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Gun Violence in America: Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot at College Campus in Utah (Bloomberg)
Charlie Kirk, executive director of the conservative Turning Point USA advocacy group, ally of President Donald Trump and gun rights advocate, was shot and killed while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. As of this morning, authorities are searching for the shooter.
Kirk was speaking at an outdoor event before a crowd at UVU when a single shot was fired from a nearby building.
The shooting, the latest in a spate of political violence in the US, drew an outpouring of shock and condemnation from Republicans and Democrats - including all living presidents. President Trump ordered flags across the country to half-staff for several days.
Tragically and ironically, following the 2023 mass shooting at the Christian Covenant School in Nashville, he said that gun deaths were 'unfortunately' worth it in order to preserve gun rights. At the time, the Nashville shooting was the 130th mass shooting in the US that year and he was heavily criticized for minimizing the tragedy.
Analysis:
America's
Violent Spiral (Axios)
Charlie Kirk's assassination is the latest in a string of violent attacks that have marred American politics, including the two assassination attempts against President Trump himself last year.
In June, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were killed by an assailant impersonating a police officer who also wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
In May, two Israeli embassy staffers were killed while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C.
In April, an arsonist set fire to the residence of Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, while his family was inside.
Colorado Shooting: Evergreen High School Shooting in Denver Leaves Suspect Dead, 3 Injured (Axios)
Extremist Watch: Nick Fuentes: A White Nationalist Problem for the Right (New York Times)
Nick Fuentes, a conservative influencer known for his openly racist and sexist tirades, was once dismissed by the right as a mosquito-like interloper. But his following has surged, with hundreds of thousands, namely young male conservatives, drawn to his white supremacist, anti-immigrant, and anti-civil-rights rhetoric.
Now he is turning on Trump. “When I was a teenager, I thought he was a Caesar-like figure who was going to save Western civilization,” said Fuentes, 27. “Now I view him as incompetent, corrupt and compromised.” He has criticized Trump for backing Israel, withholding the Epstein files, and considering visas for Chinese nationals.
Fuentes has yet to demonstrate influence at the ballot box, but his growing online following is making him harder for conservatives to ignore.
Royalty in London: Prince Harry Meets King Charles for First Time in More Than a Year (BBC)
Prince Harry has met his father King Charles at Clarence House in London, their first face to face meeting since February 2024. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had a private tea with his son, the Duke of Sussex, during a visit to the royal residence.
The meeting will be seen as a first step in improving relations between father and son and building trust in what has seemed a deep family rift.
Fallout: UK Prime Minister Starmer Fires Peter Mandelson as Envoy to US After Epstein Emails Revealed (Bloomberg)
The UK Prime Minister fired Peter Mandelson
as Britain’s ambassador to Washington following fresh revelations about the closeness of his former ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
'No Tax' Tips Ruling: OnlyFans Dominatrix, Podcasters and Content Creators Stand to Win Big Under Trump’s Tax Law (Bloomberg)
Katherine Green, a Houston-based dominatrix and online video creator, is among those unexpectedly benefiting from President Donald Trump’s push to make tips tax-free. Under new Treasury guidelines, digital content creators, not just waitstaff, drivers, or caddies, now qualify for the break.
The inclusion of online content creators, such as podcasters and social media influencers, promises to sweeten the allure of internet fame and marks the rising prominence of a new class of performers.
Consequences of DC Deployment: National Guard Documents Show Public ‘Fear,’ Troops’ ‘Shame’ Over DC Presence (Washington Post)
The National Guard has assessed that its mission in DC is perceived as “leveraging fear,” driving a “wedge between citizens and the military,” and promoting a sense of “shame” among some troops and veterans. The assessments,
which have not been previously reported, underscore how domestic mobilizations that are rooted in politics risk damaging Americans’ confidence in the men and women who serve their communities in times of crisis.
Dem Hope: Democrats Narrow Gap in House After Victory in Virginia Special Election (New York Times)
James Walkinshaw won a special election this week in Virginia to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, defeating Republican lobbyist Stewart Whitson. Connolly’s death in May triggered the contest, and Walkinshaw, his former chief of staff, entered with his endorsement.
Venezuela Update: Boat Suspected of Smuggling Drugs Is Said to Have Turned Back Before U.S. Attacked It (New York Times)
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NYC Commuter Alert: Hochul Blames Trump for Looming Long Island Rail Strike (Bloomberg)
New York’s Long Island Rail Road, the biggest commuter line in the US, is facing a potential strike next week by unionized Long Island Railroad workers as they fight for new contracts.
Governor Kathy Hochul is blaming President Trump
for the growing crisis, as she claims the White House “screwed us in the process” by halting negotiations.
If approved, the strike could begin as soon as Sept. 18. Hochul or the MTA could ask the Trump administration to convene a presidential emergency board to extend talks and avert a shutdown.
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