MAGA Superman Meltdown is Pathetic, Trump FREAKS OUT, Tries to Shut Down Jeffrey Epstein Questions
PDS Published 07/08/2025
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The Trump-Musk feud has erupted once again, this time over a new third party and the truth about Jeffrey Epstein.
Right, so let’s start with the new party.
With Elon Musk polling his followers on whether they want one, and with 1.2 million votes cast, 65% said yes. [Post]
Leading Elon to proclaim, “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.” [Post]
Now as for the party platform, the details are still foggy, but we can expect a heavy emphasis on reducing the debt, deficit and government spending.
And then beyond that, Elon confirmed that it’ll also include modernizing the military with ai/robotics, promoting tech, accelerating AI, reducing regulations across the board but especially in energy, promoting free speech, promoting pro-natalism, and pursuing “centrist policies everywhere else.” [Post]
Furthermore, when asked his position on guns, Elon said, “The Second Amendment is sacred.” [Post]
And asked whether the America Party will embrace Bitcoin, Musk replied, “Fiat is hopeless, so yes.” [Post]
But of course, the platform means nothing if you can’t seize power, and on that front, Elon has a long road ahead of him.
Right, first of all, to register as a party and get ballot access, he’ll need to jump through a web of state and federal rules, including onerous petition signature requirements.
With Elon just saying about that: “Not hard tbh.” [Post]
Then, he’ll need to recruit candidates and build support, which some are skeptical he can do because right now the party’s constituency doesn’t appear to be well-defined.
With Elon just saying it’ll represent the “80% in the middle.” [Post]
And finally, he’ll have to overcome the institutional resistance to third parties that’s baked into America’s political system.
Because unlike parliamentary systems, where small parties can start off by grabbing just a few seats and building off that, our system requires candidates to win outright majorities before taking power.
But Elon laid out his strategy on X, explaining:
“The way we’re going to crack the uniparty system is by using a variant of how Epaminondas [Pronounce 00:10] shattered the myth of Spartan invincibility at Leuctra [Pronounce 00:26]: Extremely concentrated force at a precise location on the battlefield.” [Post]
Elaborating that “One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts. Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.” [Post]
But as many have noted, that strategy could backfire.
Because if an America Party candidate runs but falls short of winning, they could act as a spoiler for the Republican.
In fact, that was the prediction of Grok when somebody in Elon’s replies asked it to respond, with it saying:
“Creating an America Party, as proposed by Musk amid his Trump feud, could splinter the GOP vote in swing states like PA, GA, AZ, WI, MI, and NV. In 2026 midterms, it might tip close House/Senate races toward Democrats by drawing disaffected conservatives (e.g., 5-10% vote share per polls). For 2028 presidential, a third-party run could spoil Electoral College outcomes, similar to Perot '92, favoring the non-Trump candidate if it pulls right-leaning independents. Success hinges on ballot access and funding.” [Post]
But of course, Elon disagrees with that, writing, “America party could soak up a lot of the existing Dem base that feel politically homeless / hate extremism.” [Post]
With him also reposting Scott Adams when he wrote:
“If you are an ‘analogy thinker,’ you compare Musk's new America Party to Ross Perot's third-party run and conclude it is bad for Republicans. But that would only be the case if Musk someday backs an American Party candidate for president, and I don't see that in his plan. If Musk only backs individual Senators and Representatives for his new party, as he has hinted, all he does is give Republicans a new way to get past politics to solutions the country wants and needs, such as deficit reduction.” [Post]
But Elon himself noted that although “the focus for the next 12 months” is on the House and Senate, “backing a candidate for president is not out of the question.” [Post]
Which is definitely not something you wanna hear if your name happens to be Donald Trump.
And so unsurprisingly, the president unloaded on Truth Social, writing:
“I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States - The System seems not designed for them. The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds! Republicans, on the other hand, are a smooth running “machine,” that just passed the biggest Bill of its kind in the History of our Country. It is a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time. … I have campaigned on this for two years and, quite honestly, when Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate - It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had. He said he had no problems with that - I was very surprised!” [Post]
With Trump then going on to say that Elon asked him to appoint Jared Isaacman, a “close friend” of Elon, as NASA administrator. [Same post]
But Trump eventually pulled the nomination, claiming that he had learned Isaacman previously donated to Democrats, and adding:
“I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life.” [Same post]
But according to The New York Times, Trump was informed about the donations prior to nominating Isaacman, and only pulled the nomination after the feud with Musk. [Quote, find “disclosed”]
But Elon shot back with another flurry of posts, though this time about something a little different: Jeffrey Epstein.
Because Axios just reported that a two-page memo from the Justice Department concludes that there is no evidence Epstein kept a client list, blackmailed powerful elites, or was murdered in prison. [Quote, first line]
With it releasing both raw and enhanced videos purporting to show that nobody entered Epstein’s area of the prison the night of his death.
So wrapping this up, the memo states that no one else in the Epstein case will be charged, and no further disclosures are warranted. [Quote same link, find “will be charged” and “warranted”]
All of which is a sharp reversal for FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, both of whom questioned the official narrative on Epstein as political pundits before taking office.
And you know… a lot of people simply have no idea why these men would suddenly change their tune; I mean, we just have no idea who might benefit from this being put to bed. [Flood of assets]
No, of course, the big elephant in the room is the accusation that Trump’s somehow implicated in the case, and that his White House is covering it up.
Which is something many Democrats have long suspected, but then Elon Musk threw gasoline on that fire last month when he claimed Trump’s name was indeed in the files.
With him later deleting that post and expressing regret, saying he went too far. [Post]
Well now, apparently the gloves are back off, because he’s been going off with posts Like:
“What’s the time? Oh look, it’s no-one-has-been-arrested-o’clock again …” [Post]
Then reposting another user’s statement that “If the entire government is protecting pedophiles, it has officially become the government against the people.” [Post]
And then sharing a meme parroting the Trump administration, saying “We will release the Epstein list; we just need more time,” then “the Epstein list is on my desk,” then “there is no Epstein list.” [Post]
With that seemingly referring to past statements by White House officials, particularly Alina Habba [Pronounce], a counselor to President Trump.
[Clip, 00:00 - 00:15] Caption: [Interviewer:] “The DoJ may be releasing the lists of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients? Will that really happen?” [Alina Habba:] “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review. That’s been a directive by President Trump. I’m reviewing that. I’m reviewing JFK files, MLK files.”
[Clip, 00:04 - 00:08] Caption: “We have flight logs. We have information, names that will come out.”
As well as that stunt a little while back where Attorney General Pam Bondi gave 15 right-wing influencers binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1,” which turned out to contain nothing but already publicly available information. [Image]
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Has Superman gone woke?
Because JamesGunn, the writer and director of the new Superman movie, just had to defend himself from a wave of right-wing backlash after saying the superhero’s story is an immigrant’s story.
This whole saga started over the weekend when the Times of London published an interview with Gunn where he said:
“I mean, Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.”
And when asked if the film might play differently in blue states and cities versus red ones, Gunn added:
“Yes, it plays differently. But it’s about human kindness and obviously there will be jerks out there who are just not kind and will take it as offensive just because it is about kindness. But screw them.”
“This Superman does seem to come at a particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people’s goodness. I’m telling a story about a guy who is uniquely good, and that feels needed now because there is a meanness that has emerged due to cultural figures being mean online.”
And if you have absolutely no working knowledge of Superman, well, he was not even born on planet Earth, right he is an alien from the planet Krypton named Kal-El (Cal like California, L like the letter) who was then sent to Earth and given the name Clark Kent.[]
He has become an icon of American identity, but anyone who knows literally anything at all about this character knows he comes from very very very far away.
But still, when Fox News covered James Gunn’s comments, they put the phrase “SuperWoke” on the chyron and said things like:
“Well, I think I’m at no risk of hurting my 22-year streak of not going to the movie theaters.” (1:04-1:10)
“I got a look at the script, and he’s from Uganda? And there’s a love scene with Batman AND Robin.” (1:32-1:41)
“We don’t go to the movie theater to be lectured to and have someone throw their ideology onto us, I wonder if it will be successful…want to know what it says on his cape? MS13.” (2:21-2:30)
You also had the likes of Ben Shapiro chiming into say:
“The attempt to separate Superman off from America is just a demonstration by the cultural left of just how much they dislike America. (3:27-3:33)
Other people online echoed this too, but the thing is, James Gunn is far from the first person to talk about Superman as an allegory for immigration, in fact, that has been part of the comic book lore for decades. [][]
The character was created by two men who were the sons of Jewish immigrants. []
Books written as far back as the 80s have said Superman asserts “the value of the immigrant in American culture.”[]
DC Comics has even partnered with The International Rescue Committee to celebrate World Refugee Day, using Superman as a symbol there and the group referring to his story as “a refugee's success story.”[]
And in 2017, a comic writer who has worked on Superman since the late 80s called Superman “the ultimate immigrant.”[]
So even though immigration is a hot button issue right now, referring to Superman as an immigrant is really nothing new.
So you have some mocking this right wing outrage and anyone just realizing that a man famously born on a foreign planet is widely viewed as an immigrant. [][][]
And you also had James Gunn, as well as others involved in the new Superman film, responding to all this backlash last night at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles.
With Variety asking Gunn what he had to say to the MAGA people complaining, and there, he said:
“I don’t have anything to say to anybody, like I’m not here to judge people, you know? I think this movie is about kindness, and I think that’s something everyone can relate to.” (0:10-0:20)
The outlet also asked actors who appear in the movie, like Nathon Fillion and Sean Gunn, who is James Gunn’s brother, about the situation, and they said:
“MAGA today was getting a little upset that he called Superman an immigrant (fillion cackles) I wanna get your reaction…Somebody needs a hug. It's just a movie guys.” (0:05-0:18)
“It is exactly what the movie is about. We support our people, you know? We love our immigrants.” (0:17-0:27)
"People who say no to immigrants are against the American way. They are against what the American dream is all about." (0:41-0:47)
But of course, we will have to see how it does in the box office when it comes out this weekend.
Right now, analysts think it could open to around $130 million, the studio figures are a bit more reserved and thinking it could be between $90 to $125 million.
So far, early reviews are promising, so that might help even if there is some discourse.
But I would love to know your thoughts on this one.
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Because this Superman immigration discourse comes, as we are also seeing real-world headlines about immigration stateside, most notably out of MacArthur park in Los Angeles.
Per the AP, around 90 National Guard troops and dozens of federal officers stormed the park yesterday morning, some even on horses. []
The park did not have much of a crowd as word about a potential raid in the area had been spreading for a while, but there were reportedly children there for summer day camp who were brought inside so they would not be traumatized.
The LAist also reporting that a community health clinic was also present at the park to provide medical services to those there, and the CEO of the clinic plans to pursue legal action against the federal government for their actions. []
According to local reports, the agents also wore no identification as they made their way through the park. []
And the operation is facing loud backlash from city leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, who said she got to the park as soon as she heard about it, with her telling reporters on the scene:
“They need to leave, and they need to leave right now. They need to leave because this is unacceptable.” (0:12-0:19)
According to the LA Times, it is unclear if anyone was arrested during the sweep because a senior Department of Homeland Security official only told the outlet:
“We don’t comment on ongoing enforcement operations.”[]
But in a press conference, Mayor Bass also said it does not look like anyone was arrested.
“ I do not believe that anyone was detained. Maybe they were. But then again, I don't think the goal is to detain. I think the goal is to spread fear. That’s what it is, to terrorize Angelenos.” (13:11-13:26)
Bass also said she met with some of the camp kids who were forced inside because of the raid, and even though she did not tell them what was going on or why she was there, they still expressed fear.[]
“But did this eight year old tell me he was afraid of ICE? Did the eight year old tell me he was afraid of ICE taking his parents and he didn’t think it was good to take people away? So understand that an eight year old knows enough of what is going on that he is traumatized in anticipation.” (2:50-3:13)
“What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation.” (3:26-3:32)
“It’s the way a city looks before a coup.” (3:38-3:40)
As for why agents were there in the first place, the AP reported:
“Two defense officials told reporters that what happened at MacArthur Park on Monday was not a military operation but acknowledged that the size and scope of the Guard’s participation could make it look like one to the public….The primary role of the service members would be to protect the immigration enforcement officers in case a hostile crowd gathered.”[]
But the operation only lasted an hour, and so far officials have not said why they targeted MacArthur Park specifically or why it ended so quickly. []
But the area is known as being home to a large population of immigrants in LA, and so you had a city councilmember saying during a conference:
“MacArthur Park is the Ellis Island of the West Coast. It was chosen as this administration’s latest target precisely because of who lives there and what it represents: resilience, diversity and the American dream.”(9:27-9:40)
“Please understand that what’s happening here in the city of Los Angeles, we are the canary in the coal mine. What you see happening in MacArthur Park is coming to you.” (10:50-11:00)
Right, because this comes as ICE raids in Los Angeles have already been making headlines, with Trump very controversially sending the National Guard to the city last month.
So now, tons of leaders in the area are calling this latest incident out of MacArthur Park a political stunt, with the likes of Senator Alex Padilla writing:
“Armored vehicles. Tactical gear. Military-grade weapons. All for the show. This isn't security—it's intimidation.”[]
You also had the President of LA City Council saying:
“This morning looked like staging for a TikTok video. And what we say to border patrol, as the council, is if you want to film in LA you should apply for a film permit like everyone else and stop trying to scare the bejeezus out of everyone who lives in this great city.” (7:36-7:53)
And with this, you had the likes of journalist Ken Klippenstein reporting that he obtained documents showing that the operation “was a mere ‘show of presence.’”[]
But it also looks like this may happen again with Gregory Bovino, a Customs and Border Protection chief in Southern California tweeting yesterday afternoon:
“We may well go back to MacArthur Park or other places in and around Los Angeles. Illegal aliens had the opportunity to self deport, now we'll help things along a bit.”[]
So that is where we are on this mess, and I would love to know any thoughts you have here.
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Israel is planning to move the entire population of Gaza into a single so-called humanitarian “city” – built on the ruins of a city it destroyed.
With this being seen as another step toward following through on some version of Donald Trump’s plan to clean out the Gaza Strip, take it over, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
All while Israeli Prime Minster Bibi Netanyahu – the one wanted by the international criminal court for alleged war crimes – is in Washington saying Trump should get a Nobel Peace Prize.
But going back and taking a closer look, you had the Israeli defense minister announcing this relocation plan in a briefing with reporters – according to an Israeli newspaper.
With him saying that he ordered the country’s military to prepare a plan to establish this "humanitarian city" in what's left of Rafah – the southernmost city in Gaza.
But according to one Israeli Holocaust historian it would neither be “humanitarian nor a city.”
With him arguing that the defence minister had laid out clear plans for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the creation of “a concentration camp or a transit camp for Palestinians before they expel them”.
And to that point, according to the defense minister, Israeli forces would control the perimeter of the site, Palestinians would go through “security screening” before entering, and once inside they wouldn’t be allowed to leave.
To start, the plan would involve moving 600,000 Palestinians into the area – mostly people currently displaced in a narrow stip of land along the Mediterranean coast.
And eventually, the entire population of Gaza would be housed there, with the next step being implementing what he called "the emigration plan” – which, he said, “will happen."
With him also adding that Netanyahu is already leading efforts to find countries willing to take in Gazans. []
And on that note, at the White House yesterday, you had Netanyahu claiming they were “getting close to finding several countries” willing to do so.
WIth Trump adding that there was “great cooperation” from countries in the region – although we’ve seen no sign of that so far. []
And then, besides that, you had Netanyahu saying it would be a “free choice” whether to leave or not.
But of course, people have pushed back on the idea, with one of Israel’s leading human rights lawyers saying:
“While the government still calls the deportation ‘voluntary’, people in Gaza are under so many coercive measures that no departure from the strip can be seen in legal terms as consensual.”
And also saying:
“(The minister) laid out an operational plan for a crime against humanity. It is nothing less than that.”
Now, with that said, we have seen seemingly conflicting information coming from Israeli officials.
Right, just hours before the defense minister talked about this plan?
You had the office of the IDF’s Chief of Staff reportedly told the High Court the army doesn’t impose forced population expulsions inside or outside the Gaza Strip.
And while “forced” may be the key word there, you also notably had the office claiming that mobilizing the population and concentrating it within Gaza are not among the military’s objectives. []
But that, again, seems to contradict what’s been said at other times.
Right, specifically, in May, the military approved plans for an operation dubbed "Gideon's Chariots” –
With one of the objectives – which was confirmed by the IDF at the time – literally being the “concentration and movement of the population.” []
All that said, of course, a lot could depend on what happens in the next few days and weeks.
And in fact, the defense minister reportedly said that if conditions permit, construction of the "city" would begin during the 60-day Israel-Hamas cease-fire. []
But – key point – that hasn’t been agreed upon yet.
Right, while Trump has expressed confidence a deal could be reached soon, Israeli and Hamas negotiators just met for indirect talks for the first time in six weeks on Monday, and mediators are saying it will take time.
In the meantime, as usual, the death toll is rising.
With the Israeli military saying a Hamas attack killed five soldiers while Palestinian health officials said Israeli strikes had killed 51.
And there’s also continued and growing concern about the role of the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Right, hundred have been killed trying to access aid.
And American contractors guarding the distribution sites have now told the Associated Press that bullets, stun grenades and pepper spray were used at nearly every distribution, even if there was no threat.
With another telling similar stories to the BBC, saying, for example, that he saw another guard open fire with a machine gun because a group of women, children and elderly were moving too slowly away from the site. []
And on top of that, you have Reuters reporting that the organization has proposed establishing so-called "Humanitarian Transit Areas" inside and potentially outside of the territory to house displaced Palestinians.
With a slide deck seen by the outlet saying these facilities would be used to 1) "gain trust with the local population" and 2) facilitate Donald Trump's "vision for Gaza." []
And it’s with all that going on that Netanyahu revealed during his meeting with Trump that he has nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
With Netanyahu presenting Trump with a copy of the nomination letter and saying it was because the president is “forging peace as we speak in one country and one region after the other." (BROLL: 1:48-1:53)
Beyond that, the two of them also celebrated their perceived victory in Iran, with Trump saying Iran wants to restart talks, which Iran, notably, hasn't confirmed.
And in fact, Israel is reportedly preparing for the possibility of further military action against Iran if it tries rebuilding its nuclear program – with sources telling Axios that Israeli officials think Trump would be on board.
This as Israel has also carried out its first strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen for the first time in months.
Notably, with this not only being after the Houthis fired at least three missiles at Israel over the weekend, according to the IDF – []
But also as the group is claiming to have sunk a ship in the Red Sea for the first time since November – and then attacked another vessel and killed three.
So that’s just a whole other situation to watch as we also keep an eye on all these other little situations that are just part of this much bigger situation.
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Some of the country’s biggest medical groups are suing Health Secretary RFK Jr over what they are calling "unlawful, unilateral vaccine changes."
With them warning that these changes are undermining trust in vaccines, sparking confusion, and ultimately doing harm to public health.
And the lawyer leading the effort saying Kennedy has been on a “decades-long mission” to undermine vaccines and portray them as more dangerous than the illnesses they are designed to prevent, adding:
“The secretary’s intentions are clear. He aims to destroy vaccines.” []
And with that, these groups behind the lawsuit? They include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association, to name a few.
And they’re also joined by a doctor who is more than 20 weeks pregnant and says she’s now afraid she won’t be able to get a Covid shot.
Right, because in late May, Kennedy announced that the CDC would no longer recommend the Covid vaccine for healthy kids or pregnant people.
Experts quickly warned this could make it harder for people who want vaccines to get them, including by creating uncertainty around who is eligible and increasing the cost for patients if insurance no longer covers them.
And beyond that, the decision reportedly went against years of evidence showing that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness, miscarriage and stillbirth if they contract Covid. []
With the executive director of the American Public Health Association saying:
“From a scientific perspective, a pregnant woman, by her very nature, is immunocompromised.”[]
And also noting that Kennedy’s decision “didn’t follow the normal process” and saying:
“The secretary’s authority needs to have some scientific and procedural basis for the decisions he makes.”
“Otherwise, we have someone practicing medicine without a license.”[]
Right, normally, scientific advisers would debate the research and make recommendations.
But Kennedy reportedly made the announcement without consulting CDC staff or its independent advisers. []
And with that, of course, Kenny actually fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee and replaced them with figures who’ve raised doubts about vaccine safety and efficacy.
WIth one of those new appointees having to withdraw from the committee hours before its first meeting because of unresolved financial conflicts. []
But even still, the new committee has already rescinded recommendations for some flu vaccines–
And said it will revisit the childhood and adolescent vaccine schedules, along with its guidelines for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccines
Which is why you have the likes of the president of the American Academy of Pediatric saying:
“Pediatricians cannot stay silent as the system we rely on to support lifesaving vaccines is chiseled away, piece by piece.” []
But ultimately, we'll just have to wait and see if this lawsuit can make a difference.
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Fled Cruz is at it again!
You would think that maybe he would have learned from all the shit he got for flying his family to Cancún (Can-Coon) to stay at a luxury resort in 2021 during a massive winter storm that left many Texans without food and water.
But apparently not, because he now facing criticism for being out of the country on a swanky family trip while his state was hit with devastating floods that have now killed 109 as of recording.
Though the death toll has continued to rise as rescue efforts remain underway.
Right, and yesterday, you had the Daily Beast reporting that Cruz was in Athens, Greece when the flooding started, sharing a photo of Cruz touring the Parthenon that was reportedly captured a full 24 hours after the Guadalupe River burst its banks.
With the tourist who took the photo also telling The Houston Chronicle that he had seen Cruz on Satuday at about 6 p.m. local time — which would be around 10 a.m. in Texas — and adding:[]
“I get it, he’s on vacation. But after what happened, vacation or not, you should have been back on a plane on his way back to Texas to deal with everything that was going on with those poor kids in the floodplain.”
With another eyewitness seeming to back up that timeline in comments to the Daily Beast, saying:
“He was with his family and a lone security guard. As he walked past us, I simply said, ‘20 kids dead in Texas and you take a vacation?’”
“He sort of grunted and walked on. His wife shot me a dirty look. Then they continued on with their tour guide.”
Now, with all this, as the picture started to circulate widely online, drawing major backlash, Cruz’s office issued a statement saying that the family trip had been pre-planned.
Saying that, “within hours,” he spoke to relevant officials “to ensure that the maximum federal assets were available for search and rescue.”
And going on to claim that Cruz and his team “worked closely with local officials and with families of missing girls throughout that time” and “promptly booked a flight back home.”
With the office explicitly saying that Cruz had sought to travel back “as fast as humanly possible” and adding:
“Given the time difference, he left Athens on Sunday morning and was back in Texas that night. And he was in Kerrville on the ground early Monday morning.”
But now you have the Daily Beast pushing back on the claim that Cruz tried to return to travel back to Texas “as fast as humanly possible,” reporting that the Senator:
“could have booked numerous flights from Greece to Texas before the one he boarded.”
With the outlet saying that it reviewed flight options from Athens to San Antonio after seeing the statement from Cruz’s office and discovered “several” flights “that would have gotten him back sooner than his Sunday return.”
Noting that there were “multiple flights from Athens to San Antonio, Texas, on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, after the floods hit” and adding:
“While it is not known how many seats were available on each flight, possible options included flights leaving Athens on Saturday morning and landing in San Antonio that evening via Chicago, Atlanta, or Washington, D.C.”
With the report also claiming that “earlier flights” were available on Friday “once the seriousness of the floods was becoming apparent.”
So… you know… not the best look…
Which is why we’ve seen tons of people slamming Cruz, accusing him of intentionally staying abroad during another natural disaster.[][][]
But that isn’t the only reason Cruz has gotten flack.
We also saw The Guardian reporting that Cruz personally included a provision in Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill that slashed funding for, quote:
“efforts to improve future weather forecasting of events that cause the sort of extreme floods that are being worsened by the human-caused climate crisis.”
Noting that Cruz himself inserted language bill that eliminated a $150 million fund that was created to:
“accelerate advances and improvements in research, observation systems, modeling, forecasting, assessments, and dissemination of information to the public” around weather forecasting.
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But as we keep an eye on that situation, we should also take the time to recognize the amazing people who did straight-up heroic work in this horrible disaster.
Maybe most notably, this US Coast Guard rescue swimmer who helped save the lives of 165 kids.
RIght, this is Petty Officer Scott Ruskan - he’s 26 years old and he just recently joined the Coast Guard.
In fact, he only graduated from the last of his training about 6 months ago. []
And his very first mission came in the form of a search and rescue team in Texas that was gearing up to help the people caught in the flash flooding over the weekend.
The team deployed from Corpus Christi - roughly 200 miles south of Kerr County, where floodwaters had battered local summer camps on the banks of the Guadalupe River. []
Specifically, they were headed to Camp Mystic - where roughly 200 campers and counselors needed to be rescued.
As they waited for help, counselors did what they could to keep the campers safe - pushing them out of the windows, placing them on mattresses to float on the rising water. []
What should have been an hour-long flight for Scott’s team turned into roughly 6 hours in the air because of the brutal storms, according to Scott himself. []
After 4 attempts and some help from the Air National Guard, they made their way through the storm and from above, they could see the devastation the flood was wreaking on the land.
Along with the sight of, quote, “about 200 kids, mostly all scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life.” []
Once they landed at Camp Mystic, the team was called away to another, more dangerous location.
The crew decided the best thing to do would be to leave Scott at Camp Mystic as a triage coordinator - leaving enough space in the aircraft for the team to airlift 15 kids from the other site. []
At Camp Mystic, Scott spent 3 hours gathering the campers above the floodwater and listening to counselors tell stories about pushing kids out of cabins before the floodwaters rushed in. []
Leaving many of these kids without shoes.
And Scott said that he realized he was the only first responder on the scene - telling Good Morning America,
["I kind of discovered I was the only person there as far as first responders go. So I had about 200, kids mostly. All scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life. And I just kind of needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care and get 'em off the flood zone." 1:09-1:26]
So Scott worked to reassure them as much as he could, saying,
[“Yeah, this is definitely the real deal. But I just remembered that when I got on scene there were 200 kids looking to someone for some sort of comfort and safety. They don't really know what my experience is or my rank or my age. They just know, 'Hey this guy is a professional, and he's here to help us.' And I kind of had to live up to that standard." 2:41-2:57]
Finally, a Texas Air National Guard aircraft landed at the camp’s archery field and soccer field.
And Scott led the kids, 10 to 15 at a time, over to the aircraft - focusing on the youngest first and even carrying some to avoid wet rocks or even worse injuries to their bare feet. []
In total, he rescued 165 kids this way and the Department of Homeland Security hailed him an American hero.
Adding in a post on X,
“The extraordinary bravery and selfless service of Ruskan and his fellow first responders embody the very spirit of the United States Coast Guard and the best of what it means to be an American.” []
But Scott himself pointed to the counselors and tough kids as the heroes - saying their bravery helped him be a better rescuer.
[“The real heroes, I think, were the kids on the ground. Those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out." 2:57-3:08]
And for that, we’ll give the title of BAMF of the Day to both Scott and those kids.
And we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more information as it comes in about how things are going in Texas.
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