SCOOP: Data Drama & A Texas Showdown

As many of you shift from summer mode to the school year, we're hitting pause on today's SCOOP broadcast – but here’s your rundown of the news to know heading into the week. 👇🏽

⭐️ QUOTE TO START YOUR WEEK:

“Life is a journey.” 

NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman reflecting on the nearly year-long delay in her mission to the International Space Station. Originally assigned to NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, she was replaced to allow astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home. 

This weekend, Cardman finally launched into space for the first time – serving as mission commander of Crew-11. The four-person crew will spend six months aboard the International Space Station conducting scientific research.  

🗓 THE WEEK AHEAD:

Both the Senate and House of Representatives are in recess through August, with members working in their home districts.    

Monday: Today marks one month since flash floods devastated the Texas Hill Country – especially in Kerr County – claiming at least 135 lives in one of the state’s deadliest natural disasters. 

• On this day in 1790, George Washington establishes the Coast Guard to combat smuggling after the U.S. imposed high tariffs on European goods. Did you know? For about eight years, the Coast Guard operated as “the only military maritime service, as the Continental Navy and Marine Corps were disbanded after the Revolutionary War in 1783; they were reestablished in 1798.” 

Tuesday: A faster-spinning earth may make today slightly shorter than 24 hours. By how much? “1.25 milliseconds under the 86,400-second mark.”  

Wednesday: 80 years ago today, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan during WWII – the first of its kind used in warfare. Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.  

Thursday: The latest round of tariffs is set to take effect. Imports into the U.S. from countries where the U.S. runs a trade surplus (it exports more than it imports) will face at least a 10% tariff, while those from countries with which the U.S. runs a trade deficit (it imports more than it exports) will face a minimum 15% tariff. Many other countries will be subject to even higher rates, some reaching up to 40%. There's an August 12th deadline for US-China tariff negotiations.