Tuesday morning news: August 5, 2025

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Texas governor threatens to remove Dem lawmakers who left » Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he may take steps to remove Democratic lawmakers from office after they fled the state, flying to New York and Chicago to block a vote on a new Congressional map.

Democratic state Representative Gene Wu slammed Republican lawmakers:

WU:  They have spent their entire time playing dirty political games that only help themselves.

Abbott countered, noting the Wu was speaking from Chicago.

ABBOTT:  It's kinda like running to Wisconsin to protest cheese. Those are, uh, New York and Illinois to Hallmark states and they've already done redistricting to eliminate Republicans.

Abbott said the dozens of Democrats who fled—his words forfeited “their seats in the state legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do.”

As for the governor’s threat, Democrats say he lacks the legal authority to remove them or enforce subpoenas across state lines.

Meanwhile, the walkout has delayed votes on disaster relief tied to recent flooding in Texas.

The redistricting plan could add five Republican-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Russia hoax intel grand jury » The Department of Justice is reportedly taking evidence to a grand jury that could eventually result in criminal indictments of members of the Obama administration potentially even the former president himself.

This is all tied to what the current White House calls the Russia hoax.

Fox News reporters that Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered a federal prosecutor to start legal proceedings. No comment from the DOJ on that report.

This comes after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced last month:

GABBARD:  The evidence that we have, uh, found and that we have released, uh, directly point to President Obama leading the manufacturing of this intelligence assessment.

She said the Obama administration manipulated intelligence to craft a false narrative that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in 2016.

And she referred former President Obama and several aides to the DOJ for prosecution.

The Justice Department says it is taking those referrals very seriously.

White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller remarked:

MILLER:  The new information that has been revealed by the Director of National Intelligence and by the FBI eliminates any scintilla of doubt about the intention, the premeditation, the planning and orchestration of this conspiracy. It meets all of the criminal elements.

There are currently no indictments and no charges have yet been filed. It is very early in the process.

 A spokesperson for the former president has dismissed the accusations, is bizarre, and a weak attempt at a distraction.

Witkoff to Russia » Speaking of Russia, President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected in Moscow midweek. The president has set a Friday deadline for Russia to strike a peace deal with Ukraine or face severe economic penalties.

Trump told reporters:

TRUMP: He may be going Wednesday or Thursday, he may be going to Russia. They would like to see him. They’ve asked that he meet.

PESKOV: [Speaking Russian]

And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said his government welcomes the visit…

PESKOV: [Speaking Russian]

…adding that he considers the talks “substantive” and “useful”, and that negotiations continue toward finding a settlement to end the war.

But U.S. officials have seen no evidence yet that Russia is willing to do anything more than talk.

As for those economic penalties, President Trump said while Washington is readying new sanctions, but admits, he’s not sure it will change anything.

TRUMP: They’re wiley characters, and they’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions.

The diplomatic stalemate remains with Ukraine losing territory but showing no signs of a defense collapse or a loss of resolve.

The UN estimates that more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed so far in the war.

Israeli hostage release rallies » Protesters in the streets of Tel Aviv calling for the return of the remaining Israeli hostages still held by the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

That comes after Hamas released graphic, taunting videos of emaciated Israeli hostages.

Shai Moses, nephew of Hamas hostage survivor Gadi Moses joined the demonstrators:

SHAI: Yesterday we saw the videos of our hostages in captivity after 666 days, looking like skeletons and we just couldn't stay home. We want to shout and remind the Israeli public and the whole world that these, our brothers, these hostages need to come home as fast as possible

Some protesters voiced anger at the Israeli government, demanding a ceasefire, and accusing Israeli leaders of not doing enough to bring the hostages home.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said the latest Hamas videos are further evidence that the terror group does not want peace.

NETANYAHU: [Speaking Hebrew]

He said—quote—“They want to break us using these horror videos, and through the false horror propaganda … but we will not break.”

The United Nations responded to the Hamas videos, demanding the immediate release of the hostages. But the UN and other world leaders also continue to pressure Israel to end its offensive against Hamas in Gaza amid a humanitarian crisis there.

Abortion pill reversal » A Catholic clinic in Colorado will continue to provide abortion pill reversal treatments after a ruling in federal court. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: State lawmakers passed a law in 2023 that banned hormone treatments aimed at counteracting the effects of abortion drugs.

Pro-life care providers say that treatment has saved the lives of numerous unborn babies.

But pro-abortion groups claim it is not backed by science, and state lawmakers used the same argument in banning the treatments.

But U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Domenico said no one has been harmed by the treatment. Therefore, he ruled that the state has not shown a compelling reason for regulating it, or for burdening the plaintiffs’ First Amendment religious rights.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by the operators of the Bella Health and Wellness clinic in Denver.

The decision only applies to this case, not other clinics in the state.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Loni Anderson obituary » Actress Loni Anderson has died, just days before her 80th birthday.

CLIP (WKRP Cincinnati): Mr. Carlson,  Mr. Travis is here to see you. … Travis. … I don’t know, he claims to be the new program director.

Anderson heard there as receptionist Jennifer at a struggling radio station in “WKRP in Cincinnati” from 1978 to 1982. She earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in that role.

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace.” The two later married, but a divorce years later became constant tabloid fodder.

Her longtime publicist says Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the latest on Russian and U.S. relations. Plus, federal legislation regulating cryptocurrency and what it might mean for the U.S. dollar.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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