Welcome to the RedState Weekly Briefing — your go-to roundup for the week’s most popular stories, just in case you missed them. What stories captured everyone’s attention this time around? Pour yourself a coffee, or something more spirited if you prefer, and get comfortable with this latest edition of your favorite online news source. Let’s dive in!

#1 – Bombshell Study Reveals Real Reason Behind Surge in Homelessness, and It’s Not What the Dems Tell You — by Bob Hoge

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has shared alarming statistics, revealing a 43 percent uptick in the individuals living in homeless shelters across the U.S. from 2022 to 2024. This marks a reversal of the steady decline seen over the previous sixteen years. A significant portion of this increase occurred in just four areas: New York City, Chicago, Massachusetts, and Denver. Here, large numbers of new immigrants seeking asylum were accommodated in emergency shelters. According to both direct data from local agencies and demographic trend analyses, asylum seekers were responsible for roughly 60 percent of the climb in sheltered homelessness throughout these two years, disputing media and policy claims that blamed local economies and housing costs.

Reread that to let it sink in; the revelation is shocking. Critics of Joe Biden’s inclusive border strategy and the “sanctuary city” concept embraced by progressive mayors have suspected this outcome for some time, yet the actual figures are startling.

#2 – Eric Swalwell Gets Dragged Into Oblivion After Posting Videos of Himself Bench Pressing 135 — by Rusty Weiss

Swalwell’s crowning performance, akin to his Mona Lisa, came in the form of a video where he showcases his bench pressing skills, lifting 135 pounds while appearing increasingly fatigued during his monologue.

I should be working right now. But Republicans shut down Congress. So instead, I’m pumping iron at the gym. pic.twitter.com/uNRPah17wh

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) July 28, 2025

• “Pumping iron” is a loose description here. Aluminum, maybe.
• Why?
• Can you imagine being the poor intern who has to stand over him and record the video?
• Mr. Olympia here’s athletic career consisted of him breaking playing soccer.
• Why?

#3 – Democrats Scramble to Figure Out Why Young Men Hate Them, and the Findings Are Comedy Gold — by Bonchie

Nevertheless, contempt is evident in the way the focus group’s findings are portrayed. Even while purportedly aiming to better understand young men, terms like “male privilege” and “historical patriarchy” are used uncritically in discussions. The consultants seem to acknowledge that these sentiments are outdated by 2025 (and perhaps even reversed), yet they continue the leftist tradition of undervaluing young men and casually dismissing their perspectives.

#4 – Watch: Bystanders, Armed Citizen Confront Traverse City Walmart Mass Stabbing Suspect in Dramatic Moment — by Sister Toldjah

“This was a collaborative endeavor from start to finish, including our citizens, and fortunately, there were no additional injuries. Eleven victims are eleven too many, but thank God the number wasn’t higher,” Shea expressed at the press conference:

“This was a joint effort all the way through to, as I mentioned, the citizens, and thankfully no one else was injured.” said Sheriff Michael Shea on mass stabbing at a Traverse City Walmart. He confirms several times “citizen involvement” in stopping the suspect. pic.twitter.com/ueSHL1UkDo

— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) July 27, 2025

#5 – Pete Hegseth Has a Chef’s Kiss Response After Karen Bass Celebrates ‘Troops Retreating’ From LA — by Sister Toldjah

Another win for Los Angeles tonight: 1,000 more troops are retreating.

We will continue this pressure until ALL troops are out of L.A.https://t.co/spbTtO09TS

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 31, 2025

Yeah… no. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set her straight:

You’re welcome Mayor.

These brave troops are redeploying because their mission was so successful.

You should be thanking them for saving your city from mobs & chaos.

We will continue to support law enforcement—even when you won’t. https://t.co/BQPKfDQTJk

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 31, 2025

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