World News: What Happened While You Slept

While you were sleeping, former US President Donald Trump continued to make headlines, from his influence on Texas redistricting to his denial of service by the country's two largest banks. In other news, the underwater tourism company OceanGate faced scrutiny after its craft imploded in June 2023, and the NFL's acquisition of a 10% stake in ESPN was announced. An epidemic has devastated over 20 species since 2013, and there's also been a report on deepfake ads promoting fake health cures.

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Texas House reconvenes after Democrats flee the state

On August 5, 2025, the Texas House reconvened in Austin, but the legislative body still lacked a required quorum with more than 50 Democrats absent. The Democrats had fled the state to prevent a vote on new congressional maps that could eliminate five Democratic US House seats. This would bolster the Republican Party's chances of preserving its US House majority.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued civil arrest warrants for the absent Democrats, and ordered state troopers to help find and arrest them. However, lawmakers physically outside Texas are beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities, and legal experts say enforcement is limited outside of the state. Abbott has also asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare vacant the seat of Democratic lawmaker Rep. Gene Wu, one of the quorum-breaking Democratic House members who fled. In response, Wu accused Abbott of using "the law as a weapon to silence his people" and defended his decision to flee.

The Democratic National Committee chair vowed to "fight fire with fire", and blue-state governors are weighing options to retaliate with their own redistricting efforts. California Democrats are in talks to redraw the state's maps and flip five GOP seats.

Texas Democrats have denied the state speaker a legislative quorum by leaving the state, forestalling plans proposed by the White House to redistrict Texas' congressional lines to more greatly favor Republicans.

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House Oversight Committee subpoenas Justice Department for Epstein investigation files

On Tuesday, 5 August 2025, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for files in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The committee's chairman, James Comer, requested that the "full, complete, unredacted Epstein files" be delivered by 19 August. The committee is also seeking depositions with former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and eight former top law enforcement officials.

The subpoenas come nearly two weeks after one of the committee's subcommittees voted to compel the Justice Department to release the files. The committee's actions show that interest in the Epstein files is still high, even with lawmakers away from Washington on a month-long break.

The vote to subpoena the Justice Department was passed with an 8-2 tally, with three Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the motion. The Republican subcommittee chairman, Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, voted against the motion, saying that he had "never handled a subpoena like this".

The Trump administration's decision to close its investigation into Epstein without releasing additional files has widened a rift in the Republican Party. Many lawmakers are now caught between far-right constituents who are eager for the release of the files and President Trump, who has urged his supporters to move on from the investigation.

The House Oversight Committee also issued a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and Epstein's former girlfriend, to testify before committee officials. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking scheme.

Russia warns of a new arms race

Russia has warned the United States and NATO of the risk of a new arms race, citing rising nuclear tensions and increased military activity near its borders. In 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern over US plans to deploy missiles in Japan and South Korea, which he believed could lead to an arms race spiralling out of control. Putin also stated that Russia would produce new missiles if the US were to do so first.

In 2017, Moscow's envoy to NATO, Alexander Grushko, criticised the alliance's reinforcement of its eastern flank, which included the deployment of 4,000 troops across four countries bordering Russia. Grushko warned that such actions could lead to a new arms race, echoing similar sentiments expressed by Russian officials in 2010. At the time, President Dmitry Medvedev called for cooperation with the West on building a missile defence system, arguing that a failure to reach an agreement would result in heightened tensions and a new round of the arms race.

More recently, in November 2023, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned the US against entering a new arms race, stating that Moscow was not interested in a military conflict with NATO. However, he reiterated Russia's position that it would ensure its security and not succumb to provocations. The deteriorating ties between Russia and the West, particularly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have further escalated tensions and increased the risk of an arms race.

The risk of a nuclear confrontation between the US and Russia has been a persistent concern, with both sides possessing large nuclear arsenals. Efforts to reduce stockpiles and extend arms control treaties, such as New START, have been complicated by mutual suspicions and compliance disputes. The termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019 due to alleged Russian violations further exacerbated tensions.

The potential for an arms race involving multiple nuclear powers, including China, India, and Pakistan, has also been raised by Russian officials. The development of new types of nuclear weapons and the modernisation of existing arsenals by nuclear-armed states contribute to the escalating tensions and the unpredictability of the global strategic stability vacuum.

Trump set to make two key appointments

While you were sleeping, former US President Donald Trump announced his intention to fill two key leadership positions with significant oversight of the US economy. The appointments are as follows:

Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner

The commissioner will be responsible for delivering reliable economic data to businesses, employers, and government agencies to inform their investment and hiring decisions. The position is especially critical as other key jobs indicators have slowed down in recent months. The next BLS commissioner will start on shaky ground due to Trump's unsubstantiated firing of the previous commissioner, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, alleging data manipulation to undermine his presidency.

Federal Reserve Board of Governors member

The appointee will serve as a crucial vote in setting the central bank's interest rates. Trump has consistently criticized the Fed for keeping interest rates high. The appointee could also be positioned as a "shadow Fed chair," potentially undermining the authority of the current chair, Jerome Powell. The market expects the Fed to cut interest rates at its next meeting in September, but the Trump appointee risks being accused of political interference regardless of their vote.

These appointments come amidst concerns about the US economy's slower-than-expected growth and the credibility of Trump's picks due to his recent actions.

Texas Deputy Jennifer Escalera under investigation after controversial TikTok video

Texas Deputy Jennifer Escalera is under investigation after posting a controversial TikTok video. The video in question, which has since been deleted, showed Escalera, a Harris County Precinct 5 deputy, in her uniform, writing in a notepad with the caption, "Didn't get cracked last night so everyone is getting a ticket....". The phrase "getting cracked" is slang for having intercourse and has become popular among Gen Z.

In the video, parts of her uniform were blurred, but her name tag was visible, making identification easy. The public reaction to the video has been swift and outraged, with residents expressing their dismay at what they perceive as a betrayal of the public's trust and a lack of respect for her profession. Some have called for her to lose her job, while others have questioned the professionalism and ethics of speaking on the record in uniform, especially when including personal or sexual references.

Escalera joined the Harris County Constable's Office in September 2021 and has been an active TikTok user, often posting about her life as a mother and a law enforcement officer. It is unclear whether her other videos are being investigated, and no disciplinary actions have been announced. The Precinct 5 Constable's Office has confirmed that the matter is under internal investigation, stating, "Our administration is aware and internal affairs has opened an investigation. We have no other comment at this time."

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