The Full Belmonte, 7/18/2022
An image released by the Texas House of Representatives Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary shooting shows responders in a hallway.
“A Texas House investigative committee released a preliminary report Sunday outlining a series of failures by multiple law enforcement agencies during their response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The report, which was first made available to the victims' families, described "an overall lackadaisical approach" by nearly 400 officers. According to the report, law enforcement officials share a "systemic responsibility" for waiting more than an hour before breaching the classroom and killing the shooter. First responders also "lost critical momentum" by treating the situation as a "barricaded subject" scenario, which calls for a more measured response compared to an active shooter. The report said officials were also lacking an effective incident commander, resulting in a breakdown in communication. The gunman who stormed the school killed 19 students and two teachers, making it the second-deadliest shooting ever at a K-12 school in the US.” Read more at CNN
Bodycam footage shows police deploying in a hallway after the gunman entered Robb Elementary School. Photo: Uvalde P.D. via Reuters
“Bodycam video shows Uvalde Staff Sgt. Eduardo Canales, the city's SWAT commander, saying: ‘Dude, we gotta get in there. We gotta get in there — he just keeps shooting. We gotta get in there.’
72 minutes later, officers finally breach the classrooms and kill the shooter.
Nearly 400 officers were on hand during the May mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. ‘[S]ystemic failures and egregiously poor decision making’ resulted in more than an hour of chaos before the gunman was confronted and killed after taking 21 lives, AP writes from a damning report by the Texas House.
Why it matters: The report criticizes both state and federal law enforcement — not just local authorities in the South Texas town — for the bewildering inaction by heavily armed officers.
What we know:
The 376 law enforcement officers massed at the school included nearly 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents and 91 state police officials.
No one assumed command.
The commander of a Border Patrol tactical team waited for a bullet-proof shield and master key, which may not have been needed. No one bothered to see if the classroom doors were locked.
‘There was an overall lackadaisical approach by law enforcement at the scene,’ the report says.” Read more at Axios
Here are four takeaways from the report. Read more at NPR
•”Immediate impact: Lt. Mariano Pargas, a Uvalde Police Department officer who was the city’s acting police chief during the massacre, was placed on administrative leave after the report was released.
•'We got to get in there': Uvalde officials have released police body camera footage from seven Uvalde police officers after the release of the committee's report as well as video taken from the school's hallway.
•Video from the school: Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said the hallway video from Robb Elementary School suggests that police are more concerned about themselves than the safety of children and teachers inside the classroom.” Read more at USA Today
Crystal Garcia, left, and Sergio Garcia, center, stepmother and father of shooting victim Uziyah Garcia, talk to the media from the back of a vehicle after picking up a copy of the Texas House investigative committee report on the shootings at Robb Elementary School, Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.Eric Gay, AP
“The gunman who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., more than four years ago goes on sentencing trial today. Jurors must decide whether Nikolas Cruz, 23, gets a life sentence in prison or is put to death.” Read more at NPR
“Three people were fatally shot and two were injured Sunday evening at an Indiana shopping mall after a man with a rifle opened fire in a food court and an armed civilian shot and killed him.” Read more at NPR
FBI agents gather at the scene of a deadly shooting at the Greenwood Park Mall, in Greenwood, Indiana.Kelly Wilkinson, AP
“A fleet of 52 school buses traveled to Sen. Ted Cruz's home to protest youth gun violence.” Read more at USA Today
An aerial view of 52 empty school buses, which represent the number of schoolchildren killed by gun violence since 2020, parked to resemble an assault rifle in Houston on July 13, 2022. NRA Children's Museum
Line for monkeypox vaccine in Brooklyn yesterday. Photo: Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
“The U.S. failed to contain the monkeypox outbreak and is ‘at the cusp’ of seeing the virus become endemic, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CBS' ‘Face the Nation.’
There are more than 1,800 monkeypox cases in the U.S. and more than 12,500 worldwide, Axios' Ivana Saric writes from CDC data.
New York and D.C. began offering limited monkeypox vaccines last month, but quickly maxed out on appointments.” Read more at Axios
“Jury selection will begin Monday in the trial of former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who is charged with defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Bannon faces two counts of contempt for his refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce documents, despite a subpoena from the House committee, which has held a series of hearings featuring damning testimony from former President Donald Trump's administration officials. Bannon, 68, has argued that his testimony is protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege.” Read more at USA Today
Steve Bannon, advisor to former President Donald Trump, speaks to the media as a protester stands behind him, outside of the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse on June 15 in Washington.Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images
This proposed executive order was shown at last week's hearing. Exhibit: House Select Committee via AP
“The House Jan. 6 committee's prime-time hearing later this week will include none-too-subtle signals to the Justice Department about possible illegal activity by President Trump, I'm told by congressional sources.
Why it matters: The committee is continuing its laser focus on Trump and anything he may have done to encourage or prolong the attack on the Capitol. It has assembled a mountain of transcripts and other evidence that could be used in federal prosecutions.
Hearing 8 — Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, and possibly the summer finale — is aimed at showing Trump was derelict in his duty as commander-in-chief by not calling off the mob during the attack, and even fanning the flames.
Committee members previewed the theme on Sunday shows.
The big picture: The Justice Department recently expanded its investigation into the Jan. 6 attack, targeting some of Trump's allies in Washington and around the country, AP reports.
But prosecutors haven't indicated whether they'll bring a case against Trump.
What we're hearing: Look for the committee to continue its strategy of detailing events through the testimony of people who are or were Trump allies.
What we're watching: This is the committee's last scheduled hearing. A final report is planned for this fall. But committee members say evidence continues to come in, and say future hearings are possible.
What's next: In one emerging line of inquiry, the committee on Friday announced a subpoena for United States Secret Service records.
‘The Select Committee has been informed that the USSS erased text messages from January 5 and 6, 2021 as part of a 'device-replacement program,’ Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) wrote to Secret Service director James Murray (who announced July 7 that he'll be retiring July 30).
The letter quotes a Secret Service statement saying it ‘began to reset its mobile phones to factory settings as part of a pre-planned, three-month system migration. In that process, data resident on some phones was lost.’
In a statement Thursday in response to a finding by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General, the Secret Service said: ‘The insinuation that the Secret Service maliciously deleted text messages following a request is false.’
Go deeper: See the committee's 2-page letter to the Secret Service.” Read more at Axios
“An Atlanta-area DA is considering whether to call Trump to testify before a grand jury in an election fraud case.” Read more at USA Today
“The Secret Service is expected to meet the committee's Tuesday deadline on reportedly deleted text messages.” Read more at USA Today
Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
“Western Europe is raging with record-setting temperatures, as wildfires and heat-related deaths surge. In Britain, authorities are issuing dire warnings, as temperatures may reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in the country's southern region. More than 160 people in Portugal have been injured by wildfires and hundreds have been forced to evacuate. Spain is also battling several wildfires, including two that have burned about 18,200 acres and caused around 3,000 people to be evacuated.” Read more at USA Today
A firefighter cries near a wildfire in the Losacio area in north western Spain on Sunday July 17, 2022.Emilio Fraile, AP
“At least 353 Ukrainian children have died and more than 665 have been injured due to Russia's invasion, the Ukrainian Juvenile Prosecutor's Office said today. Most of the injuries were reported in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv, it said. At least 2,138 educational institutions have been damaged, of which 221 have been completely destroyed. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired two of his top officials, accusing members of their staff of treason and collaborating with Russia. One of the dismissed officials was a long-time associate of Zelensky. On the ground, the Ukrainian military said today that the shelling of its defenses across the Donetsk region is continuing, but renewed attempts by Russian forces to win territory have been thwarted.” Read more at CNN
Zelenskyy fires prosecutor general, security services chief
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a shakeup of top officials Sunday, dismissing the prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, and replacing her with her deputy, Oleksiy Symonenko. Also ousted: Security Service chief Ivan Bakanov. Zelenskyy said that more than 60 employees of the prosecutor's office and the Security Service in the occupied territory are working ‘against our state,’ citing collaboration with Russia. More than 65 criminal proceedings have been started regarding treason and collaboration activities of employees of prosecutor's offices, pretrial investigation bodies and other law enforcement agencies, he said.” Read more at USA Today Read more live updates on Ukraine
US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Ukrainian Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova, meet in Krakovets, at the Ukraine border with Poland, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.Nariman El-Mofty, AP
“COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s acting president on Monday declared a state of emergency giving him broad authority amid growing protests demanding his resignation two days before the country’s lawmakers are set to elect a new president.
Ranil Wickremesinghe became acting president on Friday after his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled abroad and resigned after monthslong mass protests over the country’s economic collapse.
Wickremesinghe’s move to impose a state of emergency comes as protests demanding his resignation have continued in most parts of the country, with some burning his effigy.
Wickremesinghe said in a statement that negotiations for a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund were nearing conclusion while discussions for assistance with foreign countries were also progressing. There has been no comment from IMF to Wickremesinghe’s assessment of the bailout talks.” Read more at AP News
Marina Ovsyannikova outside a Russian court in March after being fined for breaching protest laws. The journalist had been arrested for interrupting a TV news broadcast holding a ‘No war’ poster. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
“Russian police detained and later released the journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who in March interrupted a live television broadcast to denounce the military action in Ukraine, posts on her social media channels showed.
Her detention on Sunday came a few days after 44-year-old Ovsyannikova demonstrated alone near the Kremlin holding a placard criticising Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and president Vladimir Putin.” Read more at The Guardian
“Khashoggi lawyer detained. Asim Ghafoor, a U.S. citizen and former lawyer for the murdered Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi wasarrested by Emirati authorities and sentenced to three years in prison on charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
The Virginia-based Ghafoor was detained by Emirati authorities while changing planes at a Dubai airport and his arrest was coordinated with U.S. authorities, according to UAE media. Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a human rights group which counts Ghafoor is a board member, said the lawyer was unaware of any charges against him and had recently transited Dubai without incident.” Read more at Foreign Policy
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
“Twitter, weakened and distracted by months of conflict, faces a raft of global problems with or without Elon Musk, Axios' Ashley Gold writes.
Why it matters: Whoever ends up owning it, Twitter remains the world's nervous system for news. Its policies on elections, extremism, misinformation, harassment and censorship affect billions.
Twitter's to-do list includes:
Showdown with Indian government: Earlier this month, Twitter sued the Indian government, calling its orders to take down certain content and accounts ‘arbitrary’ and ‘disproportionate,’ according to a filing seen by the WashPost.
Strict new content rules in Japan, Russia, Turkey and South Korea.
Foreign manipulation: State-sponsored information operations meant to boost certain candidates, or inflame certain causes, are still a problem on Twitter, Jared Holt, a senior research manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told Axios.
World leaders and elected officials spreading misinformation or inciting violence: Twitter's world leaders policy holds politicians to different standards from other users because of the inherent newsworthiness of their statements.
New rules in Europe and a fragmented global internet: The EU's Digital Services Act, which sets new rules for tech platforms on taking down illegal or otherwise harmful content, goes into effect this fall.
Harassment: Twitter has made notable attempts to limit harassment. But the problem — which often plagues women, journalists and people from any marginalized groups around the world — isn't anywhere close to going away.
Twitter spokesperson Elizabeth Busby said Twitter ‘continues to focus on our work to keep people safe online, and to protect and promote a free and open internet ... Protecting the health of the public conversation remains our top priority.’
What we're watching: If Republicans win the House, they'll likely pressure Twitter to reinstate former President Trump and loosen content rules.” Read more at Axios
“Netflix releases its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, and it's shaping up to be one of the most consequential moments in the 25-year history of the company. In April, the streaming giant reported that it lost subscribers in the first quarter of 2022 -- the first time that had happened in any quarter for more than a decade. Netflix's stock subsequently plummeted (it's currently down about 70% so far this year), wiping out billions of dollars in market value. Soon after, the company laid off hundreds of employees. And a weak outlook for the second quarter shocked investors: Netflix predicted it would lose another 2 million subscribers in the spring. According to a market researcher, if that number is higher than 2 million in the report on Tuesday, investors may fully turn their backs on Netflix -- a move that could reshape the future of the company as well as the entire streaming sector.” Read more at CNN
Cast member Jennifer Lopez, right, and Ben Affleck attend a photo call for a special screening of ‘Marry Me’ at the DGA Theater on Feb. 8, 2022, in Los Angeles.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP—2022 Invision
“NEW YORK — Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were wed Saturday in a late-night Las Vegas drive-through chapel, culminating a relationship that stretched over two decades in two separate romances and headlined countless tabloid covers.
Lopez announced their marriage Sunday in her newsletter for fans with the heading ‘We did it.’ Lopez initially made their engagement public in April on the same newsletter, ‘On the J Lo.’” Read more at Time
Cameron Smith, of Australia, looks at the Claret Jug trophy during a press conference after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Sunday July 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
“The image felt off Sunday at St. Andrews: Rory McIlroy, walking down the most famous 18th fairway in golf history, surrounded by fans and countrymen with a scowl on his face. Everything was set up for a historic Rory day; his putting stroke determined otherwise.
Meanwhile, the mulleted, mustachioed Cameron Smith, an Aussie who seemed completely unfazed by McIlroy’s home-turf moment, filled the putting gap McIlroy left open, shooting an 8-under 64 on Sunday to win the Open Championship.
A couple of jarring stats to contextualize a wild Sunday:
McIlroy is the only player to ever hold a 54-hole lead in a major, hit every green in regulation on Sunday and still lose, at least as far back as recorded stats go. The putter can be so cruel.
Since 1995, no player has had more than two rounds of 8-under or better in a major in their entire career. Smith did it twice this weekend.
Justin Ray has more fun facts on Smith’s Sunday assault here. Brendan Quinn called him the greatest movie villain of all-time, and wondered what’s next for McIlroy.
In a post-round interview, Smith posed an important question: How many beers can fit in the Claret Jug? (He then guessed he’d drink 20 jugs. Check on him today.) Here’s McIlroy pouring Jagermeister into it after his 2014 win. I’m guessing at least two beers can fit.
I bet Smith fits three. I believe in him after Sunday’s performance.” Read more at The Athletic
MLB stars compete in home run derby
“Eight of the best sluggers in baseball will compete in the MLB Home Run Derby Monday. Headlining the competition is New York Mets star Pete Alonso, who is seeking a three-peat after winning the last two contests in 2021 and 2019. (The 2020 Home Run Derby was not staged due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Should he bring home another crown, Alonso will join Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. as the only three-time winners in the home run hitting exhibition.” Read more at USA Today
Pete Alonso celebrates after winning the 2021 Home Run Derby at Coors Field.Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
“An M.L.B. draft surprise: The Texas Rangers selected pitcher Kumar Rocker — the Mets’ first-round pick last season — at No. 3, much higher than experts predicted. New York chose not to offer Rocker a contract after evaluating his medicals. Did they make a mistake? The Rangers think he’s worth the risk.” Read more at New York Times
Illustration: Victoria Ellis/Axios
“There's a big-dollar arms race in high-tech cat waste ‘solutions,’ from color-changing litter that can detect diseases to AI tech that tracks Fluffy's habits, Jennifer A. Kingson writes in Axios What's Next.
Why it matters: As COVID-era cat ownership has surged, companies large and small have flooded the market with products aimed at improving pet health and reducing the top reason people return cats to shelters — litter box unpleasantness.
The ballooning ‘pet tech’ category includes the $700 Litter-Robot, which makes scooping obsolete and will soon come with a health-monitoring app.
Surging sales of pet-care products have translated into squads of researchers studying the tastes of cats and consumers — developing litter that dissolves in water, is made from tofu and has good ‘paw feel.’” Read more at Axios