This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 165

… NYT: “Crucial positions at the local offices of the National Weather Service were unfilled as severe rainfall inundated parts of Central Texas on Friday morning, prompting some experts to question whether staffing shortages made it harder for the forecasting agency to coordinate with local emergency managers as floodwaters rose. Texas officials appeared to blame the NWS for issuing forecasts that underestimated how much rain was coming.”

… “The staffing shortages suggested a separate problem - the loss of experienced people who would typically have helped communicate with local authorities in the hours after flash flood warnings were issued overnight. Separate questions have emerged about the preparedness of local communities, including Kerr County’s apparent lack of a local flood warning system.”

… Rob Kelly, the most senior Kerr County elected official on why his county doesn’t have an early warning system despite the fact that it is in a dangerous flash flood area: “Taxpayers won’t pay for it.” Asked if people might now reconsider after what happened this week: “I don’t know.”

… TX State Rep and Chair of TX House Freedom Caucus Briscoe Cain: “We must not allow this great tragedy to be used to grow government.”

… “NWS’s San Angelo office, which is responsible for some of the areas hit hardest by Friday’s flooding, was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge. The Weather Service’s nearby San Antonio office, which covers other areas hit by the floods, also had significant vacancies, including a warning coordination meteorologist and science officer. Staff members in those positions are meant to work with local emergency managers to plan for floods, including when and how to warn local residents and help them evacuate.”

… The last death toll stands at 69 with several girls still reported missing from Camp Mystic summer camp.

… KXAN: “Kerrville didn't have weather sirens used by other cities; Kerr County had asked for $ for new flood warning system since 2018; online warnings may not have been seen because Camp Mystic banned cell phones/smart watches/iPads.”

… Texas Div of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd was asked if anyone tried to get a warning to the people in the camps outside of the automated systems: “We talked to the county emergency manager, the county does have a plan for that county in the 18 or so camps in that county. It would probably be really good to ask them that question and let them give that answer.”

… Texas Tribune: “The scale of the disaster — and the fact that major flooding is common in this part of Texas — has raised questions over whether more could have been done to warn people in the path of the flood waters. Local and state officials were quick to point to weather forecasts that did not accurately predict the intensity of the rainfall. Meanwhile, some forecasters suggested that local officials and camp leadership should have activated more given the threats that were apparent.”

… “Staffing data provided by the NWS’s labor union showed the San Angelo forecasting office currently has four vacancies out of 23 positions and San Antonio has six vacancies out of 26.”

… AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter: “The heartbreaking catastrophe that occurred in Central Texas is a tragedy of the worst sort because it appears evacuations and other proactive measures could have been undertaken to reduce the risk of fatalities had the organizers of impacted camps and local officials heeded the warnings of the government and private weather sources, including AccuWeather.”

… I wrote the first story early Saturday morning drawing a connection between NWS budget cuts and issues with local officials possibly having an impact on storm response leading to much deadlier consequences than necessary. I also wrote a story this morning addressing some of the initial criticism of that story, which has largely gone away after additional facts were brought to light by the NYT, Texas Tribune, and local media.

… KXAN: “Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also said that TDEM Region 6 Asst Chief Jay Hall ‘personally contacted the judges and mayors in that area and notified them all of potential flooding. Yesterday morning, the message was sent. It is up to the local counties and mayors under the law to evacuate if they feel a need. That information was passed along.’ KXAN has requested record of that communication to verify that statement and its level of urgency.”

… DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at her press conference: “I do know that the state of Texas is an amazing in how it responds to disasters. Not every state is like that. Many states do not do what the people of Texas do, and you are an example to the nation of getting through these difficult times.”

… Noem: “I know that President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to him and Melania. He wanted to make sure that all of you how much he's grieving for your families.”

… Reporter: Why was the NWS not pinging their phones before 7? Was it a fundamental failure of the federal government’s responsibility to keep us safe? Noem: “Trump is currently upgrading the technology in the NWS. We needed to renew this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government.”

… CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem: “This is not true. As I said CNN, it isn't at all clear what system Noem is talking about here. There are no major planned upgrades of NWS technology that would explain any gap in notification, and it has been hit hard by DOGE and BBB.”

… Trump was asked about it today: Q- Are you investigating whether some of the cuts to the federal government left key vacancies at the national weather service? Trump: “They didn’t. That water situation - all that stuff was really the Biden setup. That was not our setup.”

… Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on MSNBC: “I think we are going to have to figure out what happened, why did it happen, and how do we prevent this type of tragedy from ever happening again. And so the question of readiness is certainly something that Congress should be able to explore in a bipartisan way, particularly as we head into a summer where we can expect intensifying extreme weather events.”

… Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox: "In a moment like this, we feel just as helpless as everyone else does. All we know to do at this moment is pray."

… Rep. Marge Greene (R-GA) launched her latest conspiracy: “I am introducing a bill that prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere for the express purpose of altering weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity. It will be a felony offense. I have been researching weather modification and working with the legislative counsel for months writing this bill. We must end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering.”

… Former GA GOP official and candidate for Congress Kandiss Taylor: “Fake weather. Fake hurricanes. Fake flooding. Fake. Fake. Fake. This isn’t just ‘climate change.’ It’s cloud seeding, geoengineering, and manipulation. If fake weather causes real tragedy, that’s murder. Pray. Prepare. Question the narrative.”

… I posted a screen shot of her comments on X, and when massive backlash ensued from people who saw her comments she responded: “I’m not walking back a thing. No one can control the way you raging liberals twist words. Brainwashed zombies.”

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… Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), always a contender for the Dumbest Member of Congress annual award, explained on Fox why he thinks Trump’s budget bill that emphasizes coal and fossil fuel reliance while dismantling clean, renewable energy initiatives was a great idea: “God put coal in the ground, so let's use it. There's a reason - Trump told me that there’s no windmills in China.”

… This clip of his comments was hit with a fact check Community Note on X: “In 2022, China continued to have the highest wind power capacity in the world. Also in 2022, a total of 11,098 new wind turbines were installed, of which 695 were offshore, bringing the national total of operating turbines to 181,660.”

… Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked on CNN why we still haven’t seen any real trade deals as the deadline on TACO Trump’s latest “pause” runs out a few days: Q - The president has a reputation as a dealmaker, so why haven't we seen the kind of trade deals he promised in the last 90 days? Bessent: “He didn't promise this. We sent out a 100 letters, but many of these countries never even contacted us.”

… Karoline Leavitt in April: “The rest of the world is calling our Admin, the phones are ringing off the hook because they need the US. They know they are indebted to us for the stability we have provided them for many decades.”

… Trump and Bessent said that since countries haven’t reached any trade deals with the Trump admin, they are just going to send out letters starting tomorrow imposing tariffs on them. WH Econ Advisor Kevin Hassett was asked on CBS if he could say which countries were going to get them and what they were going to say: “No, I can't.”

… Trump said that letters implementing new tariffs will go out to "probably 12" countries on Monday, but declined to name which countries: "Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs, and somewhat different statements."

… But a senior Trump admin official told Politico that the “trade negotiations” are all fake and Trump is doing all this for drama and theater since he gets off on the attention and panic it creates in the markets and other countries: “Trump knows the most interesting part of his presidency is the tariff conversation. It’s all fake. There’s no deadline. It’s a self-imposed landmark in this theatrical show, and that’s where we are.”

… Bessent was asked about Medicaid cuts: "Able-bodied Americans are not vulnerable Americans. People can get off Medicaid and get a job that has good healthcare benefits. I don't think poor people are stupid. I think they have agency."

… Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): “I don’t think poor people are stupid either but I know there are greedy corporations that care more about gross profit margins than giving healthcare to workers.”

… KY Gov. Andy Beshear on CNN: "These work requirements really aren't about getting people back to work. They are about increasing the paperwork on everybody. When somebody misses that one box, they are kicked off for 6 months or more. It's the single worst piece of legislation I've seen in my lifetime and it is a congressional Republican and presidential attack on rural America. In my state alone, 200k are gonna lose their coverage, 20k healthcare workers are gonna lose their jobs, and we've got up to 35 rural hospitals that may close."

… Bessent then went on Fox. Q - Our most recent poll shows that 57% of Americans say tariffs are going to hurt the US economy. What's your message? Bessent: “Trump Derangement Syndrome has turned into Tariff Derangement Syndrome.”

… House Budget Chair Jason Smith (R-MO): "The tax provisions that we put into this piece of legislation will create exponential growth. I guarantee you - you're hearing it today - I guarantee that our growth rate will be above 3%."

… Daily Beast fact-checked Trump’s claims that his bill includes no tax on Social Security: “A $6,000 reduction is on offer for senior individuals, and $12,000 for couples, on all income—not just social Security payments. However, that tax break begins to be phased out for those on incomes over $75,000 (and $150,000 for couples) per year, and is removed entirely for those on $175,000 ($250,000).”

… “Seniors on very low incomes, who already pay no federal tax on Social Security payments, are unlikely to see a direct benefit from the deduction while those on higher incomes will still pay taxes on a portion of their benefits. For an eligible senior earning $75,000 per year, the full $6,000 tax deduction will work out to around $60 extra per month in their payments.”

… Elon Musk has officially filed paperwork with the FEC to form his new ‘America Party’. His announcement on X: “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 and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

… Trump was asked about it: “I think it’s ridiculous to start a 3rd party. Starting a 3rd party just adds to confusion. So he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

… Trump later posted on Truth Social: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely off the rails, essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past 5 weeks. He even wants to start of 3rd political party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the US and the system seems not designed for them. The one thing 3rd parties are good at is TOTAL DISRUPTION AND CHAOS.”

… James Fishback: “I’m disappointed. I respected Elon. I advised DOGE. My firm’s largest position is in Tesla. But what Elon’s doing by starting the ‘America Party’ risks handing the keys of power to AOC, Hakeem Jeffries, and Jasmine Crockett. That’s a disaster for our country—they’ll impeach Trump, defund ICE, and gut the Trump tax cuts. It’s also a disaster for Elon’s own companies. Tesla and SpaceX won’t be spared from the full wrath of govt weaponization if this new ‘party’ helps put the Democrats back in charge. Elon is free to do what he wants. But Americans are also free to say: back off—we stand with Trump.”

… Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI): “Starting a 3rd Party is a horrible idea. 77 million Americans, including 1,700,000 Wisconsinites, voted to give Donald Trump 4 years to complete a mandate. This will split the vote and hand the election to the Dems and lead to Impeach-O-Rama, wrecking his last 2 years.”

… CNN’s Scott Jennings: "My humble advice to Elon, who I admire very much, is that you may be dividing the forces of people who want to save Western civilization - to the benefit of the people who don't. To the extent that this effort would divide conservatives and Republicans against each other, that wouldn't be helpful because it would leave the country to people who want unfettered immigration, and who don't share your fiscal views."

… Steve Bannon: "The foul buffoon Elmo the Mook, formerly known as Elon Musk. No, brother, you're not an American. You're a South African. We will take enough time and prove the facts that you should be deported because it's a crime what you did— among many."

… Bannon claims that Musk included false info on his citizenship application, which would be grounds for de-naturalization under Trump’s new policy. He most likely did so Bannon is correct about that. Whether Trump will try to act in that remains to be seen.

… Musk responded: "The fat, drunken slob called Bannon will go back to prison and this time for a long time. He has a lifetime of crime to pay for."

… Agent Michael Feinberg’s resigned from the FBI: “The newly installed Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, Dominique Evans, made clear to me that, at the direction of Dan Bongino, my career with the organization had—for all intents and purposes—come to an end. It would be an understatement to say that I had not expected this. In fact, I was in the midst of preparing for a potential move to DC to take on a new position at FBI headquarters.”

… “But, it turned out, I had made a terrible mistake: I had remained friends with someone who had appeared on Kash Patel’s enemies list. How did Bongino find out about this private friendship? I honestly don’t know. What business was it of his? None at all. Was I accused of any sort of misconduct? No. It didn’t matter. Under Patel and Bongino, subject matter expertise and operational competence are readily sacrificed for ideological purity and the ceaseless politicization of the workforce.”

… He said Patel and Bongino were going after him because he was friends with Peter Strzok: “Our own friendship began with a discovery that we liked the same bands and shared an interest in trying new restaurants. Most of our conversations since he left the Bureau have involved debating the relative merits of New Order versus Joy Division.”

… Andy Beshear was asked whether he is thinking about running for president in 2028: “If you had asked me this question a couple years ago, I would have said no. My family's been through a lot. But I do not want to leave a broken country to my kids or anyone else's. So what I think is most important for 2028 is a candidate that can heal this country, that can bring people back together. So, when I sit down, I'm going to think about whether I'm that candidate or whether someone else is that candidate.”

… A new Morning Consult Poll has Beshear’s approval rating in KY at 68% approve, 25% disapprove. Trump won KY by 31 points.