Tuesday morning news: July 25, 2023

SOUND: [Israel protest]

Israel » Protesters continued to cram the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Monday as Israeli lawmakers approved a key portion of a controversial overhaul of the courts.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation immediately after the vote …

NETANYAHU: [Speaking Hebrew]

He called the move “a necessary democratic step,” arguing that judges have become too powerful, assuming the authority to toss out any government decision they deem unreasonable.

Critics call it a power grab by Netanyahu and his allies in Israel’s Parliament.

Louisiana youth trans protections » In Louisiana, a bill that would protect minors from transgender procedures will likely head to the governor’s desk very soon. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The state Senate passed the bill on a vote of 29-10 mostly down party lines.

It would prohibit hormone treatments, puberty-blocking drugs for kids and performing transgender surgeries on children.

The measure is heading back to lawmakers in the House for approval of minor amendments, including pushing back the effective date of the law to Jan. 1st of next year.

The House will almost certainly pass the bill. But Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards opposes it and has not yet said whether he would veto the act.

If he does, lawmakers could convene a special session to try to override the veto.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Texas river barrier » Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had a pointed response to the Biden administration Monday after the Department of Justice sued his state.

“Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”

The DOJ filed suit to try and force the state to remove a floating barrier that Texas officials placed in the Rio Grande to discourage migrants from trying to cross the river.

Abbott said Monday:

ABBOTT: All the Biden administration has to do is to enforce the laws already on the books that prevent people from crossing between the ports of entry.

Abbott said until then, Texas “will be stepping up to do so.” And he vowed to fight the lawsuit all the way to the Supreme Court.

The White House has called the floating barrier unlawful and dangerous.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:

JEAN-PIERRE: This governor has done over and over again is treated this situation we are seeing at the border in an inhumane way.

Abbott says Biden’s policies have put many migrants in danger by incentivizing them to make the perilous journey to and across the border.

Ukraine strikes » Russia says Ukrainian drones are now targeting Moscow. A drone attack apparently struck Monday near the building that houses the Russian Defense Ministry.

Drones also hit an ammunition depot in Russia-occupied Crimea.

The attacks come a week after Russia began bombing the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

Greece fires » In Greece, thick clouds of smoke are choking out the sun as emergency crews battle wildfires across the country, more than 80 of them in total.

Roughly 20,000 people have been forced to leave their homes on the island of Rhodes and other islands.

MITSOTAKIS (Greek): We estimate that we will have a de-escalation of the heatwave, but it is certain that over the next few days, over the next few weeks, we must all remain on constant alert.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says a brutal heatwave is expected to loosen its grip in the days ahead, which may help firefighters.

IRS no more in-person visits » If there’s a knock at your door today, it will not be the taxman. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown explains.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: Effective immediately, the Internal Revenue Service is ending its decades-old practice of making unannounced visits to homes and businesses, except in very rare, “unique circumstances.”

Instead, agents will mail letters to people to schedule meetings.

The policy shift is meant to help keep workers safe and to combat scammers who pose as IRS agents.

The IRS also never initiates contact by email, social media, or text messages. It will never call demanding immediate payment or personal information, or leave threatening voicemails.

So if you receive such a message, it’s a scam.

For WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: digging into whistleblower testimony about the investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes. Plus, Recruiting the next generation of armed service members.

This is The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.