Major Saturday Morning News Update

Good morning, and happy Saturday. I woke up angry today — because once again, major media outlets are being forced to walk back sloppy, inaccurate reporting on the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk. First it was the Wall Street Journal. Now, The Guardian has retracted claims that Tyler Robinson was a leftist. This isn’t a minor mistake — it’s reckless, and it fuels conspiracy theories at the worst possible moment. The media must do better.

At the same time, I’m tracking a disturbing wave of firings across the country targeting people who made critical or mocking remarks about Kirk’s killing. And in Washington, Donald Trump is already backpedaling on his threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.

Here’s my promise to you: I will not launder rumors from “anonymous sources” without evidence. I will not run with unverified claims that collapse hours later. My job as an independent journalist is to cut through the noise and deliver the facts — fearlessly, without bowing to politics, intimidation, or disinformation.

If you believe that truth still matters, I invite you to subscribe today. Together, we can make sure facts rise above the spin.

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With that, here’s the news you missed:

A crackdown on speech:

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the Trump administration escalated its crackdown on speech: Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau threatened to revoke visas of foreigners who mocked Kirk’s death, Republican lawmakers like Clay Higgins vowed to pressure tech companies to censor and punish online comments, and right-wing influencers launched doxxing campaigns, while some Republicans such as Senators Thom Tillis and Don Bacon criticized their party’s inflammatory rhetoric; meanwhile, Trump selectively honored Kirk with flags at half-staff—unlike slain Democrat Melissa Hortman.

Multiple teachers, firefighters, journalists, military personnel, and others were fired, suspended, or investigated after posting critical or mocking comments about far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, as authorities, employers, and conservative figures launched a broad crackdown on speech, with notable cases including a Secret Service agent, a Carolina Panthers staffer, MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd, and educators in Florida and Oregon.

The Florida Department of Education, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, announced investigations and potential sanctions against teachers who post “vile” comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, after a Clay County teacher was suspended for celebrating his death, with Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas warning that educators’ First Amendment rights are limited by their duty to uphold professional standards and maintain trust with students and families.

In a review of his controversial record, Charlie Kirk was highlighted for repeatedly making racist, sexist, and inflammatory remarks—including calling Black people “prowling” attackers, questioning the competence of Black professionals, telling Taylor Swift to “submit to your husband,” opposing abortion even in cases of child rape, and defending “some gun deaths every single year” as a necessary price for Second Amendment rights.

The Guardian walked back an earlier claim, based on a friend’s account, that Tyler Robinson—the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk—was a leftist, clarifying that his ideology remains unclear and cautioning against premature political labeling.

The Wall Street Journal quietly retracted its early claim that Charlie Kirk’s shooter had engraved “transgender ideology” messages on his bullets, after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and investigators clarified the casings instead carried random memes and antifascist song lyrics; LGBTQ+ advocates condemned the false reporting for fueling threats and harassment against trans people, demanding retractions, apologies, and stricter newsroom standards to avoid spreading misinformation that endangers marginalized communities.

Investigators discovered that bullet casings at the scene of Charlie Kirk’s killing were scrawled with cryptic internet and gaming references—including a Helldivers 2 bomb command sequence, memes like “Notices bulges OwO what’s this?” and “If you read this, you are GAY Lmao,” and the antifascist anthem Bella Ciao—suggesting shooter Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old student, was drawing from online subcultures rather than a clear political ideology; records show he was a registered but non-voting Utahn with Republican parents.

London is bracing for its largest far-right rally in decades, led by activist Tommy Robinson and framed as a tribute to Charlie Kirk, with up to 40,000 expected, major far-right figures like Steve Bannon and Jordan Peterson slated to appear, and counter-protests organized by anti-racism groups.

General news:

Trump scrapped plans to send the National Guard to Chicago, instead deploying them to Memphis—a move he said was urged by a rail executive—while Illinois Gov. Pritzker denounced the idea as authoritarian and Memphis leaders stressed they need funding and officers, not troops.

Rep. Thomas Massie’s bipartisan push to release Jeffrey Epstein-related documents is one signature away from forcing a House floor vote, while Senate Republicans blocked Chuck Schumer’s parallel effort, dismissing it as a “political stunt”; meanwhile, Congress is consumed with partisan battles over the Pentagon policy bill, ACA tax credits, war powers repeal, crypto regulation, and looming shutdown fights, as Speaker Mike Johnson both decried political violence after Charlie Kirk’s shooting and quietly broke with Trump to back a Virginia wind project.

A U.S. government shutdown looms as Donald Trump urged Republicans to reject negotiations with Democrats, who have vowed not to back spending bills unless healthcare cuts from the GOP’s July “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” are reversed; with funding expiring September 30, Congress appears likely to rely on a short-term measure to keep agencies open amid a partisan standoff over Medicaid and federal health programs.

Newly reviewed documents show Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook declared her Atlanta property as a “vacation home,” undermining Trump administration claims she committed mortgage fraud by claiming multiple primary residences; Cook, who denies wrongdoing and is suing to resist Trump’s attempt to fire her, also never sought a tax exemption on the home, while a separate federal form likewise identified it as a second home—complicating accusations that appear tied to Trump’s push for greater control over the Fed.

After suspected Russian drones entered Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, the U.S. vowed to defend “every inch of NATO territory,” while NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry to bolster defenses on its eastern flank, calling the incursion the first such violation since the war began and “reckless and unacceptable” whether intentional or not.

Brianna Ladapo, wife of Florida surgeon general and vaccine skeptic Dr. Joseph Ladapo, has publicly claimed to receive visions and angelic guidance, promoted chemtrails conspiracy theories, and said her husband will not work with anyone she hasn’t vetted; her influence, writings, and appearances alongside him at conferences highlight the couple’s shared anti-vaccine stance, even as Joseph Ladapo faces criticism for ending child vaccine mandates and promoting policies at odds with mainstream public health.

Scientists warn that Chagas disease, spread by “kissing bugs,” should be treated as endemic in the U.S. after cases have been confirmed in at least eight states, with low awareness leading to underreporting and delayed care; the illness can cause severe long-term complications like heart failure or digestive damage, as seen in the case of a Miami student who tested positive after donating blood, prompting calls for routine screening, better physician education, and expanded public health infrastructure.

A new U.N. Human Rights Office report says North Korea has intensified repression under Kim Jong Un, with public executions for sharing foreign films and TV, expanded surveillance, and harsh laws criminalizing access to outside information, aiming to cut off its 26 million people from the world and instill fear through trials and inspections.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Saturday, about 69 miles east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky; while a brief tsunami alert was issued, it was lifted, and no immediate injuries or major damage were reported.

See you this evening.

— Aaron