Uh, in the meantime, the National Governor Association is holding its summer meeting starting today and tomorrow in Colorado Springs. The current chairman, Democratic Governor Jared Poliss of Colorado, will be passing the gavl to Republican Governor Kevin State of Oklahoma, who will serve as the new chair of the NGA. Democratic Governor Wesmore of Maryland will serve as the new vice chair.And the incoming chairman, Governor Stit, joins us now along with the incoming vice chair, Governor Moore. A bipartisan ...

Core Points - Hyundai and Genesis Motor America have initiated a disaster relief program in response to the floods in Texas, including a $150,000 donation and support for affected residents and first responders [1][2][3] Group 1: Financial Contributions - The companies are donating $75,000 each to the American Red Cross and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to assist with emergency response and long-term recovery efforts [2] - A total of $150,000 is allocated for disaster relief initiatives, which includes direct customer relief and collaboration with community partners [1][2] Group 2: Customer Assistance Programs - Hyundai Capital America is offering payment relief options for eligible customers affected by the floods, allowing them to seek hardship support [3][4] - A $1,000 assistance program is available for current Hyundai owners whose vehicles were damaged, applicable towards the purchase or lease of new 2025 or 2026 Hyundai models [5][7] - A $2,000 assistance program is available for Genesis vehicle owners under similar conditions, also applicable towards new 2025 or 2026 Genesis models [6][8] Group 3: Extended Roadside Assistance - Extended roadside assistance services are provided for affected Hyundai and Genesis owners, including towing and other support services [10][11] - The extended assistance program is available until September 30, 2025, and includes services such as lockout assistance and battery services [10][11] Group 4: Economic Impact - Hyundai Motor America contributes $20.1 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports approximately 190,000 jobs [12][13]

Core Perspective - Dr. Anosh Ahmed's foundation is launching a relief initiative to assist families affected by recent floods in Texas, focusing on financial assistance, support for grieving families, and home reconstruction for uninsured residents [1][3]. Group 1: Relief Initiative Details - The relief initiative includes direct financial assistance to families who have lost loved ones, shelter and essential supplies for displaced residents, and home rebuilding assistance for uninsured families [5][6]. - The foundation will collaborate with churches, community organizations, and first responders to ensure effective outreach [6]. - A special "Texas Strong: America First Gala" will be hosted in Dallas to raise additional funds and awareness for the relief efforts [7]. Group 2: Focus on Specific Groups - The relief plan prioritizes veterans, police officers, and military families in housing and aid programs, reflecting a commitment to support those who serve [8]. - The initiative also includes providing mental health and grief counseling resources for affected individuals [9]. Group 3: Foundation Background - The Anosh Supports America First Foundation was established to uphold American values and support military, law enforcement, first responders, and patriotic communities [3][4]. - Dr. Anosh Ahmed emphasizes that the foundation's mission extends into disaster relief, reinforcing the belief that helping those in need is a fundamental American act [3].

Disaster Overview & Impact - The community and nation are deeply affected by the significant loss of life along the Guadalupe River [1] - Over 160 people in Kerr County are still missing [5] - A memorial has been set up along the Guadalupe River to honor the victims [3][4][5] Accountability & Preventability - Officials were warned about the potential for a severe flooding event as early as October [2] - There is growing evidence that officials could have and should have done more to prevent the tragedy [8] - A special legislative session is scheduled for July 21st to address these issues [8] - The Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House in Texas will conduct joint investigations to understand the facts leading to the event [9] - Local officials requested a siren system multiple times, but the state denied the request [10][11] Emergency Response & FEMA Involvement - FEMA instituted a policy requiring all expenses over $100,000 to be approved directly by the Homeland Security Secretary, raising questions about potential delays in emergency relief [22][23] - Kerr County did not alert cell phones as the flooding began, and there were delays in sending out code red alerts [24][25] - The FEMA administrator has not been visible or involved in the disaster response, raising questions about FEMA's autonomy [17][18][20]

FEMA Response Concerns - Democratic lawmakers are raising concerns about the federal response to the Texas flooding, questioning the impact of administration cuts to FEMA and the National Weather Service [1] - The response in Texas is criticized, with claims that FEMA didn't show up with swift water rescue crews for 72 hours, a deviation from past practices [4] - There are reports of over 20% of FEMA's workforce being forced out, and key positions, like the Florida regional administrator, remaining empty [5] FEMA Reform and Current State - FEMA needed reform to be faster, but the current administration broke it, potentially intentionally, by appointing an interim administrator with zero emergency management experience [7][8] - The changes have made FEMA slower and less efficient, potentially costing lives and disproportionately hurting red states that rely on FEMA for disaster relief [9] - The reimbursement process has slowed down, impacting cities' and counties' ability to make decisions and clean up after disasters [9][10] Congressional Action and Hurricane Season Preparedness - Congress could have done more in the past eight months to address the issues at FEMA, but the damage has already been done [13] - Members of Congress from states like Louisiana should push the White House to get FEMA ready, expedite declarations, and preposition resources [14][15] - FEMA needs to revert to its established playbook for hurricane season, and members of Congress should speak up publicly about the need for preparedness [15][16]

Disaster Response & Recovery - The primary focus remains on search efforts for over 160 missing people in Kerr County, Texas [1] - The transition from rescue to recovery efforts is accelerating, increasing the urgency for closure for families of missing individuals [3] - Texas, despite being well-prepared and funded for disasters, still requires millions or billions of dollars in federal assistance [10][11] Political & Policy Implications - Presidential visits to disaster areas are often influenced by the political landscape, with contrasting rhetoric observed between visits to Texas (a red state) and California (a Democratic state) [4][6][7] - The President's plans for FEMA are uncertain, particularly regarding potential budget cuts or elimination of the agency, despite its critical role in disaster response [8][9] - A new homeland security policy requiring Secretary Gnome's approval for agency spending exceeding $100,000 may have delayed the federal response in Texas [12][13] Prevention & Preparedness - Kerr County officials warned of a likely flood event in 2024 but deferred action on flood warning systems until the plan was updated, highlighting potential failures in local preparedness [15][16][17] - Implementing robust warning systems, such as text message alerts, is crucial for informing the public about potential dangers [19][20] - The location of facilities like Camp Mystic within flood zones needs scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of considering flood risks in planning and development [21][22] FEMA's Future & Potential Restructuring - Secretary Gnome suggested FEMA needs to be eliminated in its current form and remade into a responsive agency, indicating potential for restructuring rather than complete elimination [23][24][25][26] - The President's reaction to the situation in Texas could influence his thinking on FEMA's future [27]

Disaster Relief Efforts - Federal disaster declaration signed for Kerr County, Texas, which was heavily impacted by floods [1] - Search and rescue efforts continue in affected areas along the Guadalupe River [1] Human Impact - More than 100 people have died as a result of the floods in Texas' Hill Country [1] - Scores more people are still missing [1] Government Response - President Trump participated in a roundtable with first responders and local officials in Kerrville, Texas, to assess flood damage [1]

Disaster Relief and Preparedness - Texas lawmakers will address disaster relief and preparedness in the aftermath of the flooding [1] - Texas officials had warnings of another flood in K County likely within the next year, but no action was taken despite a massive rainy day fund [4][5] - Funds passed down by the Biden administration to Kerr County were sent back, leading to underfunded National Weather Service and vacant positions that should have been alerting people [6][7] Political Implications - Texas Governor is pushing for congressional redistricting amidst the tragedy, which the Texas Democratic Party calls disgusting political gamesmanship [2][9] - The redistricting aims to take four to eight seats away from Democrats in Texas, potentially impacting the 2026 primary [11] - Republicans are allegedly using a bogus letter to claim minority protected seats are unconstitutional, potentially impacting minority districts nationwide [11][12] - The Texas Democratic Party believes the governor is scared due to Texas trending towards Democrats and the potential for Democrats to flip a United States Senate seat [13][18][19] - 1% of Democratic voters in Texas stayed home in the last election, indicating a need for the Texas Democratic Party to reconnect with its base [16]

Disaster Overview - The number of missing individuals in Kerr County remains at 161 after 24 hours of searching [2] - The death toll in Kerr County has risen to 96 [25] - The search area covers around 1,000 miles of the river and surrounding area [13] Recovery Efforts - Search efforts involve state, local, and federal agencies, as well as volunteer organizations [8][10] - Teams from other states and Mexico are assisting with the search [8][11] - Resources include helicopters, scuba divers, cadaver dogs, and horses [9][11] Community Impact - Five campers and one counselor are still missing from Camp Mystic [14][16] - The Camp Mystic community is strong and supporting each other [18][19] - Community visuals were held to remember and grieve together [17] Accountability and Future Prevention - Questions are being raised about accountability and whether more could have been done to prevent the loss of life [4] - A special session will be held to address the response and these questions [4] - Officials state they will be "very weather alert" regarding potential future flooding [6] Aid and Resources - Short-term and long-term housing, food, and clothing are needed for survivors [21] - A FEMA site is open to provide resources for those not covered by insurance [22] - Donations can be made to the Hill Country community group and United Way [19][22][23]

Group 1: Core Initiative - Graham Media Group and Gray Media have launched a donation drive to support flood relief efforts in Texas, raising over $120,000 in the first 24 hours, including a $25,000 contribution from Gray and an additional $15,000 from Graham Media Group [1][2] - The campaign aims to provide essential resources such as food, housing, and financial aid to communities affected by the floods, with 100% of the funds raised going directly to on-the-ground efforts [2][3] Group 2: Company Commitment - Graham Media Group's CEO emphasized the responsibility of broadcasters to inform and assist communities during crises, highlighting the role of The Salvation Army's rapid response teams in providing essential services [2] - Gray Media's Co-CEO expressed commitment to serving affected communities for as long as necessary, acknowledging the generous response from viewers [2] Group 3: Company Background - Graham Media Group operates seven local media outlets and is involved in various digital media and marketing solutions, serving multiple states and communities [4] - Gray Media, headquartered in Atlanta, is the largest owner of local television stations in the U.S., reaching approximately 37% of U.S. television households and owning a diverse portfolio of media properties [5][6]