🚨Rep. Maxwell Frost after touring “Alligator Alcatraz”: “Thirty-two bodies crammed per cage, six cages per tent. People screaming ‘Help me, I’m a U.S. citizen.’ Drinking water pumped from the same toilet they’re forced to use. It’s filth, it’s cruelty, it’s America’s name on

AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist was dismayed to hear that children attending youth camps in Kerr County, Texas, had not been ushered to higher ground despite warnings of potential life-threatening flash flooding. propublica.org/article/texas-…

The number of extreme weather disasters has jumped fivefold worldwide over the past 50 years, and the number of deaths has nearly tripled, according to the World Meteorological Organization. propublica.org/article/texas-…

I thought we all agreed Elmo is off limits

Blue Cross had refused to pay thousands of claims for the center’s patients, but on several occasions execs at the insurance company had signed special one-time deals with the center to pay for their wives’ cancer treatment. propublica.org/article/blue-c…

SCREAMING

It’s taboo to talk about the Cosby Show because of what’s transpired in Bill’s life. But part of the brilliance of that show was Theo’s arc from struggling with dyslexia to going to grad school and educating the youth at a community center in the later seasons

“The Cosby Show” understandably has a dark cloud around it now, but Malcolm Jamal Warner as Theo is one of the most important/iconic portrayals of a young Black man on TV. From his struggles with dyslexia to becoming an educator, Theo was so important in the 80s/90s.

Let’s not forget Theo was also ‘The Producer’ in The Magic School Bus

In an open letter, 115 organizations, including major international aid groups such as Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps and Save the Children, said they were watching their own colleagues, as well as the Palestinians they serve, “waste away.” to.pbs.org/4lSLKqz

On March 15, President Donald Trump’s administration sent more than 230 Venezuelan immigrants to a prison in El Salvador. Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been taken away. Now, their stories will begin to be told. Starting here. propublica.org/article/venezu…

BREAKING: A judge has blocked the Trump administration's efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and ordered that it keep getting Medicaid funds. apnews.com/article/planne…

Sterling K. Brown, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Winston Duke are in negotiations to star in the upcoming limited series ‘THE TREES’ Based on Percival Everett’s acclaimed 2022 novel of the same name. (Source: deadline.com/2025/07/sterli…)

We’re thrilled to uplift Chryl Laird for our first CDCE Faculty Fellow Spotlight! Dr. Laird is an Associate Professor of Government and Politics at the Univ. of Maryland and Faculty Fellow for the CDCE.

Dr. Laird’s research focuses on the political socialization of Black girls. She explores how Black women’s political behavior is shaped in adolescence. Check out her 2024 report: Hear Our Voices: Black Girl Tribe Politics Survey at cdce.umd.edu/sites/cdce.umd…

The big question driving Dr. Laird’s work is “At what age does someone start to believe in a racial linked fate?” And her top insight is that “Black girls’ awareness of the political world is exceptional!”

Finally, Dr. Laird shared that she believes that civic engagement is vital for the stability of our democracy. And she shared that as a fun fact— she enjoys crocheting! Thank you, Dr. Laird, for your leadership, scholarship, and impact. ⭐

60,000 Gazans have been killed. 18,500 were children. These are their names. wapo.st/3IRLZn6

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down operations after loss of federal funding:

The Sesame Street library is coming to YouTube! Beginning in January 2026, YouTube will have the largest digital library of Sesame Street content, with hundreds of full episodes coming to the Sesame Street channels. Join us as we help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger,