Bessent Urges Japan on Fiscal Discipline, BOJ Rate Hikes 
Greenland Says US Talks Remain Ongoing 
US Strikes Iran as Tehran Retaliates, Oil Prices Surge 
Augusto Cury Surges in Brazil Presidential Polls 
China Warns Over Taiwan’s Pacific Islands Forum Presence 
Pacific Islands Forum Seeks Unified Condemnation of China Missile Test 
Two Palestinian Teenagers Killed in West Bank Violence 
US Approves $800 Million Helicopter Sale to Iraq 
Trump Reviews U.S. Position on Falkland Islands 
US Strikes Iran IRGC Targets as Conflict Escalates 
Australia, US Move to Expand Defence Ties in Indo-Pacific 
Trump Administration Threatens Smithsonian Support Over Leadership Dispute 
U.S., New Zealand Fund $60M Cook Islands Port Upgrade 
Texas Republicans Turn Against AI Data Centers as Election Backlash Grows 
Iran War Civilian Toll Rises After U.S. Strikes Hit Wedding 
US, Australia Pledge $580 Million for Pacific Islands 
UN Security Council Faces Iran Sanctions Vote 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Democratic state lawmakers in Texas recently walked out on the special session surrounding Republican-backed bills that would further restrict voter access. Vice President Kamala Harris and West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin recently met with the lawmakers that left Texas for Washington this week.
Harris met with the Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state for Washington DC in an effort to stall the passage of two state bills that would target voting and elections in the state. Both bills have initially passed the House and then the Senate following long debates and testimonies from Texas residents. The walkout of the Democratic state lawmakers would deny a quorum.
Harris met with the lawmakers as the person in charge of leading the Biden administration’s efforts to protect voting rights. A spokesperson, however, did not disclose the date and time of Manchin’s meeting with the state lawmakers. Seven more Democratic state lawmakers were expected to join the rest of the group in Washington.
Manchin did not make any further comment when pressed by reporters on whether he would support a carve-out of the Senate filibuster. The West Virginia Democrat only said he is “anxious” to meeting with the legislators.
26 days remain in the special session called upon by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who blasted the Democratic lawmakers for fleeing the state. Abbott accused them of causing harm to the residents of Texas and leave behind issues that needed solving.
“We, as Democrats, we are united, we said we are going to kill any undemocratic efforts in the state legislature. And if that meant leaving the state, we were going to do it,” said state Rep. Raphael Anchia, who was among the Democratic members who fled to Washington.
In other news, Harris’s former national campaign finance manager Jon Henes is to establish his own strategic advisory firm that looks to guide corporations and C-suite executives through tackling social justice and politically charged issues. Henes is looking to open his new firm in New York around Labor Day, and the firm is expected to be hiring 15 people in its initial hiring and may expand operations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington DC.
