Paxton vs. Beto, VA Staffing Crisis Deepens, Trump Pressures Goldman Sachs, Smithsonian Under Review

4 Things To Know This Afternoon · Aug 12, 2025 · 1m

• Texas Politics: Attorney General Ken Paxton seeks jail time for Beto O'Rourke over a redistricting fundraising dispute, raising questions about using prosecutorial power in political fights. • VA Staffing Crisis: Every VA medical center reports shortages, severe shortages up 50%, exposing a long-running workforce failure that predates this administration. • White House vs. Goldman Sachs: President Trump pressures the bank to sideline its chief economist after a tariff cost analysis, sparking debate over research independence. • Smithsonian Review: Federal oversight targets ideological bias…