - except a TACO has already been tried and failed, and SPRs and commercial inventories are depleted.” www.bisoninsights.info

#Tesla splits: A #Cybertruck and 10 other vehicles were hit by an out-of-control moving van today. It happened on US 29N near Fairland Rd in Montgomery County, MD. 10 people hurt, including 3 children. No life-threatening injuries. Video & images from CivicViewPro.com, except where noted. #crash #MD

Wait, when the focus was Taco Bell, the media were using photos of the Taco Bell logo. Now we know it’s Taylor Farms and we’re using a photo of a head of lettuce? Here, use this

paris martineau@paris.nyc · 3w ago

New: Late last night, Taylor Farms quietly posted an official recall notice We now know that the parasite-linked iceberg lettuce was shipped to Walmart & food distributors in 27 (!) states It was for some reason still being sent out up until Thursday July 16 www.consumerreports.org/health/food-...

More than 100 of Governor Abbott’s buoys broke loose during deadly floods in Texas. Buoys with sharp razors are now causing damage to neighborhoods and have shut down a bridge that transports thousands of vehicles a day.

This is the D.C. reflecting pool x one million. The billions in U.S. taxpayer money wasted, the terrible idea that every border resident warned against, and zero transparency from the administration. Bienvenido al shit show. www.theborderchronicle.com/breaking-new...

Breaking News: Laredo on Alert as Trump's Buoys Cause Chaos on the Rio Grande, Close International Bridges

Hundreds of massive orange buoys staged for a controversial DHS floating barrier project broke free near Eagle Pass and are now drifting toward Laredo, threatening bridges, commerce, drinking water su...

theborderchronicle.com

Unearthed records just revealed that Ken Paxton owns 15 homes on a government salary. This includes luxury real estate in Hawaii, Utah, and Florida.

It's right there, in the 3rd goddamned graf of your story. 2/2

DISTURBING report from Dan Haar of Hearst. ICE/DHS had videographers deceptively wear "MEDIA" markings at an arrest. It's "part of a long tradition of authoritarian governments...creating confusion with what is independent media and what is government propaganda." www.instagram.com/reels/Dav_je...

Murray: Is it true that people making under $184,000 pay a 12.4% Social Security tax rate? Dahl: Yes. Murray: And what is the rate for someone making $1,000,000? Dahl: 2.2%.

Radio traffic from response to Sen. Graham’s home: Emergency radio traffic indicates that Senator Lindsey Graham suffered chest pains before going into cardiac arrest Saturday night. Efforts to revive the South Carolina lawmaker were not successful. Graham died two days after his 71st birthday.