This Week’s Under-reported News Summary – July 30, 2025

Compiled by Bob Nixon

  • U.S. Department of Justice demands voter registration lists from states
  • Shortage of firefighters hampering the U.S. Forest Service
  • Mexico City protests echo global backlash against gentrification

The Trump Department of Justice is making unprecedented demands for state voter registration lists, inspection of voting machines, and threats to withhold grants and other funds from uncooperative states. These requests for sensitive data on millions of Americans in nine states, has raised concerns among both Democratic and Republican local officials, that the Trump regime is now planning to interfere in the 2026 midterm elections.

(“Trump’s DOJ Wants States to Turn Over Their Voter Lists, Election Info,” Stateline, July 16, 2025; “DOJ Hits States With Broad Requests for Voter Rolls, Election Data,” Washington Post, July 16, 2025)

A severe shortage of firefighters is hampering the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to fight wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and mountain states including Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. One quarter of all federal firefighting positions, including many senior leadership positions, are now unfilled.

(“US Faces Alarming Firefighting Shortage During Peak Wildfire Season,” Guardian, July 22, 2025)

Angry protests swept across Mexico City in July decrying the gentrification and rising rents in the capital city.  Anger turned into violence as activists smashed storefronts of brand symbols of gentrification like Starbucks and Air B&B rental apartments.

(“Backlash Against Mexico City Gentrification Echoes Global Anger at Overtourism and Rising Rents,”Guardian, July 15, 2025)

 

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