Christopher Flavelle

How the G.O.P. Bill Saves Money: Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork

“The Trump administration has prided itself on deregulation, cutting rules for business processes throughout the government. But when it comes to antipoverty programs, this agenda moves in the opposite direction, making individuals work harder to prove they qualify for government programs.”

Video captured the moment a road buckled and sent a car flying as a heatwave impacted Missouri on Sunday.

Trump Is Calling Up National Guard Troops Under a Rarely Used Law

“It is the first time since 1965 that a president has activated a state’s National Guard force without a request from that state’s governor.” www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/u...

Groundwater is rapidly declining in the Colorado River Basin Groundwater is rapidly declining in the Colorado River Basin

New research shows depletion of groundwater in the Colorado River Basin far exceeds losses from the river’s reservoirs. Scientists say overpumping is leading to alarmingly rapid declines while climate change is putting growing strains on water supplies. Video: www.latimes.com/00000197-1da...

How American communities are preparing for hurricane season June 1 marks its official start and NOAA says it could be a busy one.

Thanks to @the1a.org for having me on to talk about what's happening at FEMA, and why it matters: the1a.org/segments/how... @npr.org

Marshals’ Data Shows Spike in Threats Against Federal Judges

“The total number of judges threatened this fiscal year — 277 — represents roughly a third of the judiciary.”

NEW — I’ve obtained audio of new acting FEMA head David Richardson threatening staff in an all hands meeting this morning.

As first reported by Reuters, he told those who resisted change in the agency, “Don’t get in my way…I will run right over you.”

Listen to the clip here:

Hey thanks. These stories almost write themselves.

Trump, Gold Lapel Pins and the Slippery Slope of Political Iconography (Gift Article) A lapel pin in the likeness of President Trump, worn by the chairman of the F.C.C., raises some questions.

Lapel pins “became particularly potent in China under Mao Zedong, where wearing a lapel pin in the form of Mao’s profile became a widespread sign of commitment.”

Head of I.R.S. Is Ousted Amid Treasury’s Power Struggle With Elon Musk (Gift Article) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained to President Trump that the acting commissioner had been installed without his knowledge.

“Mr. Faulkender will be the third acting leader of the agency this week.”

Justice Department Lawyers Are Struggling to Defend Trump’s Policies in Court (Gift Article) Inside the department’s civil division, litigators are squeezed between judges demanding answers and bosses’ instructions to protect the Trump agenda at all costs.

“At times, the lawyers representing the Trump administration seem to have little understanding of what the White House is doing, or why.”

How Trump’s Tariffs and Immigration Policies Could Make It More Expensive to Build a New Home (Gift Article) Take a line-by-line look at the estimated costs of building this four-bedroom home in Phoenix, Ariz., under President Trump’s agenda.

“The house that Mr. Anderson is building was listed for sale in early March for $2.65 million. If building it had cost him another $236,000, Mr. Anderson said he would have listed the house for as much as $2.9 million.”

Take a ride with RCMP as they patrol Canada-U.S. border in ways never seen before amid Trump concerns | CBC News RCMP in the Windsor, Ont., detachment have been patrolling the Canada-U.S. border in ways they've never done before since President Donald Trump pushed for increased security between the countries. "W...

This story from the CBC, about Canadian law enforcement being reassigned to patrol the border for drugs:

“In the first four months of these patrols, he said, it hasn't really yielded much, in part because the waterways aren't very active in cold weather.”

Thanks!

Musk Targeted FEMA. Disaster-Stricken Communities Are Paying a Price. (Gift Article) A FEMA funding freeze illustrates the extraordinary power of Elon Musk and DOGE, who have made claims of undue benefits for undocumented immigrants and spurred swift action by federal officials.

Hello Bluesky! This is my first post, and I'm starting with a story I published today, about FEMA halting almost all its grant funding. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/us/politics/musk-fema-immigrations-doge-freeze-aid.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7E4.IepP.vPJ_HHn4Amqb&smid=bs-share