An Ignoble Experiment: Texas gov lingered for hours at fundraiser after Uvalde massacre

By Marita Vlachou

Monday, August 1

TEXAS GOV. GREG ABBOTT STAYED AT FUNDRAISER FOR HOURS AFTER UVALDE SHOOTING Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who attended a campaign fundraiser after learning of the Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers, reportedly stayed with donors for hours instead of traveling to the massacre scene. The Republican governor said he stopped "on the way" to Austin to "let people know" he couldn't stay. [HuffPost]

FIRST SHIP CARRYING UKRAINIAN GRAIN LEAVES THE PORT OF ODESA The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain set off from the port of Odesa under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that is expected to release large stores of Ukrainian crops to foreign markets and ease a growing hunger crisis. [AP]

NAMES OF ELECTION WORKER WITNESSES FOUND ON OATH KEEPER 'DEATH LIST' The names of mother and daughter Georgia poll workers who memorably testified before the House Jan. 6 committee were found on a "death list" kept by an alleged leader of the militant Oath Keepers group, according to court filings. [HuffPost]

DECISION IN DESHAUN WATSON DISCIPLINE CASE MAY COME TODAY A decision on discipline for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson following accusations of sexual misconduct is coming Monday, a judge has reportedly informed informed the NFL and the NFL Players' Association. [AP]

DEATH TOLL IN KENTUCKY RISES AS INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE HAMPERS FLOOD RECOVERY Damage to critical infrastructure and the arrival of more heavy rains hampered efforts to help Kentucky residents hit by massive flooding, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The death toll climbed to 28, a number Beshear expected to rise significantly, and it could take weeks to find all the victims. [AP]

Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19 again.
Six reasons parents won't vaccinate their kids against COVID — and how experts respond.
Four "micro-transitions" in your day that may be causing you anxiety.
Men get real about whether they'd use male birth control.
The 10 most-loved Instagram recipes from July.

Get the latest coronavirus updates on our dedicated page.

NANCY PELOSI HEADS TO ASIA, MUM ON TAIWAN VISIT House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed she is leading a congressional delegation to several Asian countries, but didn't say if she planned to stop in Taiwan. The trip has sparked tension in the White House amid increased diplomatic tension with China. Beijing officials have issued warnings the country could take "firm and resolute measures" if Pelosi visited Taiwan. [HuffPost]

BILL RUSSELL, NBA TRAILBLAZER, DIES AT 88 Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion known for breaking down racial barriers and his defensive prowess on the basketball court, has died at age 88. An announcement posted on Twitter said Russell "passed away peacefully ... with his wife, Jeannine, by his side." [HuffPost]

SANDY HOOK LAWYERS RIP BANKRUPTCY BID BY 'COWARD' ALEX JONES Lawyers for Sandy Hook parents who successfully sued Alex Jones for his relentless lies about the mass killing are blasting him for now trying to use bankruptcy to dodge paying defamation damages. A defamation trial against him is already underway in Texas, where Infowars is located, and another begins this week in Connecticut. Jones suddenly declared bankruptcy for Infowars' parent company on Friday. [HuffPost]

DOUG MASTRIANO IS KEEPING A BIG SECRET FROM PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS Doug Mastriano has a secret. The Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor says he's chosen someone to serve as the commonwealth's next secretary of state — a position that will hold enormous power over the 2024 presidential election. A Mastriano victory all but ensures that the next secretary of the commonwealth will be someone who shares his anti-democratic zeal toward the 2020 election and who could work to roll back voting rights. [HuffPost]

TRUMP SIDES WITH RUSSIA AGAIN, CALLS JAILED AMERICAN BRITTNEY GRINER 'SPOILED' Former President Donald Trump called American WNBA star Brittney Griner "spoiled," and indicated he wouldn't make any deals to get her out of prison in Russia because she "makes a lot of money." Trump also criticized a deal the U.S. has reportedly offered Russia to release Griner and Paul Whelan in exchange for a notorious Russian arms dealer. [HuffPost]

Americans generally support abortion access, but a vote in Kansas has exposed how protecting reproductive rights won't be that simple.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson gets her own bobblehead.
Two young men wrestle with what it means to be "good guys with guns."
The Regency period was a terrible time for women. So why do romances from that era still resonate?
Beyoncé's "Renaissance" embodies decades of dance music. Here's a guide.
A Netflix show starring Keri Russell stirs buzz among U.S. diplomats.