Hey everyone, I want to take a minute tonight to breathe and come to you with something more personal. This week has been exhausting for so many of us, and I know you feel it too. I see it in your comments, I read it in your DMs, and I feel it in my own bones. We are living through a moment of deep division and uncertainty, and sometimes it feels like the darkness is closing in.

That’s why tonight I want to slow things down and talk about what’s really happening. Not with the noise, not with the spin, but with the reality we’re all facing together. This isn’t just about one event or one news cycle. It’s about how we process truth in a world that is flooded with lies, half-truths, and fear.

I also want to thank those of you who have chosen to subscribe and support this work. Independent reporting like this has never been more important, and it’s your backing that allows me to cut through the noise, dispel the misinformation, and keep us focused on the truth. If you haven’t yet, consider subscribing—it makes a real difference and ensures we can keep building a community centered on facts.

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Let’s start with the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Within minutes of the story breaking, narratives began to take shape before facts were even known. Far-right commentators claimed we were at “war” with the “radical left.” Even the President of the United States joined in, pointing fingers and vowing retaliation, despite not knowing the identity or motives of the shooter.

This rush to judgment wasn’t just reckless—it was dangerous. The truth is, we didn’t know anything in those first hours. Not who the shooter was, not what they believed, not what motivated their actions. And yet, entire groups of people were scapegoated, fueling hysteria and division.

Major outlets contributed to this chaos too. The Wall Street Journal published a story claiming the shooter’s bullets were inscribed with “transgender ideology.” That turned out to be false, but by then the conspiracy had spread across the internet. People consumed those lies faster than any correction could undo the damage.

Now we’re learning new details. The shooter came from a Republican family and is registered as an unaffiliated voter. The point is—we still don’t fully know. And until we do, spreading unverified narratives only tears us further apart.

This is the destructive power of disinformation. It takes a tragedy and weaponizes it to divide people who are already fragile. It transforms grief and fear into rage and violence. It distracts us from truth and leaves us unable to see each other as human beings.

And then, as if that chaos wasn’t enough, the following day brought another wave of panic. Bomb threats at HBCUs. A false active shooter report at the Naval Academy. Threats against lawmakers and even the DNC. Hoaxes became headlines, and fear spread across the country like wildfire.

Think about what that means for us as a nation. A single event becomes the spark for hysteria, and that hysteria multiplies into dozens of false alarms. This is not a sign of a healthy democracy. It is a sign of a country breaking under the weight of fear, lies, and division.

Which brings me to this: the truth matters now more than ever. At a time when hate is rewarded with clicks and division is treated like currency, we need strong and independent voices to cut through the noise. Facts are not optional. They are the foundation of democracy, and when we abandon them, we abandon ourselves.

That’s why I will never give in to pressure to spread false narratives. I will not compromise independence for approval. I will take the hits, I will face the attacks, and I will keep showing up for you every single day. Because truth matters, and without it, there is nothing left to hold us together.

But here’s the thing—we all need to breathe. Tonight, I’m unplugging, and I hope you do too. The next 48 hours will be intense, and I’ll be here covering the news for you when it matters most. But right now, your mind and your spirit need rest.

I know you’re tired. I know you’re anxious and afraid. But you’re not alone. Together, we will push back against the chaos, and together, we will make sure that truth prevails.

See you in the morning.

Aaron