A political standoff over redistricting continues in the Texas Legislature as House Democrats remain out of state, preventing a quorum and stalling key bills, which has prompted Governor Abbott to threaten a second special session.

Texas

The Texas legislature remains gridlocked as House Democrats continue their quorum break by staying out of state in protest against a proposed redistricting map. While the Senate has passed its version of the redistricting map and several disaster response bills, including funding for flood sirens and swift water training, these measures cannot move forward without House action.

Democrats argue that Republicans have prioritized redistricting over urgent disaster relief, while Republicans accuse Democrats of blocking important legislation. With the current session expected to end without progress, Governor Abbott has stated he will call a second special session with the same agenda if a quorum is not reached.

Texas quorum break continues as gridlock intensifies

GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAID HE WILL IMMEDIATELY CALL A SECOND SPECIAL SESSION IF THE CURRENT SESSION ENDS FRIDAY AS EXPECTED WITHOUT A REDISTRICTING MAP. TODAY SENATE REPUBLICANS PASSED THEIR MAP DESPITE A DEMOCRAT WALKOUT IN THEIR CHAMBER. BUT OVER IN THE HOUSE, NOTHING HAPPENING WHILE DEMOCRATS REMAIN OUT OF STATE IN PROTEST. FOX 4'S STEPHEN DIAL IN OUR NEWSROOM WITH THE LATEST. STEPHEN. THE SENATE GOT OTHER BUSINESS DONE TODAY IN ADDITION TO PASSING THE REDISTRICTING MAP. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION FLOOD RESPONSE LEGISLATION CLEARED A CHAMBER IN THE LEGISLATURE. THE PROBLEM IS IT WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS STALLED AND LAWMAKERS ARE GETTING READY FOR A SECOND SPECIAL SESSION. There being 95 members present, a quorum is not present. New day, same gridlock in the Texas House due to the Democrat quorum break over redistricting. Republicans were planning to take up flood response legislation. The Senate operated as normal, passing multiple bills in response to the July 4th Central Texas flood disaster, including Senate Bill 2. The bill dedicates $50 million in state funding to install outdoor sirens in flood-prone counties that were included in the governor's disaster declaration. It would also fund new flood gauges. I think it was a need to reinforce what can't happen if the public turns this off at night or doesn't have it or the campers are too young because the obvious focus is you've got to get people to higher ground. Senate Bill 1 also cleared the Senate. It would create new policies for disaster response preparedness. It will save lives today and it didn't cost a dime to do it. Senate Bill 3 appropriates $20 million to create a swift water training facility. None of these bills are controversial, but Democrats complained that Republicans deliberately stacked them behind redistricting as a coercive tactic. Democrats have been holding the line strong in this issue and we're not running away from anything. We're actually taking the fight to the bad guys. We're trying to bring attention to what's been going on. I spoke to Collin County State Representative Mihaela Plessa who is in Illinois to break court. A lot of fingers are going to be pointed at Democrats saying that you guys are blocking this legislation. What would be your response to that? My response is that we're actually not blocking this legislation. We're actually putting it at the forefront and it's because Texas Democrats are making such a big deal about the fact that Republicans in the House have put flood victims on the back burner that now they're focusing on these issues. When the redistricting map came up for a vote in the Senate, nine Democrat senators walked out. Democrats, when they're in control of the White House, don't tell Democratic states to redraw their maps so that they can withstand the rage of the voters for failed policies and bad leadership. The bill passed on a party line vote. The map is legal in respects to all applicable law. Speaker Burroughs sent House members home and told them to return on Friday if there's no quorum on Friday, which it likely may not be. They will end the session in the House and Senate. Governor Abbott will immediately call a second special session and he says it will have the same agenda.

The National Guard has started to patrol the streets of Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency. He’s also ordered troops to clear out all homeless encampments by the end of the week.

Washington

National Guard starts patrolling Washington

Record-high temperatures across Europe are fanning wildfires across the continent. Experts say a warming climate and an increase in flammable vegetation from rural depopulation are major factors.

Madrid

Historic heat fuels fires across Europe

Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán said the EU attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited. He also called for an EU-Russia summit.

Brussels

Ukraine Invasion

EU leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks

President Trump said Monday he expects that Russia and Ukraine will "land swap" certain territories as part of an eventual ceasefire deal. Mr. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

Trump claims 'land swapping' between Russia, Ukraine will happen

Taylor Swift confirmed her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," in a teaser for her upcoming appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast. Swift did not disclose the release date of the album.

Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take place in Alaska, with European leaders notably excluded from the talks. Until Europe can defend itself, it's not likely to be invited to a great power dialogue, experts have told Euronews.

Alaska

Europe frozen out as U.S. and Russia prepare for Alaska talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal.

Trump says both sides in Ukraine war will need to cede territory

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

President Donald Trump has placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and announced he's activating the National Guard to combat crime in Washington, D.C.

Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair.

Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies fear being sidelined and worry any deal could reward Moscow’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv

Ukraine fights for a seat at the table ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his decision to keep fighting in Gaza, despite protests at home and abroad. Debora Patta has the latest.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu defends plan to expand war in Gaza

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair. Willie James Inman has more from the White House.

Anchorage

Countdown begins to Trump-Putin meeting, without Zelenskyy

Violent weather hit several Midwest states over the weekend, with high winds being blamed for the death of at least one person in Nebraska and flash flooding prompting a state of emergency in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee inundated with floodwaters, one dead in Nebraska

Thirty-seven major wildfires are currently burning across nine states in the western United States. Firefighters have made significant progress on the Canyon Fire in California, achieving 62% containment and allowing over 4,000 residents to return home, with minimal property loss reported.

Major fires continue to burn across western U.S.

President Donald Trump's envoy met with the Qatari prime minister on Saturday in Spain to discuss possible deals to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as Israel's military plans to expand into Gaza City. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike are pleading for peace.

Families of Israeli hostages, Palestinians plead for ceasefire

Renewed anti-government protests have taken place in Israel, where relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded their release and an end to the brutal war Israel has been waging in Gaza.

Israeli anti-government protesters take to the streets in Tel Aviv

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv "values and fully supports" a joint statement by European leaders that welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to try to end the war, while emphasizing the need to pressure Russia and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.

Europe stresses need to protect Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meet

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has firmly rejected Russia’s proposal requiring land concessions to end the war. Ukrainian and European officials have submitted a counterproposal to Washington.

Ukraine, Europe counter Russian ceasefire proposal ahead of US talks

There have been more protests, and counter protests, in several British towns and cities, outside of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Some far-right protesters called for one of the hotels to stop housing migrants.

Bournemouth

UK: Anti-immigration & anti-racism protesters face off

A man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, firing into the complex from a pharmacy and killing a police officer, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, according to reports.

Atlanta

Vaccine conspiracy could be behind Atlanta shooting

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.

San Luis Obispo

Largest California wildfire of 2025 reaches "mega fire" status

President Trump is preparing to take another swing at a deal with President Putin during a high-stakes summit next Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will never give up land, even if it means an end to the war.

Trump: Ukraine must cede land for ceasefire; Zelenskyy refuses

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a rare Sunday meeting to discuss Israel's plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking control of Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta reports on the conflict and the mounting humanitarian crisis.

Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza comes under fire

At least 200 protesters have been arrested at a rally showing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Parliament in London. Crowds are also demonstrating against a ban on the Palestine Action group, after it was designated as a terrorist organisation.

Breakdown