6 takeaways from STAT’s investigation into the U.S. alcohol epidemic www.statnews.com/2026/05/12/a... via @statnews.com

apnews.com/article/pola... halts deployments to Poland and Germany to cut troop numbers in Europe, AP sources say

NEW: The Senate parliamentarian has rejected major provisions in the GOP's reconciliation package -- aka the $72B spending bill for ICE + Trump's ballroom. These bits now need 60 vs 51 votes to pass: *ALL CBP funding *Funds for initial screenings of unaccompanied migrant kids *$2.5B for DHS

apnews.com/article/fbi-... show FBI Director Kash Patel's Hawaii trip included 'VIP snorkel' at a Pearl Harbor memorial

The cost of health care across the country has risen, with many seeing a sharp increase in out-of-pocket costs in 2026. Medicare is no exception. There are cost-assistance programs that may ease the burden and make it less difficult to afford Medicare. www.medicarerights.org/medicare-ans...

Census: As North Texas' far-flung towns grow, Dallas and its bigger suburbs shrink www.texastribune.org/2026/05/14/t...

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced lawmakers’ questions for more than four hours in an interview with congressional investigators last Wednesday, following revelations that his contact with the late convicted sex offender extended years beyond what he initially claimed. https://cnn.it/4uNWGtH

NEW: More than half the U.S. is in drought. But few places are dealing with the kind of crisis facing Corpus Christi, Tex., which could see water demand outstrip supply w/in a year. One official told me: "This is actually the canary in the coal mine. 🎁: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/u...

In any normal world, a president attempting to pay himself TEN FREAKING BILLION DOLLARS from the US Treasury (and have tax audits for him and his family businesses dropped) would be all anyone could talk about. Congress would rush to impeach. Today, barely a footnote.

apnews.com/article/plan... say don't forget about plants. Climate change is endangering tens of thousands of species

Corpus Christi moves toward mandatory 25% cut in water use if emergency is declared www.texastribune.org/2026/05/12/t...

Texas lawmakers repeatedly failed to pass flood protections. Some could have saved lives. www.texastribune.org/2026/05/06/t...

Nearly one third of Americans — 30% — believe that at least one of the three attempts on President Donald Trump’s life over the last two years was staged. Across all three events, Democrats were far more likely than Republicans to endorse the “staged” framing.

Report: Data centers in Texas could increase water consumption up to 9% by 2040 www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

In a letter thoroughly detailing the allegations, Raskin claims the committee has learned from multiple sources that the DOJ ordered the FBI to shell out "massive settlements to nearly a dozen FBI employees who were disciplined and suspended for gross violations of FBI policy and federal law."

A New Low? Presidential Records and the Role of OLC www.lawfaremedia.org/article/a-ne...

Remember the "Trump Mobile" golden smartphone? Over a half million people paid a collective $59M+ in deposits to get one — and a year later not a single phone has shipped. Yet another Trump grift. https://popular.info/p/we-were-promised-a-gold-plated-trump

I'm going to try to live-blog a hearing in the Abrego Garcia civil case momentarily, from Greenbelt, MD. This is for @lawfaremedia.org . We're in an odd procedural posture because the govt has appealed 2 of Judge Xinis's orders, so it's unclear which issues she can address. ... /1

apnews.com/article/us-i... consumer prices jump as Iran war sends energy prices rapidly higher

Oil rig off the SoCal coast catches fire; 'no immediate threat' to environment, officials say

apnews.com/article/myan... massive 11,000-carat ruby has been unearthed in Myanmar’s war-scarred gemstone heartland

New report sounds alarm on Texas coal plants water usage www.chron.com/texas/articl...

Texas Republicans have a data center problem www.texastribune.org/2026/05/07/t...

apnews.com/article/trum... church and state separation is on the wish list for Trump's religious liberty commission

In parched Texas, a state fund to boost water projects falls almost $3 billion short of demand www.texastribune.org/2026/05/08/t...

Not now, TB www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...

Citi says oil could rise further if US-Iran talks remain thorny reut.rs/42UYsNB

Researchers urge study of paternal deaths, though a new paper finds fatherhood is protective www.statnews.com/2026/05/04/m... via @statnews.com

Sanofi asks to pull diabetes drug out of FDA voucher program after political appointee interfered with review www.statnews.com/2026/05/06/s... via @statnews.com

Could zinc-oxide-infused underwear actually be great for everyone? Made by a woman trying to treat her chronic UTIs, this underwear promises to prevent odors and infections, soothe skin, and keep bacteria at bay. Wirecutter tested them out.

North Korea leader Kim inspects artillery that can hit South Korean capital reut.rs/4ts4jVF

The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defense says that the country's air defenses are actively engaging with a missile and drone attack as the Iran war's shaky ceasefire is challenged again.

I recommend: crr.bc.edu/can-technolo...

Today, we published 61 transcripts and excerpts of testimony heard by the Fulton County special purpose grand jury. The transcripts include the never-before-seen testimony of prominent Trump allies, including Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham, and Cleta Mitchell. bsky.app/profile/anna...

Lawfare is a non-profit media organization. We care deeply about making documents like these grand jury transcripts freely available to the public. Our content isn’t paywalled. If you appreciate our work, we hope you’ll consider supporting it! givebutter.com/journalism/a...

Anyway, I’m going back to my vacation now, but big thanks to @annahickey.bsky.social @tylermcbrien.com and our awesome intern, Marissa Wang, for helping get this story out. Go follow them!!!

Interesting testimony (61 transcripts), published by Anna Bower/Lawfare today.

EXCLUSIVE: In 2022, a Georgia grand jury investigated Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 election. It heard from more than 60 witnesses. For years, the full record of what those witnesses said under oath has remained hidden from public view. Until now. www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...

The UN, the ICC, and the ICJ's disregard of Hamas’ use of human shields undermine the integrity of the law of armed conflict and reward a strategy that increases civilian deaths. Reversing those incentives should be a top priority for the United States and NATO allies, writes @ordefk.bsky.social.

In 2022, a grand jury in Fulton County heard witness testimony from more than 60 election workers, prominent Trump allies, state officials, and others. The full record of what those witnesses said under oath has remained hidden from public view—until now. (@lawfaremedia.org @annabower.bsky.social)

Today, Lawfare published testimony heard in 2022 and 2023 by the Fulton County grand jury which investigated whether former president Donald J. Trump and and his allies had illegally meddled in Georgia's 2020 presidential election. Read the transcripts, from @annabower.bsky.social.

Corpus Christi is running out of water in the middle of an energy boom www.marketplace.org/story/2026/0...

apnews.com/article/pfas... officials knew chemicals from carpet mills were polluting local water. The people did not

Corpus Christi to begin talks on privately built desalinization plant www.texastribune.org/2026/05/05/t...