Your BRIGHT Week in Review

Plus: Dinner and a Show

Photo of the Week

We’ve learned more about the devastation in Kerrville, Texas and surrounding areas this week. We’ve also learned more about the heroes, including Scott Ruskan and the Coast Guard team that has saved nearly 200 lives from treacherous floodwaters. More on those stories below.

Texas Land Chief Defends Camps After Deadly Flood

In the aftermath of devastating flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, which claimed over 100 lives—including 27 children—Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham defended the affected camps, particularly Camp Mystic, stating, “I think as soon as they had any indication they were doing everything they could.” The Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming the region with historic flooding.

Just the News reported that Buckingham emphasized the area’s vulnerability: “It's very hilly. It’s very rocky soil... definitely prone to flash floods.” She also noted that cell service limitations hampered warning alerts: “Even if the emergency notices had gone out, a lot of the cell phones aren’t working there anyway.”

Despite federal and state emergency preparations, criticism erupted over the lack of local warning systems. "There’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing," said Rep. Chip Roy, "and I understand that."

Just the News added:

Politicization quickly stained the already tragic incident. Democrats in Congress wasted no time in connecting the tragedy to Trump's budget cuts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded that the administration conduct an inquiry into whether staffing shortages contributed to “the catastrophic loss of life” in Texas. “Accurate weather forecasting helps avoid fatal disasters,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in a post on X. “There are consequences to Trump’s brainless attacks on public workers, like meteorologists.”

Contradicting that narrative, in fact, the National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms, an NWS spokesperson told the Associated Press.

“Look for the helpers. There are always people who are helping.” - Fred Rogers

New Jersey native on first rescue mission with Coast Guard helps save 165 Texas flood victims: ‘American hero’ (New York Post)

Kerrville and Austin Pets Alive! save more than 70 pets from Kerr, Williamson and Burnet counties’ fatal floods (KSAT)

United Cajun Navy is en route to assist with flood response (The Kerrville Times)

Kerrville restaurant works to feed displaced Texans, first responders (NewsNation)

Samaritan’s Purse and BGEA deploy relief teams after Texas floods claim more than 100 lives (Christian Daily)

Trump Admin Sues California Over Trans Athletes in Girls' Sports

The Daily Wire reported the Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against California for violating Title IX by allowing transgender-identifying males to compete in girls’ sports. The Department of Justice said California’s policies undermine protections for women and girls, citing safety concerns and lost athletic opportunities.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated the administration will not tolerate “woke gender ideology” overriding female athletes’ rights. After federal investigators concluded that California’s practices breach Title IX, the state’s education department and athletic federation refused a resolution agreement. The DOJ’s lawsuit also referenced Governor Gavin Newsom’s prior remarks on his own podcast calling male participation in girls’ sports “deeply unfair.”

Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that this legal action follows a thorough civil rights investigation. She added, “This is something President Trump campaigned on; his ‘Promises made, promises kept. It is the law. The president means business with it.”

Fox News reported:

"Based upon today’s reporting, we are aware of the Trump Administration's lawsuit challenging California law," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. "Our office remains committed to defending and upholding California laws and the rights of all students, including transgender students, to be free from discrimination and harassment."

Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement that the CDE and CIF were following laws enacted in 2013.

What DOGE Needs to Be Successful

A New York Post op-ed by Daniel Huff argues that Elon Musk’s failed attempt to shrink government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) exposed key flaws—but a revamped “DOGE 2.0” could still succeed. Huff blames the agency’s collapse on poor structure, legal unpreparedness, and overexposure. “Whales that surface get harpooned,” he noted. He also highlighted a fundamental Washington-ism from one of my former coworkers:

Don Devine, who ran the Office of Personnel Management for President Ronald Reagan, warned that creating a new agency to shrink government never works — it only causes confusion, diffusion of responsibility and more bureaucracy.

For a second try, Huff recommends empowering Cabinet secretaries with workforce reduction quotas, embedding dedicated legal teams, and executing reforms quietly, “in Stealth Mode.” With Musk sidelined, Trump must lead from the top, quietly enforcing reform “with a scalpel, not a hatchet.”

U.S. Kids’ Health Declines Sharply as Chronic Illness and Mental Struggles Rise, Study Finds

The AP reported on a new study that revealed a sharp decline in U.S. children’s health over the past 17 years, with rising rates of obesity, chronic conditions, and mental health issues. The analysis examined 170 indicators across eight data sources. “The surprising part…was that…all [data] showed the same thing: a generalized decline,” said Dr. Christopher Forrest of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Obesity rose from 17% to 21% among kids aged 2–19. Additionally, rates of chronic conditions like depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea increased significantly. Political ties are so strong with some experts, that they they are blaming the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Critics argue the Trump administration’s health policy rollbacks undermine progress. From the AP:

The editorial published alongside the study said while the administration’s MAHA movement is bringing welcome attention to chronic diseases, “it is pursuing other policies that will work against the interests of children.” Those include eliminating injury prevention and maternal health programs, canceling investments in a campaign addressing sudden infant death and “fueling vaccine hesitancy among parents that may lead to a resurgence of deadly vaccine-preventable diseases,” authors wrote.
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Forrest said risks highlighted by the MAHA report, such as eating too much ultra-processed food, are real but miss the complex reality driving trends in children’s health.

Dinner and a Show

This weekend we’re checking out a show I learned about because it was announced it’s not getting a second season. People seem upset by that, so it must be a winner! One write-up for Duster mentioned the nostalgia for Gen Xers, so you know I’m in!

For dinner, I decided to give the new Grok a try and asked for a recipe utilizing filet mignon and seasonal ingredients. It gave me Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce. Sounds good to me!