Good evening, everyone. Today has been another fast-moving day, and I’m tracking several critical developments: Vice President JD Vance hosted The Charlie Kirk Show and flatly rejected the idea of unifying the country, Trump pretends to not know who Melissa Hortman is, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pushing forward with revoking visas for foreigners who make troubling remarks about Kirk, and Donald Trump has secured a TikTok deal with China.
We are at a true inflection point in this nation. Misinformation is spreading like wildfire, drowning out facts and silencing the truth. The White House is about to crackdown on the “left,” which includes journalists like me who want to deliver the facts the White House does not want public. I am working harder than ever to cut through the noise and bring you clear, fact-driven reporting — no spin, no filter.
But I can’t do it without you. Your support makes this mission possible. If you haven’t already, please subscribe today. I have some big things in the works coming soon, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Subscribe
With that, here’s what you missed:
Following the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk, senior Trump administration officials — including Vice President JD Vance and adviser Stephen Miller — used Kirk’s podcast to announce plans for a sweeping federal crackdown on liberal groups they accused, without evidence, of fueling political violence, framing such activity as domestic terrorism and vowing to root out and punish left-wing organizations in Kirk’s name.
Vice President JD Vance, hosting “The Charlie Kirk Show,” blamed Kirk’s death on a “growing and powerful minority on the far left,” rejecting the possibility of unity with those celebrating the assassination or targeting families over politics.
FBI Director Kash Patel revealed the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing left a message about taking the “opportunity” to assassinate him, with DNA evidence linking the suspect to the crime, while Patel faced criticism over his handling of the case.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller vowed to target leftist “terror” networks behind doxxing and violence, pledging government resources to dismantle them “in Charlie Kirk’s name.”
When asked if flags should be lowered for Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota politician who was assassinated earlier this year, Trump responded that he was not familiar with her. “I don’t know, who?”
The 22-year-old suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing appeared to confess in a Discord chat shortly before surrendering, writing “I’m sorry for all of this,” according to screenshots and people familiar with the messages.
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah says she was fired from the Opinions department after criticizing political violence, racial double standards, and U.S. gun apathy, following her posts after Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Utah Democrats, including state Rep. Angela Romero, report receiving threatening calls blaming them for Charlie Kirk’s killing, prompting discussions about safety measures and possible legislation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. will deny or revoke visas for people deemed to be celebrating Charlie Kirk’s killing, though legal authority and implementation details remain unclear.
Trump announced the creation of a “Memphis Safe Task Force” and potential National Guard deployment to crack down on crime, saying Chicago is next; Republican leaders in Tennessee welcomed the move, but Memphis’s Democratic mayor and local officials criticized it as a militarized overreach, especially as crime rates in the city have recently declined.
A new House GOP bill would expand federal power to deny or revoke passports, officially aimed at traffickers and terrorists, but critics warn its vague language could threaten free speech, especially amid crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protesters.
U.S. officials say a new framework deal with China to keep TikTok operating is key to enabling a possible Trump–Xi meeting during Trump’s planned Asia trip in late October.
Trump announced a second U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in international waters, killing three people, after a similar strike earlier this month killed 11; Venezuela disputed the claims, saying the crews were not cartel members, while legal questions remain over the strikes’ justification.
In a conversation about trans flags on 14th Street in Washington, D.C., Trump said he wouldn’t oppose taking them down but noted it could lead to lawsuits over free speech rights.
Jeffrey Epstein’s estate gave the House Oversight Committee more subpoenaed documents, including additional pages from his “birthday book” and another address book, with further productions expected.
Thousands celebrated the Mexican Independence Day parade in Chicago’s Little Village despite smaller crowds due to Trump’s immigration crackdown, with attendees honoring culture, protesting ICE actions, and showing resilience amid fear of arrests and deportations.
President Trump suggested companies switch from quarterly to semiannual earnings reports, arguing it would cut costs and reduce short-term pressures, reviving a debate previously raised by business leaders like Buffett and Dimon.
Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, has sued the Trump administration over her firing from the Justice Department, alleging it was unlawful, politically motivated, and retaliatory due to her family ties.
Elon Musk bought nearly $1 billion in Tesla stock, boosting his stake to reinforce control as the company pursues robotaxis, AI, and robotics, sending shares up over 8% in premarket trading.
Former Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said over 10% of Gaza’s population—more than 200,000 people—have been killed or injured in the nearly two-year war, a figure aligning with Palestinian health ministry estimates.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there’s been “no progress” on organizing a U.S.-Ukraine-Russia summit, noting a pause in negotiations, while reiterating Moscow’s readiness for a diplomatic resolution despite Trump’s frustration with Putin.
Shimon Yehuda Hayut, the “Tinder Swindler” from the Netflix documentary, was arrested in Georgia on an Interpol request for allegedly defrauding women of about £7.4 million by posing as a billionaire’s son.
Days before a key CDC meeting on Covid-19 and other vaccines, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed five new members to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, several of whom have histories of criticizing pandemic measures or raising unproven claims about vaccines, deepening concerns after Kennedy’s earlier removal of all 17 prior members over alleged conflicts of interest.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
