7/28 to 8/3, 2025

Welcome back, everyone. This is This Week, Basically, hosted by Robyn Davies. From political knife fights to papal singalongs, from gang wars to jazz-pop wonders; here’s your quick spin through the week’s biggest stories. Let’s dive in.

We’ll start in Texas, where the redistricting fight has gone from tense to outright warfare. Lawmakers there are pushing the boundaries of what district maps can look like, carving lines so precise they seem designed to lock in power rather than reflect communities. The phrase that’s circulating, “maximum warfare”, isn’t hyperbole. Court battles are already brewing, activists are mobilizing, and the consequences could shape not just Texas politics but national elections for years.

Head south to Haiti, where a U.S. military contractor’s mission to help the government fight gangs ended in disaster. Two men tied to the effort — a Haitian American Navy veteran and his cousin, a Haitian police officer — were abducted and are now presumed dead. What began as a $150,000-a-month training program for police turned into chaos, with weapons stolen and suspicions falling on corrupt officials. It underscores how fragile Haiti’s security situation is, and how dangerous it’s become for anyone trying to intervene.

Meanwhile in Thailand, protests are mounting against suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Thousands have gathered in Bangkok, angry over a leaked phone call where she seemed to cozy up to Cambodia’s leadership while criticizing her own military. The timing couldn’t be worse: Thailand just ended its worst clash with Cambodia in decades, a brief war that left scars and stirred national pride. Now demonstrators are demanding she step aside before the courts force the issue.

And in Europe, Lithuania’s prime minister is out. Gintautas Paluckas resigned under pressure from corruption investigations that hit close to home, including allegations that EU funds were improperly funneled to companies linked to his family. His departure triggered the resignation of the entire cabinet, though the coalition government is expected to carry on. For a leader who’d been in office less than a year, it’s a stunningly quick fall .

Switching gears but staying international, let’s talk religion; specifically, a youth festival in Rome that’s been called the “Catholic Woodstock.” Half a million young Catholics flocked to the event, with nuns in conga lines, teens drumming along, and Pope Leo XIV arriving by helicopter. The Vatican is leaning into social media influencers to keep the next generation engaged, recognizing that the traditional pews aren’t filling the way they used to. The festival is part of the larger Jubilee of Youth, and while the vibes were upbeat, the Church is clearly trying to rebuild trust with younger believers after years of scandals .

Back in the U.S., one hurricane rescue has turned into new law. Remember Hurricane Milton? As it bore down on Florida, a state trooper saved a stranded bull terrier from floodwaters. That dog, now named Trooper, not only found a new family but also inspired legislation. Abandoning pets during disasters is now a felony in Florida. It’s a rare story where something good, stronger protections for animals, came from catastrophe .

On a different stage, let’s step into the world of lucha libre. An American wrestler, and former U.S. soldier, has become an unlikely star in Mexico’s wrestling rings. Flip Gordon, dressed in camouflage and dog tags, was initially booed as a symbol of U.S. militarism. But his acrobatic style won fans over, and now he’s a celebrated “técnico,” the good guy in the ring. His story is part sport, part cultural exchange, and part question mark about how audiences embrace or reject outsiders in traditions deeply tied to national pride .

From the ring to the stage, Broadway is celebrating the 50th anniversaries of two iconic shows: Chicago and A Chorus Line. Their choreography, created by legends Bob Fosse and Michael Bennett, still defines Broadway style today. Dancers are marking the milestone by revisiting the moves — sharp angles, sly seduction, jazz hands — that made those shows timeless. It’s a reminder that even as musicals come and go, some steps never lose their snap .

And finally, let’s end on music with a modern twist. Laufey — the Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter blending jazz, pop, and classical — is everywhere right now. Her third album is about to drop, and she’s already won a Grammy, played the Met Gala, and racked up billions of streams. Her songs mix the romance of midcentury musicals with the confessional angst of Gen Z diaries. Barbra Streisand is a fan, Olivia Rodrigo is a friend, and she’s about to play Madison Square Garden. Laufey isn’t just another rising star; she’s a phenomenon, bending genres and building a fan base that spans generations.

So that’s the week. Texas redraws the map, Haiti’s security gambit falters, Thailand’s leader faces fury, and Lithuania’s PM exits. The Vatican parties with the young, Florida protects its pets, Mexico cheers a camo-clad wrestler, Broadway celebrates its legends, and Laufey straddles jazz and pop like no one else.

That’s all for now. This is This Week, Basically. I’m Robyn Davies. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time.