Daily Brief: Saturday, July 11, 2026

St. Louis news worth your time today — curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.

Trump guts election commission in move seen as increasing his sway over midterms

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s latest shot in a relentless war on how elections are conducted has triggered enormous concern among voting rights activists. As of Thursday night, the U.S… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?” (Mar 2008)

Missouri homebuilders report dwindling business amid national housing slump

The housing industry saw a sharp drop in construction starts nationwide in May, both compared with the previous month and with the same period a year earlier. The broader Midwest region showed… — Missouri Independent

Democrats fight for attention in crowded Missouri Senate primary in St. Louis County

Four Democrats are running to succeed state Sen. Brian Williams in North St. Louis County — and struggling to get anyone to notice. Democrats are pushing hard to get voters to the polls to vote… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility” (Nov 2008)

Trump administration targeting states’ DHS grants to force voting changes, House Dems say

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s guidelines to states on how to request funding under counterterrorism grant programs include potentially illegal demands related to election administration,… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?” (Mar 2008)

Turning back tyranny at the ballot box

“…the Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States.” “The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Nixon picks Kelvin Simmons to lead Office of Admin.” (Nov 2008)

Beyoncé’s ‘Morning Dew’

Beyoncé fans had an additional reason to celebrate July 4th thanks to the surprise release of a new song called “Morning Dew (Donk).” The drop was released as a gift to the “BeyHive.” It is her first… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Kacie Triplett: An Alderwoman With Style” (Mar 2008)

Missouri patients regain access to medication abortion 

Missourians can once again obtain medication abortions at clinics in St. Louis and other parts of the state after a Jackson County Circuit Court judge permanently blocked several abortion… — St. Louis American

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