New Details on Camp Mystic, and Trump’s Retribution Campaign

Summary

The Headlines: Episode Summary - "New Details on Camp Mystic, and Trump’s Retribution Campaign"
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Host: Tracie Mumford, The New York Times

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1. Tragic Flooding at Camp Mystic

Overview:
The episode opens with a heartbreaking report on the catastrophic flash flooding at Camp Mystic, resulting in the deaths of over two dozen campers and staff. The New York Times conducted an in-depth analysis revealing that the camp’s cabins were constructed within designated flood zones, many situated in areas officially classified as extremely hazardous.

Key Points:

• Location and History: Camp Mystic is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River in a region infamous for flash floods, aptly named "Flash Flood Alley." Historical data shows that this area has been perilous for decades, with a notable tragedy in 1987 when ten teenagers lost their lives due to flooding.

• Construction Concerns: The Times uncovered that several cabins at Camp Mystic were built perilously close to the river's edge, placing them within the river’s floodway—a zone where construction is usually tightly regulated or restricted due to high-risk factors.

• Regulatory Oversight: During a multimillion-dollar expansion six years prior, local authorities approved the addition of new cabins despite their location in the flood zone. A flood risk expert criticized this decision, likening it to "purchasing a tent in the middle of a highway."

Notable Quotes:

• Flood Risk Expert: (Time: 01:20) “That was like pitching a tent in the middle of a highway.”

• Search and Rescue Official: (Time: 02:03) “The challenges that we face is tremendous amount we're talking mounds of debris that is in the river.”

• Search and Rescue Official: (Time: 02:20) “We are finding vehicles and RVs deep inside the debris that you can't even see from the outside.”

Current Situation:
As of the episode's release, search and rescue teams continue their desperate efforts to locate the remaining 170 missing individuals. The absence of survivors since Friday indicates that the death toll may rise significantly.

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2. Trump Administration's Campaign Against Former Investigators

Overview:
The podcast delves into the Trump administration's apparent efforts to target former officials who played pivotal roles in investigating his campaign's alleged connections to Russia. Specifically, John Brennan, former CIA Director, and James Comey, former FBI Director, are under scrutiny.

Key Points:

• Criminal Referrals: The current CIA Director has made a criminal referral against John Brennan, accusing him of lying to Congress during his testimony about the 2016 investigation. Similarly, the FBI is intensifying its examination of James Comey.

• President Trump's Stance: Trump has publicly denounced Brennan and Comey, labeling them as “disgraceful individuals” who "turned against our Constitution and our country."

• White House Response: Press Secretary Caroline Levitt expressed approval of these developments during a Fox News interview, reinforcing the administration's stance.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump: (Time: 03:15) “Both of these disgraceful individuals turned against our Constitution and our country, and I'm sure they did in fact lie to Congress, and it's up to the Department of Justice to investigate that.”

• Donald Trump: (Time: 03:33) “The deep state threw everything at him to prevent him from coming back to this big, beautiful White House behind me, and he prevailed. And I'm glad to see the Department of Justice is opening up this investigation.”

• Former US Attorney: (Time: 04:50) “[Commented] that tracking Comey was a “huge overkill.”*

Implications:
These actions suggest a deliberate retribution campaign by the administration against individuals perceived as adversaries. The scrutiny of Comey intensified after he posted a seemingly innocuous Instagram message that was misinterpreted as a threat against Trump, leading to Secret Service surveillance that many deem excessive.

Additional Details:

• James Comey's Instagram Incident: After posting a picture of seashells arranged to spell "8647," Comey faced backlash when Donald Trump Jr. accused him of "casually calling for my dad to be murdered." Comey later clarified that the numbers are common taglines referencing President Biden, but the Secret Service's response raised concerns about overreach.

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3. Escalating Trade Tensions with Brazil

Overview:
President Trump has expanded his global trade strategies by threatening substantial tariffs on Brazilian imports. This move is purportedly in response to the Brazilian government's prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Key Points:

• Tariff Threats: Trump announced a proposed 50% surcharge on all Brazilian imports, citing what he terms a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro—a former leader facing charges related to a failed coup attempt in 2022.

• Rationale: The administration argues that these tariffs are necessary to "level America's economic playing field" with Brazil, although it incorrectly claims that the U.S. has a trade deficit with the country.

• Brazil's Response: President of Brazil has firmly rejected the tariffs, stating, “Brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions that will not accept being abused by anyone,” indicating that Brazil will retaliate with its own tariffs. This escalation threatens to significantly impact the Brazilian economy, with the U.S. being Brazil's second-largest trading partner.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump: (Time: 04:15) “[In a letter to Brazil's president] I plan to put a 50% surcharge on all Brazilian imports.”

• Brazilian President: (Time: 05:15) “Brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions that will not accept being abused by anyone.”

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4. Rising Measles Cases in the United States

Overview:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a disturbing increase in measles cases in the U.S., reaching levels not seen since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.

Key Points:

• Statistics: Nearly 1,300 confirmed cases of measles have been reported across multiple states. Over 90% of these individuals were either unvaccinated or had uncertain vaccination statuses.

• Public Health Concerns: Experts indicate that vaccine skepticism is undermining herd immunity, paving the way for outbreaks not only of measles but potentially other preventable diseases like whooping cough and meningitis.

• Government Response: Efforts to control the outbreak are being impeded by the Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has been criticized for downplaying the severity of the outbreaks and offering limited support for vaccination initiatives.

Notable Quotes:

• Epidemiologist: (Time: 06:07) “It's a huge red flag for the direction in which we're going.”

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5. Introducing New Chief Restaurant Critics

Overview:
The Times welcomes two new chief restaurant critics, La Gaya Michonne in New York and Tejal Rao in California. Their appointment signals a renewed focus on exploring the evolving American culinary scene.

Key Points:

• Tejal Rao's Background: Rao shares her personal culinary journey, highlighting the fusion of Mexican and Indian flavors influenced by her Indian and East African heritage. She reflects on her childhood experiments in the kitchen, blending diverse ingredients to create unique dishes.

• Culinary Exploration: Rao intends to delve into the historical intersections of food and culture, particularly how immigrant communities have shaped American cuisine. She traces back the roots to the late 1800s when Punjabi, Sikh, and Muslim men from India married Mexican women on the West Coast, giving rise to innovative dishes like roti quesadillas and curried chile verde.

Notable Quotes:

• Tejal Rao: (Time: 08:07) “I moved to the United States as a teenager and my parents, who are Indian and East African, Asian, they started shopping at Mexican grocery stores... I would think that I was some kind of culinary genius.”

• Tejal Rao: (Time: 08:41) “This community had their own restaurants, too. They served roti quesadillas filled with cheese and onions and shredded beef and all kinds of South Asian curries with Spanish rice, a beef chile verde with parathas.”

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Conclusion

Tracie Mumford encapsulates the day's major stories, from the devastating flood at Camp Mystic and the Trump administration's contentious actions against former officials, to rising public health challenges and vibrant developments in the American culinary landscape. The episode underscores ongoing national and international tensions, public health concerns, and cultural evolutions shaping the current societal fabric.

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For a deeper dive into these stories and more, download the New York Times Audio app or listen through your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Multicare Representative]

Our state has changed a lot in the last 140 years. We know because Multicare has been here guided by a single making our communities healthier. That comes from making courageous decisions, partnering with local communities to grow programs and services, and expanding healthcare access to those who need it most. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn [e-mail].

[Tracie Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracie Mumford. Today's Thursday, July 10th. Here's what we're covering. A new Times analysis of Camp mystic, where at least two dozen young campers and staffers died in the recent flash flooding, has found that many of the cabins were built in a designated flood zone. Some of them were in an area the county had deemed extremely hazardous. The camp sits on the banks of the Guadalupe river in a region known as Flash Flood Alley, and camp managers and emergency officials had known the river posed a danger for decades. In 1987, 10 teenagers at a different camp in the area were killed in flooding. Since then, dozens more people in the region have died in flash floods. But at Camp mystic, the Times found some of the cabins sat so close to the river's edge that they were technically in the river's floodway, a type of area so at risk that many states severely restrict construction there. And when the camp carried out a multimillion dollar expansion six years ago, local officials signed off on adding new cabins that were also in the flood zone. One flood risk expert told the Times, that was like pitching a tent in the middle of a highway. Camp mystic didn't immediately respond to questions about the construction of the cabins. Just two days before the flood, the camp passed a state inspection.

[Search and Rescue Official]

The challenges that we face is tremendous amount we're talking mounds of debris that is in the river.

[Tracie Mumford]

Meanwhile, across the region, search teams are still digging through the muddy wreckage of the flash floods, which killed at least 120 people.

[Search and Rescue Official]

We are finding vehicles and RVs deep inside the debris that you can't even see from the outside.

[Tracie Mumford]

More than 170 people are still missing and no survivors have been found since Friday, suggesting the death toll could more than double. The Trump administration appears to be taking steps to target officials who once investigated Donald Trump. They've narrowed in on two men. One is John Brennan, who led the CIA when it investigated the 2016 Trump campaign's connections to Russia. The other is James Comey, who led the FBI. During that time, Trump repeatedly denounced the whole thing as, quote, the Russia hoax. Now the current CIA director has made a criminal referral of Brennan, accusing him of lying to Congress when he testified about the investigation. The FBI is also scrutinizing Comey.

[Donald Trump]

Both of these disgraceful individuals turned against our Constitution and our country, and I'm sure they did in fact lie to Congress, and it's up to the Department of Justice to investigate that.

[Tracie Mumford]

While the FBI and CIA declined to comment, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt celebrated the developments in an interview on Fox News.

[Donald Trump]

The deep state threw everything at him to prevent him from coming back to this big, beautiful White House behind me, and he prevailed. And I'm glad to see the Department of Justice is opening up this investigation.

[Tracie Mumford]

Even if these initial steps do not lead to criminal charges, they're some of the most significant signs yet that the administration intends to carry out a retribution campaign against the president's perceived enemies. In another indication of how closely the government is scrutinizing Comey in particular, the Times has learned that the Secret Service tracked him after he put up an Instagram post critical of Trump in May. Comey posted a picture of seashells that spelled out in 86, 47, 86 being slang for dismiss or remove, 47, referring to Trump as the 47th president. In response, Donald Trump Jr claimed Comey was, quote, casually calling for my dad to be murdered, which fueled an online flurry of accusations that Comey was plotting to assassinate the president. Comey deleted the post, saying he didn't know it had any kind of violent connotation. 8647 and 8646 referring to President Biden are such common taglines. You can buy T shirts with that on it from Amazon. But the Secret Service tracked the location of Comey's cell phone and had him followed in unmarked cars before he was called in for an interview in Washington. Former Secret Service officials tell the Times those methods would typically be used for someone considered an active threat, and a former US Attorney called it, quote, huge overkill. At the White House yesterday, President Trump took his global trade war into new territory, using the threat of steep tariffs to intervene in a criminal trial in Brazil that he's called a witch hunt. In a letter to Brazil's president, Trump said that he plans to put a 50% surcharge on all Brazilian imports, citing the ongoing prosecution of the country's former leader, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro faces possible prison time for allegedly attempting a violent Coup back in 2022 after he lost his reelection campaign. Trump has drawn parallels to the criminal charges he faced after losing reelection, saying it happened to me times ten. Beyond his apparent demand that Brazil end the prosecution, Trump said the new tariffs were also needed to level America's economic playing field with Brazil. He claimed, incorrectly, that the US Has a trade deficit with the country. In response, Brazil's president said it will reciprocate with its own tariffs on the US Writing in a statement, quote, brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions that will not accept being abused by anyone. An escalating trade war could have serious impact on the Brazilian economy. The US Is its second largest trading partner.

[Search and Rescue Official]

Foreign.

[Tracie Mumford]

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the US has hit a grim milestone. There have been more cases of measles this year than in any year since the virus was declared eliminated in the country back in 2000. Nearly 1300 people across dozens of states have had confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease, which can lead to serious long term health issues, especially for kids. Of Those people, over 90% were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Public health experts say that growing skepticism has caused vaccination rates to slip across the country, creating a dangerous opening for measles to spread. And efforts by local public health officials to get it under control have been hamstrung by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Who's downplayed the outbreaks and offered only muted support for vaccines. The spread of measles could be an early sign that other vaccine preventable diseases like whooping cough and meningitis could also become more common. One epidemiologist told the Times, quote, it's a huge red flag for the direction in which we're going. And finally, the Times has announced two new chief restaurant critics who will be traveling the country reporting on the changing landscape of American cuisine. La Gaya Michonne will be based in New York, and Tejal Rao will be based in California.

[Tejal Rao]

I moved to the United States as a teenager and my parents, who are Indian and East African, Asian, they started shopping at Mexican grocery stores. So I was putting the leftover chicken curry made with tons of cumin and black pepper, ginger, garlic, green chilies. I would put that in a hot flour tortilla with some melted cheese and I would think that I was some kind of culinary genius.

[Tracie Mumford]

Tejel says one of the things she'll explore is how food and history overlap, like in the mix of Mexican and Indian flavors she first encountered as a kid.

[Tejal Rao]

In fact, the cuisine has a surprising and mostly forgotten history in the US in the late 1800s, Punjabi, Sikh and Muslim men immigrated from India, and they were looking for work as farmers and loggers on the west coast and but after the Immigration act of 1917 made it impossible for women from their communities back home to join them, hundreds of these men ended up marrying Mexican women and starting families together outside of Sacramento. New kinds of cooking came from these Mexican Indian American homes in a really natural way because cuisines and ingredients and tastes and habits all collide in the kitchen. This community had their own restaurants, too. They served roti quesadillas filled with cheese and onions and shredded beef and all kinds of South Asian curries with Spanish rice, a beef chile verde with parathas. And years later, dining at restaurants, I've been seeing Indian Mexican food interpreted in really different ways and at so many different places. And I love how a restaurant can kind of pick up a thread of history like this.

[Tracie Mumford]

Those are the headlines today on the Daily More on Trump's escalating global trade war. That's next in the New York Times audio app. Or you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.