News Above the Noise—Week of July 13, 2025
1. How the Tragic Texas Floods Unfolded
For many, the most serious warnings about the deadly and raging torrent in Texas Hill Country last week came too late. More than a summer’s worth of rain had fallen in the area overnight into the holiday, swelling part of the river from about 3 feet to 30 feet in just 45 minutes and turning the beloved waterway into a killer. For more of what we know about how the nightmare scenario unfolded in Texas, click here.
3. Remembering the Late David Gergen
Earlier this week, presidential advisor and political commentator David Gergen died from dementia. Gergen had served under Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton before becoming a go-to political insider. In December, Gergen’s daughter Katherine wrote about a conversation she had with her father during a brief moment of clarity. She asked about future generations, resilience, heroes, fear, the strength of our country, and purpose. Katherine writes, “I ran for my pen and tried to capture some of his departing thoughts, many of which were words of advice for our country—one that he has spent his life dedicated to and believing in.” Click here to read in The Boston Globe.
2. What Are the Health Benefits of Sunshine?
For decades, the reigning advice when it came to sun exposure was that less is more, and none is better. It’s widely understood that ultraviolet light from the sun can age the skin and cause skin cancer, but in recent years, some have questioned this thinking after research suggested that moderate sun exposure may, at least in certain contexts, have some benefits. So what is the truth? Before you forgo the sunscreen, read this.
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